New You For Ever

Can you save the world by living for ever? Anders uncovers the sinister truth about Pleekas in this gripping dystopian thriller from award-winning author Steve Cole.

The year is 2070, and the New You Foundation claim to have found the ultimate answer to the climate crisis. They want human beings to transform themselves into Pleekas – perfect artificial replicas. Pleekas can go on for ever but won’t create waste or use the Earth's resources.

Too good to be true?

When a chance meeting leads young journalist Anders Jones to the sinister truth, he must risk everything to expose New You – if it’s not already too late …

Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 8.

Reviews

"Cole's latest novel feels frighteningly pertinent. Will scientists one day be able to turn us into robots that do not break down or get ill? What does it mean to be human? These are all questions that children will be asking themselves in this era of robots and AI, and this is a heart-stoppingly gripping dystopian novel, perfectly pitched at readers aged 11+ who want a short, sharp thrill of a read." – The Bookseller, Children's Book of the Month

"Especially suited to less confident 11+ year old readers, this outstanding novella deftly explores technology, identity and the environmental crises shaping Anders's world. It's ideal for discussion in KS3." – School Reading List

"Thrilling, thought-provoking and terrifying, New You For Ever is Black Mirror for teens, a truly gripping story I wanted to last for ever!" – Chris Bradford

"This is a great book … the sharp focus on climate change and the importance of the stories we choose to tell, make this an ideal book for switched-on young people who are worried about the state of the world but don't necessarily know what to do about it." – NetGalley review

"This teen sci-fi is gripping as much as it is thought-provoking. Centred around themes of climate change, corruption and what it means to be human, Steve Cole has written an exciting story set in a chilling vision of a possible future that doesn't seem quite so far flung. A definite recommend!" – NetGalley review

About the author

Steve Cole is an internationally bestselling author who has written over 150 books and sold over 3 million copies. He has written Doctor Who fiction, succeeded Charlie Higson as the Young Bond author and worked with Ben Fogle on his Mr Dog series. His powerful middle-grade cli-fi novellas for Barrington Stoke include Drowning in My Bedroom, which won the 2024 Dudley Children’s Book Award: Short & Sweet Category.