Star Trek for young fans of the genre, who’ll be thrilled at the prospect of a sequel.
He’s found a home and located his history (though he still doesn’t remember it), but Chase Garrety is far from safe in this sequel to The Lost Planet (2014).
The children of genetically enhanced supersoldiers, Chase and his sullen younger sister, Lilli, both have powers of their own. Chase can “phase” through solid matter, and Lilli can make copies of herself and project them to other locations. They have to hide their abilities from most of the crew of the Fleet starship Kuyddestor; only the captain (whom Lilli calls uncle), Lt. Maurus and the ship’s doctor know. A faction within the Federation (which is united with but does not control the Fleet) would like to get its hands on Chase and Lilli. Chase is worried the captain will be hunted down for helping them, especially when the Kuyddestor gets a new assignment: assisting with peace talks between the planets Storros and Werikos. When Chase discovers an opportunity to learn about his parents, the siblings, Chase’s hacker friend, Parker, and new acquaintance Analora head into danger. The ship’s computer is hacked and then the ship is hijacked, and Chase has no idea whom to trust. Searles’ action- and intrigue-packed sci-fi thriller is peopled with characters who are sometimes confused, sometimes heroic and sometimes brats—that is to say, always genuine. They make realistic choices that are sometimes wrong in a believable and interesting future milieu. In particular, Lilli’s exploitation of her ability makes for great plot points.
Star Trek for young fans of the genre, who’ll be thrilled at the prospect of a sequel. (Science fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-250-03880-7
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2014
Despite the stale fat-to-curvy pattern, compelling world building with a Southern European, pseudo-Christian feel,...
Adventure drags our heroine all over the map of fantasyland while giving her the opportunity to use her smarts.
Elisa—Princess Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza of Orovalle—has been chosen for Service since the day she was born, when a beam of holy light put a Godstone in her navel. She's a devout reader of holy books and is well-versed in the military strategy text Belleza Guerra, but she has been kept in ignorance of world affairs. With no warning, this fat, self-loathing princess is married off to a distant king and is embroiled in political and spiritual intrigue. War is coming, and perhaps only Elisa's Godstone—and knowledge from the Belleza Guerra—can save them. Elisa uses her untried strategic knowledge to always-good effect. With a character so smart that she doesn't have much to learn, body size is stereotypically substituted for character development. Elisa’s "mountainous" body shrivels away when she spends a month on forced march eating rat, and thus she is a better person. Still, it's wonderfully refreshing to see a heroine using her brain to win a war rather than strapping on a sword and charging into battle.
Despite the stale fat-to-curvy pattern, compelling world building with a Southern European, pseudo-Christian feel, reminiscent of Naomi Kritzer's Fires of the Faithful (2002), keeps this entry fresh. (Fantasy. 12-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-202648-4
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
If it were a Golden Age comic, this tale of ridiculous science, space dogs and humanoid aliens with flashlights in their hands might not be bad. Alas... Number Four is a fugitive from the planet Lorien, which is sloppily described as both "hundreds of lightyears away" and "billions of miles away." Along with eight other children and their caretakers, Number Four escaped from the Mogadorian invasion of Lorien ten years ago. Now the nine children are scattered on Earth, hiding. Luckily and fairly nonsensically, the planet's Elders cast a charm on them so they could only be killed in numerical order, but children one through three are dead, and Number Four is next. Too bad he's finally gained a friend and a girlfriend and doesn't want to run. At least his newly developing alien powers means there will be screen-ready combat and explosions. Perhaps most idiotic, "author" Pittacus Lore is a character in this fiction—but the first-person narrator is someone else entirely. Maybe this is a natural extension of lightly hidden actual author James Frey's drive to fictionalize his life, but literature it ain't. (Science fiction. 11-13)
Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-196955-3
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010
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