I have only very vague details as this was from middle school and I only read the first few pages (possibly just paragraphs?) before this bitch snatched her library book away from me and refused to let me see the title.

What I remember: a character had taken an from the society's nursery/clinic(?) to look after them him/herslf, because (s)he thought that the handlers weren't the society's best and were only given that job because it was easy.

Another thing I distinctly remember was something about a pilot dying(?) from a crash or something like that, and the character called it something along the lines of an "ascension" and that there were two types of "ascension", good and bad, and that this person was "lucky"(?) to get have it be an honorable one. I think they mentioned that it was the only way to leave the colony(?).

This was like 2007-2008. I THINK the book might be a single word and a number? I really have no idea - this has really been something I've wanted to find and read ever since then and I'd really appreciate any help in finding it, I can try to recall more specific details if needed!