A deliberately paced but gripping tale that boosts a remarkable SF series.
This YA novel centers on a teenager who struggles with his new life—carrying the world’s evil inside his body.
Paul Salvage’s victory at a government-sanctioned competition means he’s now “the Vessel.” Scientists implant him with “devil particles” extracted from the three billion people on dystopian Earth. These particles are what lead humans to commit evil acts but, scientists theorize, someone “perfectly good” can safely hold them. Yet Paul fears he’s the wrong person for this gig, as he’s done something dreadful that a conk on the head had, for a time, made him forget. Now, he lives in a bedroom inside a lab while his body undergoes tortuous emotional and physical changes. When things start improving, including his newly heightened senses, Paul feels his distrust start to surge. Gaige Devlin, his dead brother’s best friend, may be getting cozy with Paul’s beloved, Jaelyn Bellamy (“What a creep. Honing in on my girlfriend while I’m risking my life to save the world”). In addition, President Stark Cicero, who somehow knows of Paul’s nefarious past deed, is spearheading the formation of a world government, surely with herself at the head. Although Earth has found peace, the evil inside Paul seems to be fighting for control. Oakley’s SF sequel takes a noticeable turn from its predecessor—a suspenseful competition makes way for inner turmoil. It’s a slow burn this time, as much of the action unfolds at a lab, and narrator Paul spends a lot of time in his ever-conflicted head. Still, this absorbing tale follows a protagonist who gets increasingly paranoid while any sympathy readers have for him (especially from the initial agony the devil particles cause) may gradually wane. The story is furthermore a subtle exploration of toxic masculinity, as Paul, who feels like a “caged animal” at the lab, seems intent on dominating others, be it the scientists or Jaelyn. The final act churns out several impressive shocks and ends on a cliffhanger that will leave readers yearning for the series’ third installment.
A deliberately paced but gripping tale that boosts a remarkable SF series.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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