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smittenforfiction 's review for:
Dare Mighty Things
by Heather Kaczynski
Dare Mighty Things is a fast-paced story that takes place at the Johnson Space Center twenty-five years from now. Cassie, a seventeen-year-old genetically engineered Indian-American is competing with sixty-two young, smart, and fit young people for a chance to go on a top-secret space mission.
"I wanted to be a pioneer. To dare mighty things. What was out there would forever call to me, and the things I could do for history were more important than my one little life."
The diverse cast is refreshing. Emilio is latino, Hanna's German, Mitsuko is a married Japanese-American bisexual. Cassie's biggest competition is Luka, the son of a UN Ambassador. These characters are well fleshed out, with distinct personalities, desires, fears, strengths and flaws. The female rep is fantastic - strong, smart, confident.
"I’m so curious about the universe-we know so little and I want to learn it all, see it all-there are so many wonders out there that humans have never dreamed possible. I want to help us get there. I want to discover. I want to know. Don’t you?"
This space story is all about self-discovery, being grateful for our planet, forgiveness, facing your fears and following your dreams.
The romance is not insta-love, which is nice, however, I feel like it was completely unnecessary, especially when Cassie identified as asexual. I don't know a lot about gender identity, but I feel like if she's identified herself as asexual there should have been more internal conflict of her feelings towards a certain someone.
Kaczynski is a talented writer, and I'm excited to read more from her. If you liked Cinder, Illuminae, Hunger Games, or Divergent then I think you'd like Dare Mighty Things. A great young adult novel for Sci-Fi fans, but also to those who enjoy a character-driven story with a big twist ending.
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4.3/5 Rounded down to 4 on Goodreads
"I wanted to be a pioneer. To dare mighty things. What was out there would forever call to me, and the things I could do for history were more important than my one little life."
The diverse cast is refreshing. Emilio is latino, Hanna's German, Mitsuko is a married Japanese-American bisexual. Cassie's biggest competition is Luka, the son of a UN Ambassador. These characters are well fleshed out, with distinct personalities, desires, fears, strengths and flaws. The female rep is fantastic - strong, smart, confident.
"I’m so curious about the universe-we know so little and I want to learn it all, see it all-there are so many wonders out there that humans have never dreamed possible. I want to help us get there. I want to discover. I want to know. Don’t you?"
This space story is all about self-discovery, being grateful for our planet, forgiveness, facing your fears and following your dreams.
The romance is not insta-love, which is nice, however, I feel like it was completely unnecessary, especially when Cassie identified as asexual. I don't know a lot about gender identity, but I feel like if she's identified herself as asexual there should have been more internal conflict of her feelings towards a certain someone.
Kaczynski is a talented writer, and I'm excited to read more from her. If you liked Cinder, Illuminae, Hunger Games, or Divergent then I think you'd like Dare Mighty Things. A great young adult novel for Sci-Fi fans, but also to those who enjoy a character-driven story with a big twist ending.
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4.3/5 Rounded down to 4 on Goodreads