Dark Life

Dark Life (2010) is a dystopian young adult novel by American author Kat Falls. The novel is the first of a two-part series, followed by Rip Tide. Dark Life is set in post-apocalyptic East-Coast America, now ruled by a government called the Commonwealth. Water covers most of the planet’s surface in the wake of climate change and a select group of pioneers now live under the sea. Teenage protagonist Ty Townson uncovers a wide-reaching government conspiracy to experiment on children with special powers called “Dark Gifts,” which come from living underwater—a new frontier opened by climate disaster. Ty must battle with outlaws and the government while he helps his friend Gemma Straid search for her missing brother. Her missing brother is a critical factor in both the government conspiracy and the outlaws plaguing Ty’s underwater settlement. The novel addresses themes surrounding coming-of-age in a hostile environment, such as Self-Acceptance in the Face of Prejudice, Community Support: Building a Family, and the conflict of Morality Versus Government Abuses.

This guide refers to the 2010 Scholastic e-book edition of the novel.

Plot Summary

The novel is narrated from the first-person perspective of teenager Ty Townson, the first child born subsea to two of the first subsea pioneers. Ty possesses special powers granted by his underwater home called a “Dark Gift.” Subsea pioneers were deployed in the wake of environmental catastrophe that caused extreme temperatures, rising water levels, and crumbling coastlines. These subsea pioneers were deployed to solve issues of overpopulation and find alternative ways for humanity to live in the new world.

Ty encounters Gemma Straid, a Topsider teen, on a submarine in Coldsleep Canyon. Gemma is searching for her brother, Richard, so he can sign her emancipation forms and free her from her status as a ward of the Commonwealth. The submarine is attacked by the Seablite Gang, who target Commonwealth ships. Ty agrees to help her find her brother as they escape. Gemma asks about Dark Gifts and Ty adamantly argues that Dark Gifts are a myth born from Topsider prejudices, despite having a Dark Gift himself.

The two travel to the Trade Station, a pioneer gathering point. Commonwealth representative Tupper announces that the Commonwealth is asking the pioneers to help capture or kill the Seablite Gang. Until then, the Commonwealth is pulling all support, including supplying Liquigen, the substance humans must ingest to survive underwater. Ty is dismayed, believing that losing Commonwealth support will kill the Territory, forcing them to move Topside.

Ty takes Gemma to his homestead in Benthic Territory, While introducing her to his sister, Zoe, they learn about a Seablite attack on a homestead and rush to help. There, they encounter the group’s mysterious leader, Shade, during a brief scuffle with the bandits.

In the aftermath, Ty is examined by a doctor, Doc Kuntze. Doc reveals that the Seablite Gang members are ex-cons. He claims they were kept in a secret prison called Seablite, where he worked, and that they’re dangerous men who mysteriously escaped.

Gemma asks Ty to take her back to the Trade Station the next day so she can ask around at the saloon about her brother. Ty reluctantly agrees to help.

At the Trade Station the next day, Ty and Gemma disguise themselves to continue searching for her brother. The two encounter Shade in the Trade Station, albeit with a different skin color than last time; Shade escapes and law enforcement does not believe Ty and Gemma.

When Ty and Gemma leave, the Seablite Gang attacks their ship. Ty convinces Gemma to leave out the bottom hatch by revealing that he does actually have a Dark Gift. He can use “biosonar” to see in the dark. They escape successfully and find Seablite Prison. They search it for clues about the gang and find a picture of Gemma. They realize the prison was actually a reformatory where boys like her brother were forced laborers. They also discover her brother might be a member of the gang.

The director of the home where Gemma lived Topside finds her, calling the Townsons and demanding Gemma return. That night, Ty finds Gemma trying to run away with one of their minisubs and offers her food and advice. Before she can leave, they see the Seablite Gang approaching. Ty’s parents protect their homestead, ordering Ty to stay inside and shoot anybody who enters.

Ty checks on Gemma and Zoe, allowing Shade to sneak in. Ty and Shade fight; when Shade gets the upper hand, Zoe uses her Dark Gift to electrocute both of them, rendering both boys unconscious. Shade escapes captivity using his Dark Gift of camouflage, and Gemma catches up to him first. Shade reveals he is her brother, Richard, having faked his own death.

The pioneers have followed the teens at Doc’s behest. When they enter the saloon, they quickly tie up Shade and prepare a noose. Shade confronts Doc, whom Ty has discovered is actually Dr. Metzger, the author of the study about Dark Gifts. Shade indicates that Doc is trying to silence him about the experiments conducted on underage boys at Seablite—Ty underwent these experiments, too.

When the pioneers are distracted, Ty frees Shade. He announces to the pioneers that he has a Dark Gift as well. Zoe and Hewitt join him and all their parents become worried and insist they move back Topside. Shade informs them that Doc’s experiments showed that kids with Dark Gifts are healthier than most people.

Doc escapes. Ty and Shade pursue him and reach Doc before the others. Doc is destroying all supplies in the wet room and is about to jump into the last vehicle with Gemma as a hostage. Gemma, in the submarine first, moves the sub so Doc falls into the water. He sucks up some Liquigen before diving, but the pioneers believe he does not have enough to survive until he reaches the surface.

During the altercation, the pioneers realize a shot from Doc damaged the glass of the Trade Station wet room. Water rushes in. The pioneers know they cannot make the swim to the surface without Liquigen, but Ty saves them by calling dolphins to him. The dolphins carry the pioneers to safety, but Doc jumps onto Gemma’s dolphin. The ensuing struggle keeps Gemma under for too long. Ty and his dolphin carry her to the surface, where only Zoe’s electricity revives Gemma.

Ty reveals that Shade signed Gemma’s emancipation form, and the form gives him an idea: The pioneers should declare themselves emancipated from the Commonwealth. They will no longer be reliant on the government, and they will be able to get fair prices for their crops. Everyone agrees, and Ty and his family offer Gemma a home with them.