A review by nematome
Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin

4.0

This is a very thought provoking book about a young girl's mental awakening. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic society existing on a ship that has been hollowed out of an asteroid. In this universe, Earth has been destroyed and humans are either existing on these ships or eking out a living on dangerous and mostly uninhabitable planets. The ship dwellers, faced with high population pressure, devise a test for every fourteen year old. Each adolescent is sent to one of these planets for a month with limited supplies and is challenged to survive. As the story progresses, the main character approaches her 14th birthday and must face this life or death challenge.

I really enjoyed this book. There are great lessons here about prejudice and coming of age. Highly recommend!