Kenechi Udogu on Augmented and sci-fi thrillers for early teens

This month we're sending our Macaw subscribers into a near-future world in which the climate crisis has come to a head, society is on the brink of collapse and nothing is quite what it seems. Augmented is a gripping sci-fi thriller that had us on the edge of our seats. Action, technology and a budding romance combine in this explosive story with a brilliant and diverse cast of characters that we were rooting for from page one. Here author Kenechi Udogu tells us about being inspired by the connection between people and plants and which other sci-fi thrillers for early teens she recommends you read next.

What inspired you to write Augmented?

I’m a firm believer in music’s therapeutic impact on people and plants, and I’ve always been interested in how the things we build affect the climate and how society could evolve to cope with dire changes. That’s why I wrote Augmented for Faber’s Imagined Futures Prize as a story where technological advances and social ideologies are used to tackle climate change issues in a unique way, but the choices of individuals prove to be what make the most significant impact.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and the version of the world it is set in?

Augmented is set in what could be seen as a utopian future by some readers, and a dystopia by others. The society Akaego grows up in could have collapsed from all the environmental changes the world has gone through, but it hasn’t. I think this gives a sense of hope to young readers about how things can evolve if we don’t give up on some of the issues we’re facing. It is also a tale of friendship and sacrifices, featuring characters from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds we desperately need to see more of in sci-fi.

Would you say that justice is served in the end?

I think so. Everything Akaego and her friends have to tackle isn’t fully resolved, but the story ends in a better place than where it started.

If you could choose to have an enhanced ability, what would it be and why?

I love singing, so even though it’s going to sound obvious, I would choose to do what Akaego does. It would give me such a joy to sing to my plants and watch them grow. I’d probably take things up a notch and form a choir of Mechsims. There’s a unique beauty when harmonies are created by blending different voices. Imagine watching a whole forest grow!

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Akaego and her friends?

Without giving the end away, there’s still a lot of work for everyone to do. As you’ll learn from the novel, graduating is only the first step for kids with enhanced abilities. And with everything Akaego and her friends manage to set in motion, they’ll have even more responsibilities. But the future now looks brighter.

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

I’ve always been an avid reader, and some of my favourite memories of reading are from when I was a teenager. The thrill of learning new things from fiction was particularly vivid at that stage of my life. I want to be able to share some of that wonder and excitement with teens.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

I get easily distracted, so the best place for me to write is at my desk at home. Lots of writers love going to libraries or coffee shops, but I’ll probably end up people watching if I did.  

Which other sci-fi thrillers for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next?

The Upper World by Femi Fadugba is fast-paced and packs in a lot of physics principles in a fun way. I also really enjoyed Dry by Neal Schusterman. It’s more of a catastrophic thriller than sci-fi, but the eco themes it highlights are important. I’m looking forward to iNSiDE by S.A. Gales and Things I Learned While I Was Dead by Kathryn Clark.

Copies of our Augmented pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

You may also be interested to read our blog post: 6 cli-fi, eco-dystopian and eco-thriller novels for 12, 13 and 14-year-olds.

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