Just finished reading a YA book called "Winter of Fire" by Sherryl Jordan. It is a dystopia where slaves are branded and used to mine "firestones" (coal) to keep people warm. The skies are covered in smoke and dust because of some past horrific event. Hundreds of years later the only thing keeping the sun from the earth is the smoke from all of the coal fires. The main character Elsha is a young woman who is one of the slave race, she is lifted out of her slavery by the Firelord. Elsha strives to make changes for her people to save them from their status of slavery.
This is a pretty interesting book with a very strong female character. Passes the Beckdale test (http://jakewesley.blogspot.com/2012/01/women-and-philosophy-beckdale-test.html). The writing isn't very strong, but the messages in favor of equality and for saving the atmosphere by burning less fuel are positive. There are a few plot holes, which I cannot point out here because if you want to read it.... well you get the idea. I would put this book in a 7th grade or higher classroom library. I feel it is a good enough book for students to enjoy. I enjoyed it quite a bit when I was in junior high and high school. I must have read it dozens of times. It deals with difficult issues of equality and slavery without being controversial.
