The Great Destroyers is a 2022 Lone Star selection. This novel deals with racism and sexism within a political landscape between Russia and the US in this re-written historical account.

Jo lives in post WWII San Francisco participating in illegal Mecha matches. She's good. Hopefully, she'll be noticed and can play legally and make enough money to help at home. Otherwise, she, her father, and her brother will be homeless and business-less. And then one day, in walks Senator Appleby. One of the US competitors had to drop out, and she would like Jo to take his place. This substitution surprises people because women are rarely tapped to participate--men dominate. In one day, Jo is off to the international games in Washington, D. C. where she meets the famous international players and comes ready to compete.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't know if I was about to read a political novel or what because I didn't read anything about it before starting it. This re-written history takes place after WWII during the Kennedy administration at the beginning of the Cold War.
When Jo arrives in Washington, she meets Kennedy and Khrushchev as well as other famous historical figures. During the competition, someone is trying to eliminate the competition, The challenge is not only to compete against the most talented in the world but also to survive the sabotage occurring. ( )

Alternate history with dashes of the Hunger Games and mystery, plus a sprinkle of current racist reality comprise this fast and very satisfying read. The minor players, mostly contestants from other countries, are well drawn, as are the gradual reveals of Jo and Sam's backstories and the way the battles are described. A good selection for libraries where action/science fiction blends are popular. ( )