Readers who liked Greyson’s first adventure will be more than happy with this latest outing.
Tweedt’s (Greyson Gray: Camp Legend, 2012) preteen hero returns, this time combating terrorists that are planning an attack at the Iowa State Fair.
It’s been less than two months since 12 year-old Greyson Gray foiled a terrorist plot in his previous adventure. He’s now under the protection of FBI Agent Kip, who guards Greyson against possible retaliation from Everett Oliver Emory, the notorious terrorist brother of the man whose plans Greyson ruined. The boy is allowed to attend the fair with his friends, but it’s not long before Pluribus, an anti-government group with a possible connection to Emory, makes its presence known. There are four presidential candidates at the fair, which leads Greyson and his pals to expect the worst. This second book in Tweedt’s series has a similar plot to the first, in which Greyson fought terrorists at a sports camp, but a decidedly darker tone: Not everyone makes it to the end, and not everything is neatly resolved. Greyson, still sporting his trademark fanny pack, shows some new signs of maturity as he questions what, if anything, lies beyond death. There are some other familiar faces, including meek, stuttering Liam; twins Jarryd and Nick; and romantic interest Sydney. This time, Greyson has competition for Sydney’s affections in the form of Sam, the charming son of a governor. Jarryd, as in the previous book, provides comic relief even when he isn’t trying to do so; his text to Greyson to let him know he’s at the “rondayvoo” is particularly hilarious. But many new characters are just as memorable, including an unnamed assassin whose peeling skin (from radiation poisoning) is reminiscent of a snake’s; his creepiest moment comes when he asks Greyson, who’s watching Sam and Sydney on the dance floor, “Something troublin’ it?”—“it” meaning Greyson. The book’s final third is almost exclusively made up of action scenes, as it bounces among the perspectives of different characters, including Greyson, Kip, Greyson’s mom and Jarryd, while maintaining an impressive, tireless pace. Overall, this novel is both an improvement over the last installment and a fitting lead-in for the next in the series.
Readers who liked Greyson’s first adventure will be more than happy with this latest outing.Pub Date: Nov. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4936-5677-6
Page Count: 340
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Give Jobling a hand for crafting a sequel that’s even more lurid and action packed than the opener.
The second episode in a series projected to run to at least six cranks up the stakes, the gore, the body count and the number of super-powered were-creatures as the kingdom of Westland is overwhelmed by huge armies of invaders.
The cruel, depraved, deposed Lion King (take that, Disney) sits besieged in his tower, but his mad werelion son Lucas and wererat minion Vankaskan remain free—to kidnap werefox Lady Gretchen and sneak out through the sewers of Highcliff. In pursuit goes werewolf/reluctant royal heir Drew and best buddy/romantic complication Whitley, unaware that they are heading straight into the claws of Catlord invaders led by Onyx, a gigantic werepanther. Frequently punctuated with blood-spattered massacres and atrocities, the multi-threaded plot speeds its way to a pair of separate climactic battles. One leaves Drew’s allies scattered in flight, and the other puts Drew aboard a slave ship bound for a gladiatorial arena overseas.
Give Jobling a hand for crafting a sequel that’s even more lurid and action packed than the opener. (Fantasy. 12-15)Pub Date: June 19, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-670-01389-0
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wrenching piece with a wisp of hope for the protagonists if not for the rest of their world.
With severe drought, child enslavement, and multiple shootings of people and dogs, this slim volume isn’t for the faint of heart, though it repays those who soldier on.
In an unspecified African “place of dust and death,” in a story somewhere between realism and fable, Nandi the dog narrates an opening scene in which Sarel sees her parents gunned down. The gunmen, failing to find a water source, set the house afire and depart, leaving Sarel orphaned on her desert homestead. An underground grotto with a well sustains Sarel and her pack of dogs—fully family to her—while they recover from smoke inhalation and bullet wounds. In a nearby city, Musa sits in chains, taken outdoors only when gunmen (those who shot Sarel’s parents) need a dowser—Musa hears a buzz in his skull when water’s nearby. One generation ago, there were faucets and lawn sprinklers; now, gangs kill for a water bottle. When Musa escapes and Sarel’s well runs dry, the tale’s fablelike nature makes their meeting inevitable, even in the desert. The narration uses primarily Sarel’s and Musa’s perspectives, describing nature sparely and vividly. Thirst and heat are palpable as kids and dogs fight fatal dehydration. Occasionally, Nandi narrates, in broken English more distracting than doglike.
A wrenching piece with a wisp of hope for the protagonists if not for the rest of their world. (Fiction. 12-14)Pub Date: June 4, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97651-8
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2013
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