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Recommend this book:
Drone Child
A Novel of War, Family, and Survival
David H. Rothman
2022 Honorable Mention
196 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Drone Child: A Novel of War, Family, and Survival is a work of fiction in the military and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author David H. Rothman. The book is a revised edition of No Taller than My Gun. The book follows 15-year-old Lemba Adula after his abduction by the Congolese Purification Army, which uses the threat of violence against his family to force him to operate drones for them. Targeted due to his reputation as a genius, Lemba must use all his wits and cunning if he stands any chance of escaping and rescuing his sister from a sex trafficker.
This was a challenging but powerful read exploring the dread that comes from being a young person living in an area of conflict; the recruitment of child soldiers and the threat of sexual exploitation are particularly given a great deal of gravity from the point of view of a child affected by conflict. David H. Rothman has a compelling tale to tell and an important message to impart to readers about the reality of distant warzones. Lemba deserves highlighting as an excellent protagonist for this type of story; at once feeling physically in danger due to being a minor in a world of aggressive adults but also having power in his intellect and determination. A harsh but compelling discussion on the real-world plight of child soldiers, Drone Child should be lauded for the frank conversations it has the power to open for younger readers.
Drone Child: A Novel of War, Family, and Survival is a work of fiction in the military and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author David H. Rothman. The book is a revised edition of No Taller than My Gun. The book follows 15-year-old Lemba Adula after his abduction by the Congolese Purification Army, which uses the threat of violence against his family to force him to operate drones for them. Targeted due to his reputation as a genius, Lemba must use all his wits and cunning if he stands any chance of escaping and rescuing his sister from a sex trafficker.
This was a challenging but powerful read exploring the dread that comes from being a young person living in an area of conflict; the recruitment of child soldiers and the threat of sexual exploitation are particularly given a great deal of gravity from the point of view of a child affected by conflict. David H. Rothman has a compelling tale to tell and an important message to impart to readers about the reality of distant warzones. Lemba deserves highlighting as an excellent protagonist for this type of story; at once feeling physically in danger due to being a minor in a world of aggressive adults but also having power in his intellect and determination. A harsh but compelling discussion on the real-world plight of child soldiers, Drone Child should be lauded for the frank conversations it has the power to open for younger readers.
Recommend this book:
The Locket
Brittany Bessonett
2022 Bronze Medal
242 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite
The Locket by Brittany Bessonett relates that nine years earlier Katie experienced a horrible sexual assault that changed her life. Constantly living in fear and dealing with the PTSD that followed, she kept away from the place where the attack occurred in the hope of living a relatively normal life. For this reason, she never stayed in one place for long, until she found herself in Victoria, Texas, finding a job that she enjoyed and a friendship she deemed worth keeping. Even her best friend's stepbrother is looking unthreatening, which is extreme growth on her part. Everything feels as if it’s falling into place until a stranger comes to her work, looking for her. Once again she’s on high alert and she is terrified that the man who destroyed her life was back to finish her off. Suddenly everyone she has come to know is being thrown into question, especially when the locket that was stolen during her attack turns up in an unexpected place. Will Katie ever get the closure that she needs, or will she be plagued to run from town to town having no one she can truly trust?
I found The Locket a very powerful read that puts you in the shoes of a sexual assault victim. As someone who has never personally had this happen, I found it realistic and you could understand where Katie was coming from and why she was the way that she was. Katie is a very relatable character because even if you have never suffered an assault, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur as a result of many different experiences or events in a person's life. I understood why it was hard for her to trust and make friends, as well as the need to keep moving. How it feels to have life finally seem to be going your way only to be shattered by something that triggers your memories takes you three steps back. I think Brittany Bessonett has done an amazing job bringing this subject to the fore and creating a character that many people can relate to in one way or another. I can’t wait to read more of Bessonett’s work.
The Locket by Brittany Bessonett relates that nine years earlier Katie experienced a horrible sexual assault that changed her life. Constantly living in fear and dealing with the PTSD that followed, she kept away from the place where the attack occurred in the hope of living a relatively normal life. For this reason, she never stayed in one place for long, until she found herself in Victoria, Texas, finding a job that she enjoyed and a friendship she deemed worth keeping. Even her best friend's stepbrother is looking unthreatening, which is extreme growth on her part. Everything feels as if it’s falling into place until a stranger comes to her work, looking for her. Once again she’s on high alert and she is terrified that the man who destroyed her life was back to finish her off. Suddenly everyone she has come to know is being thrown into question, especially when the locket that was stolen during her attack turns up in an unexpected place. Will Katie ever get the closure that she needs, or will she be plagued to run from town to town having no one she can truly trust?
I found The Locket a very powerful read that puts you in the shoes of a sexual assault victim. As someone who has never personally had this happen, I found it realistic and you could understand where Katie was coming from and why she was the way that she was. Katie is a very relatable character because even if you have never suffered an assault, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur as a result of many different experiences or events in a person's life. I understood why it was hard for her to trust and make friends, as well as the need to keep moving. How it feels to have life finally seem to be going your way only to be shattered by something that triggers your memories takes you three steps back. I think Brittany Bessonett has done an amazing job bringing this subject to the fore and creating a character that many people can relate to in one way or another. I can’t wait to read more of Bessonett’s work.
Recommend this book:
Ninety-Five
Lisa Towles
2022 Silver Medal
266 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite
Barely accustomed to life as a student at the University of Chicago after transferring from NYU, Zak Skinner’s life takes one giant wild turn. It all starts with a fellow student, David Wade, introducing Zak Skinner to drugs. Before Zak knows it, he has developed a strong affinity for reality-altering substances. It is for this same reason that he allows David to take him to Jane’s house, where he consumes a powerful concoction that temporarily halts his ability to tell a hallucination and reality apart. This makes it especially hard for Zak to relate his encounters (after taking Jane’s concoction) to his best friend Riley later on. Soon, they both discover Zak had fallen victim to a dirty scheme driven by an underworld organization near the university. Somehow by getting them hooked on drugs and using blackmail threats, the organization forces its victims and targets to commit crimes. In a bid to find out more, Zak realizes he is being hunted by the organization. Get yourself Lisa Towles' Ninety-Five to learn more.
Lisa Towles does a remarkable job with Ninety-Five. The story’s fast pace and the quite complex plot blend very well. Lisa’s writing style is unique. Adopting the use of complex sentence structures, the storyline of Ninety-Five is quickly but steadily developed. Lisa’s ideas are aligned intriguingly. The story is told from the protagonist’s perspective, and this maintains a delicate line between the imagined and the real world. It was hard to tell whether Zak was experiencing things in reality or he was hallucinating. The transition between the many subplots and chapters is great. The plot is impressively engrossing and generally comprehensible. The details about campus life and the technology used in the story have depth and are convincing enough for the story. The characters are wonderfully developed. What I love most about Zak is his intelligence. Enthusiasts of fast-paced thrillers will love Ninety-Five. It is a magnificent piece of work.
Barely accustomed to life as a student at the University of Chicago after transferring from NYU, Zak Skinner’s life takes one giant wild turn. It all starts with a fellow student, David Wade, introducing Zak Skinner to drugs. Before Zak knows it, he has developed a strong affinity for reality-altering substances. It is for this same reason that he allows David to take him to Jane’s house, where he consumes a powerful concoction that temporarily halts his ability to tell a hallucination and reality apart. This makes it especially hard for Zak to relate his encounters (after taking Jane’s concoction) to his best friend Riley later on. Soon, they both discover Zak had fallen victim to a dirty scheme driven by an underworld organization near the university. Somehow by getting them hooked on drugs and using blackmail threats, the organization forces its victims and targets to commit crimes. In a bid to find out more, Zak realizes he is being hunted by the organization. Get yourself Lisa Towles' Ninety-Five to learn more.
Lisa Towles does a remarkable job with Ninety-Five. The story’s fast pace and the quite complex plot blend very well. Lisa’s writing style is unique. Adopting the use of complex sentence structures, the storyline of Ninety-Five is quickly but steadily developed. Lisa’s ideas are aligned intriguingly. The story is told from the protagonist’s perspective, and this maintains a delicate line between the imagined and the real world. It was hard to tell whether Zak was experiencing things in reality or he was hallucinating. The transition between the many subplots and chapters is great. The plot is impressively engrossing and generally comprehensible. The details about campus life and the technology used in the story have depth and are convincing enough for the story. The characters are wonderfully developed. What I love most about Zak is his intelligence. Enthusiasts of fast-paced thrillers will love Ninety-Five. It is a magnificent piece of work.
Recommend this book:
Swarm
Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies
Guy Morris
2021 Gold Medal
444 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies by Guy Morris is a deftly plotted and brilliantly written thriller that will entice fans of conspiracy and espionage. Derek Taylor is a fugitive hacker and contractor for the National Security Agency, using the name of a murdered friend to stay alive. His ties with a terrorist hacker group make him a primary target of an investigation by Lt. Jennifer Scott, who has political backing and resources. SLVIA is an AI program that escaped NSA Lawrence Laboratory and has never been recovered. Now, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) internet virus threatens national security and SLVIA warns Taylor about the breaking of the fifth seal of end-time prophecy. It means only one thing: impending doom. The stakes get higher when a dictator, the president of the United States, releases a defective AI weapon. Two people stand the chance of saving the world: Lt. Scott and Taylor. But can they work together while the impending danger grows stronger and SLVIA is at risk of annihilation?
Guy Morris has written a novel that is gripping and intense when it comes to the action and plot points. The characters are extraordinary and they are pulled from strong backgrounds, including the Joint Artificial Intelligence Command, the CIA, the US Senate and Congress, National Security, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and many others. The writing is crisp and gorgeous, and I enjoyed the descriptions and how the author explores the intelligence and state of mind as well as the emotions of the characters. The author weaves details into the characters and the plot in a way that is fascinating. The vocabulary is rich and the imagery is exceptionally written. Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies is cleverly plotted, gripping, featuring characters that are rock-solid and a conspiracy that feels real.
Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies by Guy Morris is a deftly plotted and brilliantly written thriller that will entice fans of conspiracy and espionage. Derek Taylor is a fugitive hacker and contractor for the National Security Agency, using the name of a murdered friend to stay alive. His ties with a terrorist hacker group make him a primary target of an investigation by Lt. Jennifer Scott, who has political backing and resources. SLVIA is an AI program that escaped NSA Lawrence Laboratory and has never been recovered. Now, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) internet virus threatens national security and SLVIA warns Taylor about the breaking of the fifth seal of end-time prophecy. It means only one thing: impending doom. The stakes get higher when a dictator, the president of the United States, releases a defective AI weapon. Two people stand the chance of saving the world: Lt. Scott and Taylor. But can they work together while the impending danger grows stronger and SLVIA is at risk of annihilation?
Guy Morris has written a novel that is gripping and intense when it comes to the action and plot points. The characters are extraordinary and they are pulled from strong backgrounds, including the Joint Artificial Intelligence Command, the CIA, the US Senate and Congress, National Security, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and many others. The writing is crisp and gorgeous, and I enjoyed the descriptions and how the author explores the intelligence and state of mind as well as the emotions of the characters. The author weaves details into the characters and the plot in a way that is fascinating. The vocabulary is rich and the imagery is exceptionally written. Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies is cleverly plotted, gripping, featuring characters that are rock-solid and a conspiracy that feels real.
Recommend this book:
The Leviathan Trial
Oliver Madison
2021 Silver Medal
222 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
Picture 12 super-intelligent children, aged from pre-pubescent to their twenties, adopted, bred, and educated over the years by an eccentric billionaire. Except for the very young, each child has developed exceptional skills in varying areas. When the 90-year-old “father” suddenly dies, this mixed family is immediately locked in his massive mansion. Cell-phone communication is impossible. How will they escape? Each child wears a “Leviathan” key-pendant which will unlock specific rooms. But which room? Worse yet, the father’s dying plan is for them to use their highly developed skills to determine his rightful heir. But to do so, they must eradicate each other. It’s a horrible survival of the smartest contest. Who will survive and inherit billions and at what unmeasurable cost? And just who or what keeps flitting through the shadows?
If Hollywood is looking for a movie or TV series script where Hunger Games meets Escape Room, producers need to look no further than The Leviathan Trial by Oliver Madison. This is a Young Adult thriller on steroids! The premise of The Leviathan Trial is creepy and thoroughly engaging for those who love this kind of book. Death and danger lurk behind every door. Oliver Madison is a writer who is really enjoying where his clever mind is taking him and his readers. The action is fast-paced, the dialogue swift, and the settings elaborate and cinematic. Plot-wise and visually, this story just begs for film production. Little wonder it’s just been awarded a Silver Medal by Readers Favorite!
Picture 12 super-intelligent children, aged from pre-pubescent to their twenties, adopted, bred, and educated over the years by an eccentric billionaire. Except for the very young, each child has developed exceptional skills in varying areas. When the 90-year-old “father” suddenly dies, this mixed family is immediately locked in his massive mansion. Cell-phone communication is impossible. How will they escape? Each child wears a “Leviathan” key-pendant which will unlock specific rooms. But which room? Worse yet, the father’s dying plan is for them to use their highly developed skills to determine his rightful heir. But to do so, they must eradicate each other. It’s a horrible survival of the smartest contest. Who will survive and inherit billions and at what unmeasurable cost? And just who or what keeps flitting through the shadows?
If Hollywood is looking for a movie or TV series script where Hunger Games meets Escape Room, producers need to look no further than The Leviathan Trial by Oliver Madison. This is a Young Adult thriller on steroids! The premise of The Leviathan Trial is creepy and thoroughly engaging for those who love this kind of book. Death and danger lurk behind every door. Oliver Madison is a writer who is really enjoying where his clever mind is taking him and his readers. The action is fast-paced, the dialogue swift, and the settings elaborate and cinematic. Plot-wise and visually, this story just begs for film production. Little wonder it’s just been awarded a Silver Medal by Readers Favorite!
Recommend this book:
Ski Weekend
A Novel
Rektok Ross
2021 Bronze Medal
288 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Ski Weekend is a work of fiction in the thriller genre. It is aimed at young adults and was penned by Rektok Ross. The book follows a group of teenagers who are on a ski trip that goes terribly wrong when their SUV crashes and strands them in the mountains with no hope of calling help and limited food supplies. The lead character Sam is forced to take extreme measures to care for her brother after an attempt to seek out help leaves him with a broken leg and a fever that only gets worse as the crisis stretches out into days.
This is a suspenseful book that had me thoroughly hooked from page one, with the relationship between Sam and the other members of her group being quickly established as the group gets ready for their journey. The harsh conditions of a freezing mountain make for a brilliant backdrop to the story and Rektok Ross’s excellent prose and descriptive writing leads the reader to imagine the danger in the cold and dark surroundings. As the story unfolds, the desperation begins to set in with the characters, and their slow descent into the darker aspects of survival necessity had me on the edge of my seat. The emotional journey of Ski Weekend is relentless as the events of the story force Sam and her companions to make life-changing realizations about themselves in the face of the constant need for life or death decision-making that will haunt them forever if they are able to survive. I’d recommend this book to any young adult readers.
Ski Weekend is a work of fiction in the thriller genre. It is aimed at young adults and was penned by Rektok Ross. The book follows a group of teenagers who are on a ski trip that goes terribly wrong when their SUV crashes and strands them in the mountains with no hope of calling help and limited food supplies. The lead character Sam is forced to take extreme measures to care for her brother after an attempt to seek out help leaves him with a broken leg and a fever that only gets worse as the crisis stretches out into days.
This is a suspenseful book that had me thoroughly hooked from page one, with the relationship between Sam and the other members of her group being quickly established as the group gets ready for their journey. The harsh conditions of a freezing mountain make for a brilliant backdrop to the story and Rektok Ross’s excellent prose and descriptive writing leads the reader to imagine the danger in the cold and dark surroundings. As the story unfolds, the desperation begins to set in with the characters, and their slow descent into the darker aspects of survival necessity had me on the edge of my seat. The emotional journey of Ski Weekend is relentless as the events of the story force Sam and her companions to make life-changing realizations about themselves in the face of the constant need for life or death decision-making that will haunt them forever if they are able to survive. I’d recommend this book to any young adult readers.
Recommend this book:
Apex
Tyler Michael
2021 Finalist
250 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Apex is an adventure thriller for young and new adults written by Tyler Michael. If anyone had seen the three hikers out in the woods, they’d immediately be able to guess the levels of experience represented by each of them. Chris, in the forefront, was the leader, and an instructor of survival hikes. He loved the woods and challenging himself in survival situations. Following behind him was Kate, who was a good friend and had done quite a bit of survival hiking already. Trailing along behind was the newbie, Kevin, who had been with Chris once before but wasn’t a natural. Their plan to make camp that evening had to be changed due to the river they were planning to cross being flooded by recent rains. After dinner that evening, Kevin volunteered to hang their foodstuffs a distance from the tents to discourage late-night visits by predators, but as he walked along the trail, he encountered a stranger who called himself Ranger and seemed to be out on his own as well.
Readers familiar with Richard Connell’s classic thriller, The Most Dangerous Game, will feel no doubt the same rush of anticipation that I felt as I began reading Tyler Michael’s Apex. This modern retelling of a grand classic kept me on my toes and wondering just who would survive and how they’d do it. The three hikers are definitely at a strong disadvantage in this novel, and the three human predators competing to win the contest have been trained and given weapons making their prey’s survival nearly impossible. Michael’s three main characters make grand subjects to observe as they learn about their surroundings and adjust to a strange and terrifying reality as prey for three apex predators. His plot is action-packed and filled with unpredictable twists and turns. This well-written adventure thriller will appeal to readers of all ages. Apex is most highly recommended.
Apex is an adventure thriller for young and new adults written by Tyler Michael. If anyone had seen the three hikers out in the woods, they’d immediately be able to guess the levels of experience represented by each of them. Chris, in the forefront, was the leader, and an instructor of survival hikes. He loved the woods and challenging himself in survival situations. Following behind him was Kate, who was a good friend and had done quite a bit of survival hiking already. Trailing along behind was the newbie, Kevin, who had been with Chris once before but wasn’t a natural. Their plan to make camp that evening had to be changed due to the river they were planning to cross being flooded by recent rains. After dinner that evening, Kevin volunteered to hang their foodstuffs a distance from the tents to discourage late-night visits by predators, but as he walked along the trail, he encountered a stranger who called himself Ranger and seemed to be out on his own as well.
Readers familiar with Richard Connell’s classic thriller, The Most Dangerous Game, will feel no doubt the same rush of anticipation that I felt as I began reading Tyler Michael’s Apex. This modern retelling of a grand classic kept me on my toes and wondering just who would survive and how they’d do it. The three hikers are definitely at a strong disadvantage in this novel, and the three human predators competing to win the contest have been trained and given weapons making their prey’s survival nearly impossible. Michael’s three main characters make grand subjects to observe as they learn about their surroundings and adjust to a strange and terrifying reality as prey for three apex predators. His plot is action-packed and filled with unpredictable twists and turns. This well-written adventure thriller will appeal to readers of all ages. Apex is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Cass and Wat
A Young Adult Mystery/Thriller
Cagey Magee
2020 Silver Medal
324 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Cass and Wat is the first book in the NorthWatch series, a young adult mystery that is very enjoyable, a well-written coming-of-age by Cagey Magee. Thirteen-year-old Cass wants only one thing: to protect her brother and help in her father's presidential campaign. But there is a big problem: she is trapped in a luxury suite in NorthWatch Castle, owned by her family. She suspects her family is behind this but how can she escape?
This is an engaging story filled with humor, a novel with strong themes of family, coming-of-age, and intrigue. The story is beautifully told, with elements of the setting well captured. Places are not just named and I enjoyed how the author establishes the relationship between characters and places. The descriptions are terrific and it is exciting to see the world and events through the lens of the characters. The description of the room in which Cassie is confined is vivid, a huge room that ends with windows, with light spilling in above the heavy drapes, yet there is a spookiness that is likened to her brother's brain.
Character is one of the author's strengths and I loved how Cassie, as well as other characters including Senator Glen Wat, are developed. The relationships and intrigue come out brilliantly. The young protagonist is a fascinating character with a unique perspective on life, one that helps to deepen the use of humor in the story. The reader will want to unravel the mystery, to identify the mind behind Cass's predicament and to find out if she can live up to her goal. This novel is hilarious, highly engaging, and entertaining.
Cass and Wat is the first book in the NorthWatch series, a young adult mystery that is very enjoyable, a well-written coming-of-age by Cagey Magee. Thirteen-year-old Cass wants only one thing: to protect her brother and help in her father's presidential campaign. But there is a big problem: she is trapped in a luxury suite in NorthWatch Castle, owned by her family. She suspects her family is behind this but how can she escape?
This is an engaging story filled with humor, a novel with strong themes of family, coming-of-age, and intrigue. The story is beautifully told, with elements of the setting well captured. Places are not just named and I enjoyed how the author establishes the relationship between characters and places. The descriptions are terrific and it is exciting to see the world and events through the lens of the characters. The description of the room in which Cassie is confined is vivid, a huge room that ends with windows, with light spilling in above the heavy drapes, yet there is a spookiness that is likened to her brother's brain.
Character is one of the author's strengths and I loved how Cassie, as well as other characters including Senator Glen Wat, are developed. The relationships and intrigue come out brilliantly. The young protagonist is a fascinating character with a unique perspective on life, one that helps to deepen the use of humor in the story. The reader will want to unravel the mystery, to identify the mind behind Cass's predicament and to find out if she can live up to her goal. This novel is hilarious, highly engaging, and entertaining.
Recommend this book:
Merged
Jim Kroepfl and Stephanie Kroepfl
2020 Bronze Medal
300 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Who wants to live forever? This is the question that the husband and wife team of Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl explore in their YA novel, Merged. An elite group of scientists called the Darwinians wants to shatter the belief that we only live once, so they assemble six young men and women representing different fields in the Nobel Prize as experiments, where the Darwinians will transfer their consciousness through brain implantation. For good measure, they include art along with the other six disciplines in the hope of transferring the ability to create a kind of art that can alter the way society thinks. The selected teens called Nobels submit to the experiment with high hopes, even if the process encounters setbacks. The story revolves around three Nobels: Lake (chemistry), Orfyn (art), and Stryker (peace). The tension begins when Lake fails to fully merge with his Mentor.
This is a highly-absorbing story on the subject of mind-uploading. Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl do not stop at writing about teen issues but provide a subject broad in concept and philosophy effectively delivered in a manner that readers of all ages can understand. You might end up wanting a balanced character exploration of all the teen Nobels in this story, but do note that this is only the beginning of a series. Perhaps we will get to know the rest of them in the following volumes. Merge handles a thought-provoking subject that is now doing the rounds in the field of artificial intelligence and neuroscience, and for this alone, the book makes for a great page-turning experience.
Who wants to live forever? This is the question that the husband and wife team of Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl explore in their YA novel, Merged. An elite group of scientists called the Darwinians wants to shatter the belief that we only live once, so they assemble six young men and women representing different fields in the Nobel Prize as experiments, where the Darwinians will transfer their consciousness through brain implantation. For good measure, they include art along with the other six disciplines in the hope of transferring the ability to create a kind of art that can alter the way society thinks. The selected teens called Nobels submit to the experiment with high hopes, even if the process encounters setbacks. The story revolves around three Nobels: Lake (chemistry), Orfyn (art), and Stryker (peace). The tension begins when Lake fails to fully merge with his Mentor.
This is a highly-absorbing story on the subject of mind-uploading. Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl do not stop at writing about teen issues but provide a subject broad in concept and philosophy effectively delivered in a manner that readers of all ages can understand. You might end up wanting a balanced character exploration of all the teen Nobels in this story, but do note that this is only the beginning of a series. Perhaps we will get to know the rest of them in the following volumes. Merge handles a thought-provoking subject that is now doing the rounds in the field of artificial intelligence and neuroscience, and for this alone, the book makes for a great page-turning experience.
Recommend this book:
 by Brooke Skipstone. When Delaney West was thirteen, she found her father in the arms of another woman. Laney tells her mother and life as they knew it exploded. Her father leaves, and t...){kind=link}
Some Laneys Died
A Skipping Sideways Thriller
Brooke Skipstone
2020 Honorable Mention
268 Pages
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Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
The discovery of two young girls' bodies triggers an unprecedented phenomenon in the brilliant young adult mystery, Some Laneys Died (A Skipping Sideways Thriller) by Brooke Skipstone. When Delaney West was thirteen, she found her father in the arms of another woman. Laney tells her mother and life as they knew it exploded. Her father leaves, and three years later, Laney still hasn't heard from him. Visualizing how she could have handled the situation differently, Laney writes alternate versions of the incident. Recently, after reading about two bodies found in the vicinity where her father's faithlessness was exposed, things begin changing around Laney. She becomes obsessed with the girls and also begins seeing more alternative life choices. Her mother is a physics professor, and after reading some of Laney's accounts, she recognizes the similarity of Laney's different portrayals to the Many Worlds Theory. After her mother explains how each option exists in its own universe, Laney realizes she is experiencing more than imagination. Somehow, other universes are seeping into her own. Now Laney wonders if it is possible to skip sideways into another reality.
Some Laneys Died (A Skipping Sideways Thriller) by Brooke Skipstone is a scintillating young adult novel with a science-fiction theme. This dramatic mystery holds more than the usual teenage angst and drama. The intriguing concept of quantum mechanics, Many World Interpretations is the fabric from which the story is woven. It moves from space to space, threading through the anomaly of multiverses. It is a spellbinding story with infinite possibilities, an irresistible protagonist, and an intricate plot. This sensational and thrilling adventure will delight science-fiction mystery enthusiasts from sixteen years old on up. Word of caution; there are many scenes with violence, sexual acts, and inferences throughout the book which are not advisable for younger readers.
The discovery of two young girls' bodies triggers an unprecedented phenomenon in the brilliant young adult mystery, Some Laneys Died (A Skipping Sideways Thriller) by Brooke Skipstone. When Delaney West was thirteen, she found her father in the arms of another woman. Laney tells her mother and life as they knew it exploded. Her father leaves, and three years later, Laney still hasn't heard from him. Visualizing how she could have handled the situation differently, Laney writes alternate versions of the incident. Recently, after reading about two bodies found in the vicinity where her father's faithlessness was exposed, things begin changing around Laney. She becomes obsessed with the girls and also begins seeing more alternative life choices. Her mother is a physics professor, and after reading some of Laney's accounts, she recognizes the similarity of Laney's different portrayals to the Many Worlds Theory. After her mother explains how each option exists in its own universe, Laney realizes she is experiencing more than imagination. Somehow, other universes are seeping into her own. Now Laney wonders if it is possible to skip sideways into another reality.
Some Laneys Died (A Skipping Sideways Thriller) by Brooke Skipstone is a scintillating young adult novel with a science-fiction theme. This dramatic mystery holds more than the usual teenage angst and drama. The intriguing concept of quantum mechanics, Many World Interpretations is the fabric from which the story is woven. It moves from space to space, threading through the anomaly of multiverses. It is a spellbinding story with infinite possibilities, an irresistible protagonist, and an intricate plot. This sensational and thrilling adventure will delight science-fiction mystery enthusiasts from sixteen years old on up. Word of caution; there are many scenes with violence, sexual acts, and inferences throughout the book which are not advisable for younger readers.
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