Glow (Sky Chasers) [Hardcover]

Amy Kathleen Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 13, 2011 | Series: Sky Chasers (Book 1)

One of School Library Journal’s Best Fiction Books of 2011

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

Pulse-pounding and addictive, Glow begins Amy Kathleen Ryan's Sky Chasers--the most riveting series since The Hunger Games.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Our favorite part: You're never quite sure who to trust in this book. Each character has, at the very least, dual motives, which makes for a super-exciting plot... Plus, the mysterious ending left us anxious for the next installment! You'll love it if you love futuristic post-apocalyptic stories, like The Hunger Games!” – Seventeen.com

“No less than the fate of humanity is at stake in Amy Kathleen Ryan's rich and emotional sci-fi tale... an entertaining read featuring hairy action sequences and a female antagonist on par with the literary likes of Nurse Ratched and Dolores Umbridge.” – USA Today

“The opening salvo in a promising series.” – People Magazine

“Told in alternating viewpoints by Waverly and her fiancé, Kieran, this swift-moving epic is filled with plot twists and enigmatic characters… Fans of the Hunger Games series will zip through and clamor for the next installment.” – Booklist

“Ryan has created a fascinating and thrilling story that is sure to captivate teens. The themes of survival, morality, religion, and power are well developed, and the characters are equally complex. The author has also created a unique and vivid outer-space setting that is exciting and easy to imagine. This gripping first installment is difficult to put down, and successfully sets the stage for the rest of the series.” – School Library Journal (starred)

"Utterly engrossing. Dinner went uncooked, children were left to fend for themselves, and dog howled all night, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN." – Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of ttyl and Shine

“Glow captivated me from start to finish. The action-packed narrative and the characters’ struggle to survive without losing their humanity make for a compelling read.” – Alexandra Adornetto, New York Times bestselling author of Halo

“Waverly's initiative and intellect ensure that even as a prisoner she is far from a damsel in distress.... Desire to find out which of the proactive characters' bold moves end in disaster will leave readers clamoring for the next installment of this space saga.” – Kirkus Reviews

“GLOW has an ingenious, twisty, heart-stopping plot, and characters that are in turns both sympathetic and sinister all the way to the last page – I don’t know who I can trust, and I love it!” – Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of the WAKE trilogy

"With a compelling plot and complicated characters you love to hate and hate to love, Glow will capture readers." – April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen and Learning to Fly

"Glow has it all – intrigue, action, suspense and romance set against a jaw-dropping futuristic backdrop.  Amy Kathleen Ryan has woven a thought-provoking and compelling novel that readers will be hard-pressed to put down. I couldn't!  This is a thrilling read.” – Courtney Summers, author of Fall for Anything and Cracked up to Be

 

 

About the Author

Amy Kathleen Ryan earned an MA in English Literature at the University of Vermont, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the New School Creative Writing for Children Program in New York City. She is also the author of two widely acclaimed young adult novels, Zen and Xander Undone and Vibes.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312590563
• ISBN-13: 978-0312590567
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (180 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Amy Kathleen Ryan is a graduate of the New School Creative Writing Program. She lives in Colorado. Visit her website at: www.AmyKathleenRyan.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kidnapped and held as a baby making slave, what would you do? July 26, 2011

By Jennifer L. Rinehart TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The back blurb for this book was pretty dreadfull. Basically it sounded like a story of a boy and girl, in love, before political turmoil between generation ships separates them.

The real story is so much more. If had to sum it up, I'd say it was a dystopian space opera with a dash of Orwellian horror.

Waverly loves Kieran. Kieran loves Waverly.

As the two oldest of the children born on the spaceschip Empyrean, they are a natural match for each other and when Kieran asks Waverly to marry him in the first chapter of the book, she accepts, with reservations. She isn't sure that the love she feels for him is true love or friendship. But her duty is clear as a colonist of New Earth (that's where the ship is heading, the new planet) to have children and work and Kieran is as good a husband as any girl could expect.

But something unforseen has happened that has Kieran, Waverly and indeed every person on the Empyrean feeling uneasy. Their sister ship, The New Horizon has pulled alongside them. The New Horizon set out from earth a full year before the Empyrean did, so they have never flown alongside each other, it would be an impossibility for the Empyrean to ever catch up with the New Horizon so there is only explanation, the New Horizon slowed down to meet them. The question is, why?

The reason becomes clear in a horrifying instant when the New Horizon boards and attacks. Waverly and all the other girls, some of them toddlers are 'evacuated' to the New Horizon and thus starts their terrifying adventure.

Many secrets are revealed, such as;

Why did the New Horizon attack?

Why are women of the New Horizon infertile?

How did Waverly's father die?...

What is Anne Mather, leader of the New Horizon, hiding?

Who will lead the Empyrean?

How will Waverly and the other girls escape?

I've heard it said before that Young Adult Literature is just literature with young main characters, this story proves out that statement.

Matters of freedom, oppression, sex, pregnancy, violence and free choice are discussed, acted on and frequently beaten up in this book and I can't help comparing it to other stories of young people in terrifying situations, such as The Hunger Games, The Giver, Feed, Divergent, Inside Out and How I live Now.

The religious aspects and the sex (everything is behind closed doors) will likely get a lot of people panties in a bunch, but I thought it was realistic and thoughtful, not the least bit exploitative for a book about teen girls forced to propagate a new world.

The characters are believable and kept the plot turning in unexpected ways.

Kieren is a hero who has never been tested. As the captain's golden boy, his place in the world is assured and with Waverly at his side, he will get everything he's always wanted.

Waverly is someone who does what has to be done and stays true to herself, but like Kieran, her life has been pleasant and uneventful, being kidnapped by people who will do anything to have a child isn't exactly something she's been prepared for.

But what really made the story shine above other similar stories are the villains; Anne Mather the leader of the New Horizon, she makes hard choices for the survival of her people and she isn't above blackmail or murder to accomplish what she feels is her god given purpose in life. This is a woman who believes and she has such a vibrant, forceful personality, that the people on her ship would follow to hell if she pointed the way.

Seth - At first I thought he was just the other side of an obvious love triangle between Kieran, Waverly and Seth, but Seth turns out to be the instrument of Kieran's growth as the boys fight for supremacy after the kidnapping and attack by the New Horizon. He says something to Waverly before the attack that had me scratching my head, but his is a deep and shadowy kind of villainy and it was hard not to feel bad for him.

Amanda - friend of Anne Mather, who is desperate for a child of her own. The story ends and I really wanted to know what happened to this character, maybe the next book?

The book is told from two viewpoints, Waverly, kidnapped along with all the other girls and being held on the New Horizon as 'the mothers of the new generation' and Kieran, on the Empyrean, dealing with the damage from the attack and trying to bring a group of traumatized and angry boys together to keep the ship from exploding.

Several moments in the book had me flipping the pages like a madwoman, hardly daring to believe the author would take the characters to such terrible places (she did) and then horrified to realize that Kieran and Waverly were not going to be rescued. I guess that is the point of the book, don't wait for rescue, you're on your own.

I finished the book in record time and if I had one complaint it is for the cliffhanger ending, I'm getting pretty sick of cliffhanger endings! I guess I'll have to wait a year or two to find out what happens next. Read more ›

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but did not click September 13, 2011

By Megan @ Book Brats

Format:Hardcover

GLOW was a book where the cover and synopsis had been hooked. I put other books aside to read it. They say don't judge a book on its cover, but I did anyway, and this was one of the few cases where I ended up being disappointed. This review has taken me several hours to write, something so unusual for me, because it alternated between being a great book for me and pissing me off.

Many YA books recently have tackled religion as a key plot point. GLOW's depiction of Christianity was what almost ruined this book for me. It was almost a fallacy, using Christianity as an excuse for evil actions. The antagonist of this story is the Pastor/leader of the other ship, the New Horizon. They come to the Empyrean, home of our protagonist Waverly, and kidnap all the girls to solve their fertility issues while sabotaging the ship, killing the adults, and leaving the boys to run the ship once the remaining adults sacrifice themselves to prevent a meltdown.

There is a love triangle in this book, but not so much instalove - it has been set up that Waverly and Kieran were a couple beforehand, more so out of expectation than true love. At the beginning their relationship is almost refreshing, showing Waverly's doubts about their relationship but setting up a scenario that is believable. However, Kieran becomes increasingly week and possibly a little unstable (crazy). The other love interest, Seth, is just purely insane. His methods are sadistic and his excuses are lies. He beats, tortures, imprisons, and almost kills people. Of course, it is expected that Waverly will pick one by the end, but I honestly think she shouldn't based on book one.

What saves this book? The writing. I am honestly not one for frilly, overwrought literature.... I like some description and florid enhancement, but I had it beaten over my head by my lit professor that purple prose was Satan's work. This is my kind of writing - a little lyrical at times, but mostly straightforward, to the point, and eloquent. Ms. Ryan is my type of author for sure. It's just the plot that falters. Waverly is also a strong protagonist that I enjoyed. She was smart, she was a strong leader, and she knew what she was doing. She risked herself for others and had a mission. I loved her as a character while I quite hated her potential suitors.

This book needed to tone down the religion a great deal. I am not sure if I will read book two based on the fact it implies that religion will be a strong point in the second book. Also, Waverly's love interests were unlikable.

I could go on about this, but overall, this book was likable, but nowhere near as good as it could have been.

VERDICT: The overuse of religion in this book overran the interesting plot and the good writing from Ms. Ryan. If you are not big on religious bashing and/or preachiness, steer clear of this book Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Disappointed October 16, 2011

By Sara

Format:Hardcover

The writing style is clean and engaging, the plot line brimming with potential; the characters however I found unlikable, unbelievable, and un-relatable across the board. I ended up feeling like I had wasted my time because no matter how much potential the story had I couldn't force myself to care about a single voice in it.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Lord of the Flies meets the Blue Lagoon... and it was still boring September 14, 2011

By Smackee VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I've heard this book is being compared to The Hunger Games and Divergent, and that is what originally made me pick it up. I *loved* those two books. This one, however, left me... bored and annoyed. If you're looking for the next Hunger Games, this isn't it.

The overall concept sounded very exciting and original: Two gigantic space ships that are capable of sustaining life for an 80+ year voyage are launched from Earth and sent to colonize a new planet. After 43 years, the two ships meet up in the middle of a nebula, the crew from one ship boards the other by force, steals all their female children (including the toddlers) and then leaves the other ship drifting in space with nothing but teenage boys to man it.

The plot definitely had my attention and I was all settled in for a great read, but about four chapters in I was starting to wonder where this was going. By separating the boys and girls, you start to get a bit of a Lord of the Flies situation going on one ship, with the boys turning on eachother in bewildering and unrealistic ways, while the girls on the other ship are basically resisting assimilation into a cult. That could have been interesting in itself, but instead it just gave me the creeps.

I think overall this book lacked balance. In the Hunger Games or Divergent, I was able to forget that the main characters were teenagers. I got swept up in the story and just enjoyed the ride. With this book, however, I never forgot for a moment that these were supposed to be 15 & 16 year old kids and it just made it feel... wrong. The heaviness of the plot was never lifted with any moments of levity and hope; it was just dreary and aggravating from start to finish, and there was a lot of ant-religious undertone that surprised me as well....

By the time I got to the end I was rolling my eyes at the weird and inexplicable behavior of some of the characters and had lost all respect for the heroine. I know there are sequels coming, but I won't be reading them because, frankly, I just don't really care what happens to these characters. If you're like me, a mom of 4 looking to escape into a YA book for a while, there are better ones out there. There's a lot of hype surrounding this book, but unfortunately, that's what it is~ hype. Read more ›