Brink of Dawn

A young Native American girl and her friends, all of whom possess superhuman abilities, must stop an alien plot to take over Earth in the second book by the father-daughter team of Jeff and Erynn Altabef (Wind Catcher, 2015).  

Native American teenager Juliet Wildfire Stone was injected as a child with alien DNA, which gave her superhuman abilities, including the power to read minds. With her friend Troy, she travels to New York City to find others like her, known as Chosen. She knows they’re facing a threat from an alien civilization that could destroy the human race. The more Juliet learns how to use her new powers under the tutelage of their teacher, the Host, the more she’s scared that she’ll become completely alien. However, she has little choice, because only by working together to harness the power of all the Chosen can they all defeat this dire threat to humanity. The plot of this second book in the series unspools as swiftly and smoothly as the first. The authors write descriptively: “We unfold ourselves from the small car and follow her as she bounces toward the park entrance, her curly ringlet-infused hair flowing behind her like a cloud.” The book is also full of sly humor, as when one character “waves his smartphone as proof of his awesomeness.” All the characters are distinct and memorable, such as Connor, who uses alcohol as a crutch, and Akari, a quiet but lethal Japanese girl. The book also contains references to Native American beliefs such as the Coyote and Wind Spirits, which were central to the first book’s success. There are numerous similarities to Star Wars here, starting with the hoary “Chosen” theme; the wise teacher, the Host, is reminiscent of Yoda and occasionally even talks like him (“Move you must”). However, the fast-paced story, quirky dialogue, and engaging characters help the book escape the static holding pattern common to many other second installments.

This second book will inspire those unfamiliar with the first to seek it out.