Heroics, bravery, and action don’t compensate for serious implausibility issues.
The escaped Less Thans and Sisters from The Prey (2015) return to rescue those left behind.
Book’s leading the band of kids to the government rather than away, and their odds are pretty bad—they barely made it out in the first book, and the Brown Shirt soldiers are less likely to underestimate them again. After some unlucky breaks and losses, a bully takes over the small band and decides to abort the rescue mission, leading to one of the book’s most ridiculous scenes—out of 12 kids, four place six on trial and outvote the remaining two; somehow readers are expected to believe that the majority’s just that docile or otherwise unable to resist the four. Unfortunately, plots hinging on weak character motivations continue as a pattern, especially where betrayals are concerned. After escaping from the bully, the heroes have numerous other close calls with enemies while learning more about the upcoming Final Solution—yes, that final solution. The book makes the most progress when the kids encounter a society of dissidents trying to preserve the civilization that existed before the Republic of True America and its psychotic, beauty-queen chancellor. The tantalizing glimpses of the greater world don’t satisfy but—especially combined with the explosive final showdown—might encourage readers to stay for another installment.
Heroics, bravery, and action don’t compensate for serious implausibility issues. (Post-apocalyptic adventure. 13-17)Pub Date: Jan. 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-221605-2
Page Count: 448
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An enjoyable, if predictable, romantic holiday story.
Is an exuberant extended family the cure for a breakup? Sophie is about to find out.
When Sophie unexpectedly breaks up with her boyfriend, she isn’t thrilled about spending the holidays at her grandparents’ house instead of with him. And when her grandmother forms a plan to distract Sophie from her broken heart—10 blind dates, each set up by different family members—she’s even less thrilled. Everyone gets involved with the matchmaking, even forming a betting pool on the success of each date. But will Sophie really find someone to fill the space left by her ex? Will her ex get wind of Sophie’s dating spree via social media and want them to get back together? Is that what she even wants anymore? This is a fun story of finding love, getting to know yourself, and getting to know your family. The pace is quick and light, though the characters are fairly shallow and occasionally feel interchangeable, especially with so many names involved. A Christmas tale, the plot is a fast-paced series of dinners, parties, and games, relayed in both narrative form and via texts, though the humor occasionally feels stiff and overwrought. The ending is satisfying, though largely unsurprising. Most characters default to white as members of Sophie’s Italian American extended family, although one of her cousins has a Filipina mother. One uncle is gay.
An enjoyable, if predictable, romantic holiday story. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-02749-6
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes.
What happens to the world after the dust from a revolution has settled?
Friends Annie and Lee were children from very different circles when Atreus killed Lee’s father, dragonlord Leon Stormscourge, ending the uprising on the bloodiest day in Callipolis’ history. For too long the dragonriders held all the power while their people starved and lived in fear. Nine years later, a new generation of dragonriders is emerging, children selected and trained on merit, not bloodlines. Their dragons are finally mature enough for them to compete for Firstrider, a position of power that can give Lee back a small part of what his family lost. However, not only is Lee competing against Annie, but rumors are circulating that some of the royal family have survived and have dragons of their own. Everyone will have to make a choice: Restore the old regime, support the First Protector and the new caste system he created, or look for a new way, no matter what the cost. From the beginning, this book pulls readers in with political intrigue and action. What keeps them invested, however, are the complex relationships between many cast members. Choices are complex, and the consequences for all could be deadly. The world is well fleshed out and believable. Annie and Lee are light skinned; secondary characters are diverse, and race is a nonissue in this world.
Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes. (author’s note) (Fantasy.14-17)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-525-51821-1
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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