December 1, 2015
Gr 7-10-An incoming asteroid is projected to end all life on Earth and 100 highly skilled children and four adults wait in space until the time when it is safe to return to the planet. With the isolated society that has formed on the space station, many dynamic relationships develop and evolve, though characterization does take a backseat to plot, which is what really drives this space adventure. Readers will feel immediately immersed in the communal space atmosphere and connected to the fate of the crew. It may be a stretch to imagine the population of Earth would allow a 16-year-old to lead a mission this large, but the politics of all that entails is captivating and richly drawn. Fans of Ender's Game will appreciate the attention paid to the importance of leadership skills and those that enjoyed the problem solving aspects of Andy Weir's The Martian (Broadway, 2014) will be right at home as disaster inevitably strikes. Although there is a prequel, End of Days (Doubleday Canada, 2011), this book can stand alone and the cliff-hanger ending will drive all readers straight to the next installment. VERDICT This exciting adventure will please sci-fi fans, specifically those who enjoy reading about rebuilding a society after a catastrophic event.-Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ
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