Arclight is a science fiction, dystopian, young adult novel series by Texan author Josin L. McQuein. The first book, Arclight, was published in April 2013 by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. According to WorldCat, the book is in 621 libraries. The second book in the series, Meridian, was published in 2014. The story follows Marina, a teenage amnesiac in an unwelcoming post-apocalyptic American military base by the name of Arclight. As the tale progresses, Marina makes astounding discoveries and unlikely friends on her journey to discover who she was, and where she belongs.
Synopsis
"The first rule of the Arclight is Light is safety: light is life. Within the walls of light, people are protected from the Fade- the creatures that have destroyed the world. The second rule is Never go outside alone. The third: No one ever comes back from the dark. But Marina did. She doesn't know who she is or where she came from. And she doesn't know how she survived the Fade. Or why they want her back. But they want her back. And the attacks on the Arclight won't stop until they have her. What secrets are locked inside Marina's memory? Where does she belong?" Arclight. Back cover. No one survives the Fade. But, Marina did. The only problem is, she doesn't quite remember how. In fact, she doesn't remember anything. Ever since she was discovered in the Grey, a barren stretch of land that acts as a line between the Light and the Dark, by a small group of people and brought to the Arclight, Marina has been living a pain and confusion. Unknown to all of Arclight, Marina lives alone, rejected by her classmates for her status as Fade-bait, a title she received as a result of her arrived prompting constant blue light warnings (blue lights mean something has breached the perimeter). Marina has only one friend, a bubbly, chatty girl by the name of Anne-Marie, and a questionable acquaintance, Tobin. Tobin, whose father was a part of the team that retrieved her from the Grey. Tobin whose father didn't return while she did.
One day, the alarms in Arclight sounded, flashing red (a Red-Wall alarm) to let them know that the perimeter has been breached. The Fade has gotten inside of the compound. Marina and her class evacuate, with their teacher, Mr. Pace, in the lead with a gun. Tobin, much to Marina's surprise, is her crutch as they rush around the compound. However, he is quick to disappear after the danger is gone. Later, he is also quick to reappear in defense of Marina, who was being harassed by a particularly violent classmate. Upon confronting Tobin, Marina spots a Fade and the alarm is hit. In an instant, the corridor goes red, and Tobin has it pinned to the flow all while he throws punches at it. However, he is unable to completely restrain it and it gets out of his grip. As it escapes, the Fade's eyes meet Marina's, and it feels familiar to her. Being dealt with unfavorable cards, the Fade chooses to surrender.
Upon its capture, the Fade is taken to the basement, or more specifically, the White Room, a quarantine area hidden deep underground. After being shown passages that lead throughout the Arclight, Marina and Tobin debate using them to go see the Fade. But, before they can, they are brought to the White Room by Mr. Pace. It is in this room, that they are re-acquainted with the captured Fade. Through memories regained, Marina learns that before she had been found in the Grey, she had been hiding from someone in a lake. And upon her return, she had been held in the same quarantined area as the Fade was in currently. The Fade and Marina hold a mental conversation in which many things are revealed. The Fade is searching for its mate, Cherish, and he offers repentance and asks for aid in his search. Aid from Marina.
After her departure from the White Room, the Fade has been constantly invaded Marina's mind. The Fade begs her to remember, to recollect, to locate, to release, to understand, and to find Cherish. In an attempt to block it out, Marina goes to Tobin, who provides her with the means to temporarily do so. They fall asleep together, watching the stars. Marina wakes up to discover the Fade watching them. After being dealt an ultimatum, Marina leaves with the Fade, who she decides to call Rue.