Artemis by Andy Weir – Suspense in Space
Artemis by Andy Weir – Suspense in Space
It’s really impossible not to make comparisons between Andy Weir’s new novel, Artemis, and his prior blockbuster, The Martian. The protagonist here lacks the hero quality of The Martian‘s Watney but possesses his brilliance and humor.
Jazz is the genius that could have done anything, but refused. Instead of an extreme tale of survival, there’s an extreme caper gone horribly awry. The plot is even more tightly crafted and accelerates to a breakneck speed. Weir appears to be creating a whole new fiction genre, the believable and scientifically sound sci-fi thriller. It wasn’t a genre I was aware that we needed; but having had a two tastes, I now need more.
“Amid Stars and Darkness” by Chani Lynn Feener
“Amid Stars and Darkness” by Chani Lynn Feener
Delaney Grace is just a normal girl, living in a world where aliens have recently revealed their presence. They are very similar to humans in nature, but far more advanced in technology. Delaney’s best friend Mariana is obsessed with these alien races and spends a lot of time learning about them. Now she’s on her way to her first blind date, with Delaney as her wing man.
Unfortunately, while Mariana is busy with her new conquest, Delaney runs into trouble and ends up kidnapped by the Vakar and taken to their world. Now she must play the part of the missing alien princess to avoid intergalactic war. Which would be so much easier if everyone wasn’t trying to kill her. Everyone except her own royal guard, Ruckus, that is. Soon they are feeling their own sparks, but as Delaney wants nothing more than to return to her own planet, will it be for naught?
While some of the characters were little more than stereotypes, for the most part they were believable and engaging. The world Feener has created here is one that lends itself to many adventures to come. Can’t wait to see the rest of this series, and whatever else she comes up with as well.
This is a great new sci-fi romance, perfect for fans of These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner. Fair warning though – this leaves readers with an awful cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to wait anxiously for book 2.
“Adventure Cats” by Laura J. Moss
“Adventure Cats” by Laura J. Moss
Finally a book for folks who love the outdoors and would love to enjoy it with their furry partners. My neighborhood isn’t a safe place for unsupervised exploring much to door dashing Gracie’s disgust. I now have a system for getting her leash trained and outdoor approved. I don’t know if she’ll ever take on a surf board or skis, but this summer, Grace is getting out!
“The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness” by Paula Poundstone
“The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness” by Paula Poundstone
Can one find happiness behind the wheel of a Lamborghini? How about in an nursing home? A dojo? Paula Poundstone’s not entirely scientific inquiries of these and many other pressing questions are answered in this latest book. From getting connected to getting outdoors, she pursues each possibility with total abandon and laugh out loud results. And down under the mirth, there’s some meat as well. I know which experiments I’ll be exploring.
“The Beast is an Animal” by Peternelle van Arsdale
“The Beast is an Animal” by Peternelle van Arsdale
Atmospheric and eerie, The Beast is an Animal is a tale of power and suspense, prejudice and fear. When the village is faced with hardship, the blame is placed upon twin daughters, born to the farmer who lives at the edge of the forest. In order to save them from death, the farmer moves his wife and daughters into the forest, promising to bring them back when the village is more prosperous. Over the years, he comes to visit less and less, and soon the girls find themselves alone, living in the forest. And becoming part of the forest, something new, yet old. Something terrifying. And they are set to take revenge upon the village that cast them out.
In the village, Alys is the only one awake when the sisters come, and she alone is left to discover the carnage they leave behind. All children were spared, and a traveler sends word to a neighboring village of their plight. But all is not well, as the new village does not accept these children as their own, and they are left outside the Gate to defend the town. Can they fight off the evil lurking in the forest? Or will the sisters finally get their prey? Only Alys stands between life and total destruction.
This was a great read. The writing was very descriptive, pulling the reader into the setting and creating tension and suspense. I recommend it for fans of gothic tales as it had much the same feelings of oppression and impending doom.
Rachel deals with a lot of emotional and physical pain as she goes through her treatment. Her mother also had scoliosis and had to have surgery and she is worried Rachel will end up needing surgery too. Her father spends most of his time working. Rachel has to learn to communicate with her parents and her doctors to tell them what she needs and show them she is her own person with her own life and desires.
Friends and boys are also a huge concern for Rachel. What if no one likes her because she has to wear her brace? Will they make fun of her because of how she looks? And most importantly, is she going to make the soccer team?
This is a great book about relationships, communication, and standing up for yourself. The characters are well written and realistic, and there are plenty of emotional connections made. Rachel is a great main character, and readers of all ages can relate to some of what she is going through, but this is a perfect read for those ages 12-14.
Professional Reviews:
“A masterfully constructed and highly empathetic debut about a different kind of acceptance.” —Booklist, starred review