Posts Tagged 'prisoner'

Michael Vey: The Rise of the Elgen by Richard Paul Evans

Genre:  Science Fiction

# of pages:  335

RAC Book:  Yes

In this sequel, Michael and his friends who escaped from the academy are trying to stay away from Dr. Hatch, while also finding and rescuing Michael’s mother.   They learn Michael’s mother is being held in Peru and try to find a way to get there, but no matter where they go the Elgen keep finding them.  A mysterious voice on a cell phone keeps warning them of impending danger and vows to help, but so far they have not stepped in to do much.  Going to Peru is very dangerous because they are being tracked.   Plus, the place where Michael’s mother is being held is highly secure and a place where torture is commonplace.  Can they really breach the fortress in order to save her and safely get out again?

Like the first in the series, this book is full of action and adventure at every turn.  There is no dead time for Michael and his friends to catch their breath.  Every time they think they have created a brilliant plan they are thwarted in their endeavors by Hatch.  This one is a bit darker than the first and torture is featured quite often.  It’s not gory, but becomes a huge focus of the book and in many ways it feels like the plot does not develop that much.  We know pretty much what we knew before this book.  We still have a lot of unanswered questions about the Electroclan, what their plans are, and how they plan to survive.  Fans of the first will enjoy this one too.  Recommended for reluctant readers.

Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Genre:  Science Fiction

# of Pages:  309

RAC Book:  Yes

In this sequel to Glow, Waverly and Kieran are still on the space vessel the Empyrean while trying to lead the other kids on board and plan an attack against The New Horizon for kidnapping their parents.  Kieran has self-appointed himself to the position of captain, which grates on some of the younger kids after what they went through with Seth.  Seth, meanwhile, is in the brig and feeling bad about what he has done.  One day he wakes up and the door to his cell is open.  He walks out, but cannot help feeling like it is a trap.   Kieran is still very afraid of Seth after what happened in the last book and tries to blame everything he can on the face that he escaped.  Seth did not have anything to do with the mysterious goings on on board, but then who did?  It seems unlikely any of these children would want to hurt their own ship or those on it.  Can Waverly assert her power as a leader on this ship?  Can Kieran hold onto his power without abuing it?

The only thing I did not like about this book was that it ended too quickly and there is an entire year before the next one comes out.  Glow was one of my favorite books of the year.  These young teens have to think on a whole new level now that they are in charge of a entire vessel and the pressure starts to get to all of them.  Facts start coming out about what happened before the New Horizon’s attack on the Empyrean and it is easy for readers to see how the characters got to this position, but you can’t help feel for these young people who have suffered so much because of decisions the leaders of these ships made.  It really makes you think about the decisions any leader of a nation has and how those decisions affect generations to come.  This book was full of action and adventure, but it goes quickly and will leave fans hungry for more.


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