The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm Science Fiction Tween – grades 5-8 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Ellie, sixth-grader, takes it in stride when her grandfather – who has cultured the elixir of youth from a heretofore unknown jellyfish – comes to live with her and her mother after being arrested for breaking into his own lab. Because his elixir works. And he’s now the same cantankerous and opinionated old man (who loves Chinese … Read more
Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis Fairytale Retelling Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Princess Snow (aka “Essie”) escaped to Thanda 8 years ago when her stepmother, Olivia, made an attempt on her life. Since then, she’s become adept at “stitching” together codes to modify the programming of the mining droids at settlement 42, and values the mental and physical challenges of her work (she makes extra money participating in the fighting circuit). When … Read more
Insurgent Divergent #2 by Veronica Roth Adventure Dystopian Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I absolutely love this book because it continued right on from Divergent, the first book. When Tris and Tobias set out to fight their way back to Erudite headquarters there’s so much action and the book never leaves you bored. It does always keep you hanging, though. I definitely recommend reading this book, but after you … Read more
Champion Legend series #3 by Marie Lu Dystopian Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) June and Day have been apart for a year when Day gets a message that June wants to see him. The Republic is in trouble. If it can’t produce a cure for the plague that is sweeping through the Colonies, they will attack. The Republic has no such cure, but its leader believes they can develop one if they … Read more
Four Companion novel to Divergent series by Veronica Roth Adventure Dystopian Romance Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This is a book based from the Divergent series also by Veronica Roth. In this book, Four, otherwise known as Tobias Eaton, is telling the story through his point of view. This book is addicting and interesting/fun to read, but is lacking a lot of details. I understand that details are not as … Read more
Reached Matched #3 by Ally Condie Dystopian Romance Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) The revolution is finally taking place. The Rising has released a water-borne plague which has brought the Society to its knees. The Rising has the only cure, and is distributing it as quickly and as widely as possible. Its leaders plan to take over where the Society has left off once the populace is cured. But their plans … Read more
Allegiant Divergent #3 by Veronica Roth Dystopian Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent series, takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions as it brings the world of Tris, Tobias, Caleb, Christina, and the rest of the characters to a close. Allegiant was an impressive ending, and Veronica Roth should continue writing as she obviously has been extremely gifted in that … Read more
The Silversix by AJ Lieberman Artwork by Darren Rawlings Graphic Novel Science FictionTween Graphic Novel/Science Fiction/Dystopia Phoebe is able to avoid detection for a year after her parents die in a shuttle explosion orchestrated by the evil Mr. Craven of the Craven Mining Corporation (which has a monopoly on the world’s fuel source – Hydro-2), but then someone manages to track a file transfer from her parents’ ship to her apartment, and she’s taken into … Read more
Allegiant Divergent #3 by Veronica Roth Dystopian Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) After revealing Edith Prior’s message to the Divergent – to find out what lies beyond the city’s borders – Tris and some others who are unhappy with Evelyn Eaton’s tyranny (she and the Factionless have disbanded the faction system and forbidden anyone to leave) make their escape. They expect to find people who need their help, but instead, they find … Read more
Star Wars: Jedi Academy Jedi Academy #1 by Jeffrey Brown Illustrated Fiction Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Roan lives on Tatooine. He likes drawing comics and is looking forward to going to Pilot School. But his hopes are dashed when he learns that his application to Pilot School has been rejected – what now? Will he have to stay on Tatooine and be a farmer? He doesn’t exactly have a … Read more