A worthy and terrifying addition to a classic sci-fi/horror franchise that will appeal to a new generation of fans.
An electrifying adventure set in the Alien universe.
It’s not easy having two renowned xenobiologists for parents: Hopping from planet to planet can be a drag. But 17-year-old Olivia Shipp has spent her life learning about each planet’s magnificent flora and fauna and never fails to find wonder wherever they go. Unfortunately, her beloved twin sister, Viola, has a debilitating autoimmune disorder, which keeps her mostly indoors. Now they’re on an “Earth-like planet” called Zagreus, and Olivia is crushing hard on beautiful colonist Kora Burton. When Kora nearly gets devoured by a lion-worm on their first date, Olivia figures things can only get better from there, right? Wrong. Olivia’s father transmits a shocking message from a dead ship that he was sent to scout: Something deadly has escaped and is heading straight for Zagreus. Those familiar with Alien mythology know what happens when famously vicious creatures and humans clash, so expect generous blood and gore. Olivia and Kora are smart, strong young women, and their romance, born in the midst of unspeakable horror, is believable. This swift survival tale is peppered with heart-stopping chase scenes and twists that stay true to the Alien ’verse. The Shipps are white, and Kora is brown skinned and biracial, with a white mother and a father of unidentified ethnicity.
A worthy and terrifying addition to a classic sci-fi/horror franchise that will appeal to a new generation of fans. (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-30629-6
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Imprint
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2019
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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