THE CIRCLE RHODES QUARTET Welcome to a world without gravity. A massive explosion from the sun grips the Earth’s magnetic field as it passes, causing the Earth’s rotation rate to increase. The faster speed creates the effect of a merry-go-round, and as a result, anything freestanding suddenly floats up in the air in a sudden, terrifying rush. Millions perish in the terrifying ascent. Two of the survivors are Ruth and Steven Rhodes, two M.I.T. graduates, and their small child, Circle. Circle comes of age in the air, a world of chaos, instability, and uncertainty. Follow Circle in his journey in the sky, across the world, and through his life in a world that is up in the air, but where people long to be grounded. BOOK 3: ISLANDS IN THE AIR Circle is a teen now and has been dating for Rosario for a year. He is also the best swimmer in the air. He is on top of the world until a newcomer arrives and threatens his position. In an act of jealousy, Circle lashes out at the newcomer and then flees in shame. He runs away to the Pacific and ends up above islands near the Mariana Trench. Because the ocean has floated up, he is able to "air swim" down to the trench...the deepest darkest place on Earth. In the trench, he hears two voices: a voice of the shadows and a voice of light. Here he must be confront his own shadow side and decide if he will stay or leave the darkness.