Katy Krump’s Blue Dust: Forbidden is a young adult fantasy novel heavy with philosophical meaning and beautiful writing. 
From the get-go, the reader is thrown into a fast-paced plot full of questions neither the reader, nor Qea, the protagonist, can answer. The reader is taken on an adventure that will put to question the values of Earth, and what s/he knows about life beyond the solar system.
A master of disguise, Qea experiences a character growth that both surprises and seemingly weakens her. Krump uses her gift for words to create a realistic and relatable protagonist in a most surreal world. Qea’s uneasiness with change adds a hint of humanity to a character that appears almost indestructible.
It isn’t just Qea who undergoes a brilliant transformation, but Adam, Qea’s partner, does as well. He gives the reader hope that a human can surpass the prejudices placed on him/her by a dominant race.
Blue Dust: Forbidden is a fantastic novel that also brings to light, and challenges, some of Earth’s most talked about and tabooed topics. Such topics include: religion, politics, the power of currency, and mother nature, to name a few. Krump’s novel is a blend of what is both wrong and simple on Earth, and how Earth may be looked upon by worse-off worlds. The message the reader may get, aside from how to survive if ever abducted by aliens, is that Earth is better than how its inhabitants are treating it.
Religion is one of the greatest aspects of this novel, no matter how subtly it is touched upon. Though Qea references Earth’s God briefly, her solar system is protected by the Troiqa, a benevolent being that follows the reader and hides among Qea’s world, until s/he is discovered. It brings to light the frailty and the complexities of faith. By not overtly focusing on the power of the Troiqa, Krump is allowing the reader to form his/her own faith in Qea’s god-like creator. Her trust in her reader gives her novel strength, since she is not forcing her ideals, but offering multiple viewpoints.
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