Above World [Hardcover]

Jenn Reese (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 14, 2012 | Age Range: 10 and up | Series: Above World | Lexile Measure: 710L (What's this?)

A suspenseful sci-fi escapade plucks two children out of the ocean for a thrilling adventure.

Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is at risk. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna’s fierce determination and fighting skills and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt — growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains — here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-In Jenn Reese's science fiction novel (Candlewick, 2012), humans have created different colonies of altered humans to escape the threat of an epidemic. There are mermaids living underwater, equines inhabiting the desert, and aviators living in the sky as a result of genetic engineering. However, the technology that allowed humans to adapt is failing, and Aluna, a brave mermaid, and her friends set out to confront the mad scientist who created it. Although the premise is interesting, the story unwinds tediously, with a lot of effort spent explaining details that don't advance the plot or reveal much about the characters. For example, almost an entire chapter is devoted to Dash teaching Aluna how to build a fire, going into great detail about gathering kindling and using flint to start a spark. Girls will appreciate the hints of romance and the strong female characters, while male listeners will be disappointed in the scarcity of action and violence. Kate Rudd's narration fluctuates effortlessly between the serious tone of the situation and the chirpy attitude of the juvenile characters. Not a first purchase.-Cynthia Grabke, McCormack Middle School, Dorchester, MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review

A warrior heroine with a caring heart, stalwart friends, an edgy futurist subtext and the suggestion of a possible sequel make this a thrilling sci-fi adventure. Imaginative and riveting.
—Kirkus Reviews

Action-seeking readers should enjoy the many revelations, twists, and hand-to-claw battle sequences, and fierce, take-charge Aluna is the kind of heroine who is easy to get behind. An open-ended conclusion leaves the door to Reese's futuristic world wide open for future adventures.
—Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 14, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763654175
• ISBN-13: 978-0763654177
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,066,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writer. Martial artist. Geek.

Jenn writes science fiction and fantasy stories about heroes and adventure and lasting friendships. Her short stories have appeared online in Strange Horizons and in a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning Paper Cities. She makes her home in Los Angeles, a sun-bleached desert city of freaks that she absolutely loves. When she's not sitting in traffic, she's studying martial arts, playing video games, and dreaming of rain.

For more information on her stories, novels, and adventures, visit www.jennreese.com.

Novels in the Above World series for ages 10+:
ABOVE WORLD (Candlewick 2012) - 2012 Nominee for SFWA's Andre Norton Award
MIRAGE (Candlewick 2013)
TBD (Candlewick 2014)

Novels for older teens and adults:
JADE TIGER (Juno 2007)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible adventure February 14, 2012

By Raein2001

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a middle grade adventure this much. I've been trying to put my finger on why it sings to my inner 13-year-old so much, and I've decided that part of is the bright sense of wonder permeating its pages. Everything from the undersea world, to the centaurs, to the gorgeously described setting is so big and bright and exciting. It's very much a Jules Verne-esque novel for the modern child, with scientific explanations for fantastic creatures. I also loved the characters. Aluna is so fierce and Hoku is so geeky, and I loved watching them work together. This is a book that, for all its fantastical elements, never forgets that friendship is the greatest wonder of all.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking adventure with a heart February 14, 2012

By Stephanie Samphire

Format:Hardcover

ABOVE WORLD is so original, so fantastic, and most of all, just so much FUN. It's science fiction adventure told with all the mythic feel of epic fantasy, so readers get mermaids, centaurs, and flying people, but with a scientific explanation underneath - and such a powerful sense of wonder filling every single scene.

As Aluna and her best friend Hoku leave the safety of their underwater home to travel across a dazzling, mythic landscape, facing danger from every side, they take part in incredible action scenes, but also heart-breaking emotions and so many moments that made me suck in my breath in sheer awe. Jenn Reese is so, so good at conjuring up incredible visuals in her writing - this book gives readers the kind of breath-taking vistas and heart-pounding action of the best fantasy films imaginable, but with rock-solid plotting and incredible characterization to anchor it all.

I could go on for ages about everything I love about this book, from Aluna's strength and warrior mindset to Hoku's wonderful geekiness and how well the two of them complement each other as friends (and how much I love the celebration of true friendship in this novel, as opposed to romance - but also how much I love the romances that develop for both Aluna and Hoku along the way!) - but to sum it up, here's the review I wrote on Goodreads over a year ago, having been lucky enough to read early drafts of the novel pre-publication:

"Super-fun science-fiction adventure for kids, with genetically-engineered mermaids and girls with wings AND incredible fighting skills. Deep, important friendships and sweet first romance. This book has everything, and I love it so much."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A richly imagined fiture teamed with an exicting story about friendship and courage February 14, 2012

By Greg van Eekhout

Format:Hardcover

I was privileged to read Above World prior to publication and sent in this blurb, which appears (in part) on the back of the book:

Jenn Reese's richly imagined future teems with biotech mer people and mighty centaurs, but her characters remain so very human, driven by friendship, love, and courage. I'd choose Jenn Reese's characters as my companions on any adventure. Above World delivers thunderously exciting action worthy of a summer blockbuster, but the battles and perils never get in the way of its universal story about growing up.