Scan barcode
libscote's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't get past my setting issues to really enjoy the story.
rayne709's review against another edition
4.0
Everytime I thought it was over something else happens! So many questions, I need the next book!
jillcd's review against another edition
4.0
I would give this a 3.5 star rating….It was an interesting book with lots of plot twists. I can see it appealing to Jr High boys although girls might find it enjoyable as well. The concept was intriguing and the characters were believable.
chwaters's review against another edition
3.0
Strange things are happening on Pemberwick Island. First, the star quarterback suddenly dies during a game. Several more unexplained deaths occur shortly after. An unknown man turns up offering a red crystal called "Ruby" that supposedly gives the individual ingesting it immediate superhuman strength. Then, local kid Tucker and his friend Quinn witness an extraordinary spectacle: a mysterious black ship flying towards the island over the ocean, emitting a strange musical tone. Finally, the military moves onto the island, informing the locals that they are now under a quarantine due to the series of unexplained deaths. Tucker and his friend Quinn know these odd occurrences must all be connected somehow and begin to investigate. It's only a matter of time before they witness someone trying to leave the island, only to be killed by soldiers. Finding answers is going to be a potentially deadly quest, but Tucker, Quinn and Tucker's crush Tori are determined to find out what is happening to their formerly idyllic island home.
SYLO is a fast-paced action story. There are several stock characters - Tori, the smart and pretty love object with a knack for boating; Quinn, the highly intelligent, sarcastic comic relief; a host of seemingly oblivious or outright evil adult characters. Subtleties are not this book's strong suit. It's not a bad a book, by any means. It's certainly unpredictable and the very last chapter is clearly designed to make readers run out to buy the rest of trilogy. So very little is explained by the end of the book that some readers may find it frustrating. Those who love action sequences, military secrets and don't mind unmemorable characters will find a lot to enjoy in this series. It wasn't really ideal for me, but my middle school kids absolutely loved it.
SYLO is a fast-paced action story. There are several stock characters - Tori, the smart and pretty love object with a knack for boating; Quinn, the highly intelligent, sarcastic comic relief; a host of seemingly oblivious or outright evil adult characters. Subtleties are not this book's strong suit. It's not a bad a book, by any means. It's certainly unpredictable and the very last chapter is clearly designed to make readers run out to buy the rest of trilogy. So very little is explained by the end of the book that some readers may find it frustrating. Those who love action sequences, military secrets and don't mind unmemorable characters will find a lot to enjoy in this series. It wasn't really ideal for me, but my middle school kids absolutely loved it.
maureenmccombs's review against another edition
2.0
One more for Ya class. Too unrealistic, too repetitive, too long. Just too everyrhing. Meh.
heregrim's review against another edition
3.0
Well written with a fast addicting plot. The main characters don't read like the 14 year olds they are suppose to be and the Ruby plot that drives the novel has nothing to do with the side plot that drives the series. Still a book that I feel middle schools will quickly come back to.
cjmichel's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up an autographed advanced reading copy of SYLO by D.J. MacHale when I attended the power readers day of Book Expo America in June of this year, an exciting event where readers like me get to check out what is soon to be released, meet favorite authors and publishing groups. I was able to listen to D.J. MacHale discuss his various books and was excited to have the opportunity to receive and read SYLO which was released July 2nd. I'm sorry I didn't get to the book sooner.
SYLO opened with high school football told from the perspective of the quarterback's backup guy. The quarterback brings his team to victory, raises his hands in exultation and keels over. Dead. His body is whisked away to be examined. Now the backup has to step up and be the center of attention, not a place he really aspired to. He liked being on the sidelines, hiding under the radar. Life has changed....in more ways than one as the island town soon becomes invaded by mysterious shadows in the night sky, exploding off the edge of the shore and followed by a secret naval group called SYLO who parachute patrols in to police the inhabitants under the now quarantined area. What is going on? Who do you trust and who is telling the truth? Is anybody!
The novel moves along, keeping you gripping the edge of your seat trying to find the truth. What are the black shadows in the night sky with advanced weaponry like nothing ever seen before? Who or what is SYLO? Are they really with the government? Well, just when you actually find out what is happening, the book ends: a cliffhanger for the next book in the series, I presume. This is one of those novels where you really need the next installment to be waiting for you when you are done with the first, because you will want to continue on with the next installment right away. A true cliff hanger. At least it didn't leave the reader high and dry like some novels of late. SYLO answered the most important question before leaving you dieing for the next.
SYLO opened with high school football told from the perspective of the quarterback's backup guy. The quarterback brings his team to victory, raises his hands in exultation and keels over. Dead. His body is whisked away to be examined. Now the backup has to step up and be the center of attention, not a place he really aspired to. He liked being on the sidelines, hiding under the radar. Life has changed....in more ways than one as the island town soon becomes invaded by mysterious shadows in the night sky, exploding off the edge of the shore and followed by a secret naval group called SYLO who parachute patrols in to police the inhabitants under the now quarantined area. What is going on? Who do you trust and who is telling the truth? Is anybody!
The novel moves along, keeping you gripping the edge of your seat trying to find the truth. What are the black shadows in the night sky with advanced weaponry like nothing ever seen before? Who or what is SYLO? Are they really with the government? Well, just when you actually find out what is happening, the book ends: a cliffhanger for the next book in the series, I presume. This is one of those novels where you really need the next installment to be waiting for you when you are done with the first, because you will want to continue on with the next installment right away. A true cliff hanger. At least it didn't leave the reader high and dry like some novels of late. SYLO answered the most important question before leaving you dieing for the next.
krisis86's review against another edition
2.0
I loved MacHale's Pendragon series, so I had to test out this series too. Sylo is not a terrible book. It's definitely the beginning of a long and involved trilogy, so I'm glad I didn't start reading it until all 3 books had been released or I would have been mad about having to wait after cliffhangers. I was surprised by which characters died and which didn't, but unsurprised by the major plot twists that happened throughout the book.
I think this book might appeal to teenage boys, but I didn't think it was all that great. And it was certainly a very far cry from how amazing Pendragon was.
I think this book might appeal to teenage boys, but I didn't think it was all that great. And it was certainly a very far cry from how amazing Pendragon was.
scurvycur's review against another edition
4.0
i love d.j. machale, and the pendragon series is in my top five. the writing style in this book was vastly different than the writing in that series. lots of words used repetitively when there are many other words to use (for instance, "sober" or "sobering" or "soberly").
there were also some other things i didn't understand in this book, such as the taking of prisoners. it wasn't really explained, because the ending snuck up on you really quickly. otherwise, this was a pretty good book and it kept me entertained and i'm going to continue on with the series.
there were also some other things i didn't understand in this book, such as the taking of prisoners. it wasn't really explained, because the ending snuck up on you really quickly. otherwise, this was a pretty good book and it kept me entertained and i'm going to continue on with the series.
breecreative's review against another edition
3.0
Part of me hates that the book ended with so many questions so now I need to read the next one, even though I didn't enjoy the writing all that much. I still want to know what the heck is going on.