Valentine (novel)

Valentine is a science fiction novel by Audrey Schulman, published in 2022. The novel is set in a near-future Boston that is experiencing the increasing impacts of climate change, specifically extreme heat and flooding.

The story centers around Valentina "Valentine" Belén, a middle-aged botanist and professor at MIT, whose research focuses on plants capable of surviving in extreme heat. She also suffers from heatstroke-induced memory loss. When a polar bear appears unexpectedly in her neighbor's backyard, having traveled far south due to melting Arctic ice, Valentine takes it upon herself to protect the animal, whom she names Bjorn.

The narrative explores themes of climate anxiety, environmental responsibility, animal rights, memory, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. It contrasts Valentine's intellectual understanding of climate change with her visceral, emotional response to the presence of Bjorn. The novel also delves into the social and political realities of a world grappling with the consequences of environmental degradation, including government policies regarding resource allocation and the ethical dilemmas surrounding human intervention in the natural world. The plot involves Valentine's attempts to navigate bureaucracy, societal apathy, and increasing climate-related disasters in order to ensure Bjorn's survival and ultimately, a return to a suitable habitat.