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deliah27's review
4.0
Sci Fy is not a genre I usually choose and I was a little nervous about reading it. My daughter and I won an ARC and I decided to give it a try. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it! The imagery was so clear and I could see this becoming a movie.
Any troubles reading this came from Sci Fy being a foreign genre to me and not the writing.
Any troubles reading this came from Sci Fy being a foreign genre to me and not the writing.
the_fabric_of_words's review
5.0
My 14-year-old son loved this one! We had to request it from another library via "Interlibrary loan," but it was well worth the wait.
Setting: The year is 4182, somewhere in outer space. When we meet Daniel, his mind has been wiped and he's plopped back into his bunk. While all the grubs (other kids) around him recognize him, he has no idea who he is or how he got to this forsaken mining shaft. He re-meets Nails, a good friend who has, well, nails growing where hair should, and Blink, a steadfast friend.
The children are forced to mine for lost relics of an advanced civilization in the rock for the Overseers, a race of horrible, hideous creatures who make the boys disappear for the smallest infraction of their arbitrary rules. It has the feel of a Nazi concentration work camp, with the kids forced to mine every day with large animals called Trabasaurs, a sort of triceratops / ankylosaurus mix with bad tempers and clubs on their tails that are used to whale away at the rock. After sifting through the rubble, the boys are given only meager rations, wear tattered rags and sleep stacked in barracks. Escape is a distant dream, pushed out of their minds by the horrible prospect of being thrown in the pit.
But then Daniel actually finds a relic. It attaches itself to his chest. He can't get it off. But it also protects him, shielding him from the Overseer With it protecting him, he launches on a mad-cap escape from the mine to the surface and beyond as a stowaway on a Truth Seeker vessel where he learns the grubs are but pawns in a game of intergalactic war.
Can he convince the Truth Seekers to save his friends? Or will they believe the lies and the mis-truths of the evil Sinja, who will do anything to win this war -- including kidnapping and weaving children into their evil plot -- once and for all.
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.strikingly.com/
Setting: The year is 4182, somewhere in outer space. When we meet Daniel, his mind has been wiped and he's plopped back into his bunk. While all the grubs (other kids) around him recognize him, he has no idea who he is or how he got to this forsaken mining shaft. He re-meets Nails, a good friend who has, well, nails growing where hair should, and Blink, a steadfast friend.
The children are forced to mine for lost relics of an advanced civilization in the rock for the Overseers, a race of horrible, hideous creatures who make the boys disappear for the smallest infraction of their arbitrary rules. It has the feel of a Nazi concentration work camp, with the kids forced to mine every day with large animals called Trabasaurs, a sort of triceratops / ankylosaurus mix with bad tempers and clubs on their tails that are used to whale away at the rock. After sifting through the rubble, the boys are given only meager rations, wear tattered rags and sleep stacked in barracks. Escape is a distant dream, pushed out of their minds by the horrible prospect of being thrown in the pit.
But then Daniel actually finds a relic. It attaches itself to his chest. He can't get it off. But it also protects him, shielding him from the Overseer With it protecting him, he launches on a mad-cap escape from the mine to the surface and beyond as a stowaway on a Truth Seeker vessel where he learns the grubs are but pawns in a game of intergalactic war.
Can he convince the Truth Seekers to save his friends? Or will they believe the lies and the mis-truths of the evil Sinja, who will do anything to win this war -- including kidnapping and weaving children into their evil plot -- once and for all.
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.strikingly.com/
windeekae's review
4.0
I'm an equal opportunity reader and I do like reading books geared towards middle grades. I received this ARC from a friend who thought that I'd really enjoy the book and I did. The book starts out a little slow as the author is building the world, characters and language all at once. After about 50 pages - the story line and the adventure for Daniel Coldstar really picked up.
I enjoyed the plot and characters and the "twist" at the end. I too really liked the quote "Remember, the biggest mistake we can make is to stop asking questions; not only of others, but of ourselves." I thought what a great lesson to give the kids that would read this book.
I have nieces that are in the middle grade category and I wouldn't hesitate recommending this book to them.
I enjoyed the plot and characters and the "twist" at the end. I too really liked the quote "Remember, the biggest mistake we can make is to stop asking questions; not only of others, but of ourselves." I thought what a great lesson to give the kids that would read this book.
I have nieces that are in the middle grade category and I wouldn't hesitate recommending this book to them.
twinmomesq2012's review
4.0
This book is outside the genres I usually read, but I had seen comments about it from friends online and was fortunate to receive an advance reader copy, so I decided I would give it a whirl. The first 50 pages or so were a little tough for me to get through, with the author introducing not only multiple characters but an entirely new universe. However, after that point, things moved fast, and I really enjoyed the book. It left me wanting more of the characters and the story line.
There was a twist near the end of the book that I definitely didn't see coming! (Don't want to say more than that and spoil it.) Actually, I didn't predict the ending of the book at all, which to me is a sign of a good book.
Daniel is a relatable character, and I found the universe in which this book is set very intriguing. The author is very imaginative!
There was a twist near the end of the book that I definitely didn't see coming! (Don't want to say more than that and spoil it.) Actually, I didn't predict the ending of the book at all, which to me is a sign of a good book.
Daniel is a relatable character, and I found the universe in which this book is set very intriguing. The author is very imaginative!
barberchicago_books's review
5.0
So, WOW. "Nothing is freer than the truth... but lies serve a master." This middle-grade sci-fi has series written all over it, and has some tough questions that are very relevant today. Daniel Coldstar reminds me of other great fantasy series protagonists (Harry and Percy, to name just two) and it's clear that Daniel's quest will be long, arduous, and have dire consequences if it goes wrong. I'm looking forward to learning more about the future universe Pavlou created and seeing where Daniel's journey takes him!
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