Customer Reviews

The Sky Inside

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having reinvented the whole mythos of fantasy's goblins and werewolves, Clare B. Dunkle now turns her attention to sci-fi.

In fact, there's something almost eerily prophetic about "The Sky Inside," a look at a sterile, soulless world where babies are genetically designed and populations are kept in an iron grip. Rather than dumping all the horrors on us at once, Dunkle slowly unfolds the secrets of this futuristic civilizations -- and as she does, turns the tension up to eleven.

Martin's parents have always told him that he should be grateful to live in domed suburb HM1. But then he runs into an old classmate of his, who is now insane and living underground -- and makes claims that cause Martin's world to crash down. As he tries to investigate further, a strange man comes to HM1, announcing that the genetically-engineered Wonder Babies are being recalled... including Martin's beloved sister Cassie.

Disgusted and enraged by the callous way the adults have sent off their children -- and his father's cowardly collaboration -- Martin and his clever robot dog set out to rescue the Wonder Babies. But soon Martin finds out the shocking truths about the world beyond the dome, and the horrifying secrets that his society is based on. And now that he knows, the government wants him dead as well...

Clare B. Dunkle certainly knows how to build suspense. "The Sky Inside" starts with a future world that is rather weird and artificial, but not exactly upsetting. But you are left with the question: Just what happened to the world, that people are living a plasticized, genetically-engineered existance inside a bunch of little domes?

But as Martin discovers more about his world, Dunkle drops clues and plot threads as he bumbles through his investigation. And as more of the truth is revealed, she spins a growing sense of horror and menace -- when Martin sees the drugged Bug, or when the Wonder Babies are coldly sent away, because they have inconvenienced their parents. Cue TV commercials for new, "better" kids. And you get the horrific reality show to end all reality shows, which is used to punish and execute.

Despite the serious nature of the book, Dunkle spins it out in her eloquent, detailed prose. There are some truly exquisite descriptions of the outside world, a family disintegrating from guilt and anger, and a few humorous scenes from Martin's trusty bot dog. But the most powerful has to be when Martin visits an empty suburb in a dead city ("... those familiar places seemed to gather around him, as if they had been waiting for his arrival to to give them their form").

The biggest problem? While it ends with secrets revealed and questions answered, there's still plenty about this world to deal with. In other words: sequel needed.

Martin is a likable grump of a hero, who is suitable suspicious despite having been raised in the domes. And Dunkle handles his growing loathing for his cowardly father well, as well as his determination to save the Wonder Babies. Bot dog Chip is a nice accompaniment to Martin, although a bit of a deus ex machina. Just why is he so intelligent?

Dunkle spins a powerful little sci-fi tale in "The Sky Inside," where the greatest threats to the human race are amoral science and human apathy. Definitely a good read for people who want to think.

Clare B. Dunkle has done it again! This time, she goes from the past to the near future, to a world where everyone lives in a domed suburb, where people are encouraged to spend money, where a few shades of 1984 peek through. I highly recommend this book for anyone who thinks for themselves, and who enjoys a good, fast-paced story that starts twisting and turning more frequently as the story picks up steam and barrels along.

[mild spoilers]
I practically foamed at the mouth when I saw this book on the shelves at the bookstore because I love dystopian stories so much! I'm glad I had the patience to wait to check it out from the library. This book was unevenly written, with some parts being riveting, but most of trying my patience as I waited for the hero to wise up to stuff I'd figured out three chapters ago. It seemed that the most interesting discoveries happened all in a rush at the end of the book with Martin being told everything about the world instead of finding it out on his own on his journey. The book also seemed to end abruptly right as what I would have called Martin's true adventure was beginning. I wanted to see more of the world outside the domed city in terms of people left alive. I also wanted to know more about the structure of the society in terms of who manufactures items and how they are shipped from one city to another. Who is overseeing that? Do some cities get preferential treatment? Plus, there was the biggest question left unanswered: from whence did Chip come? Was it just random or was someone behind it? It seemed kinda coincidental to me that this robot model that no one is supposed to have would just randomly be given as a gift to the one person who might figure out the full extent of his capabilities. She might redeem herself if there's a sequel that addresses these questions, but I've seen no indication one is forthcoming. I just wish it had been a better book. The Giver by Lois Lowry and Stolen Voices by Ellie Dee Davidson are both superior examples of this genre.

Utopian society with one small problem; genius babies that no one can handle. So, what do you do in a utopian society with people you don't want? That's right, get rid of them! But wait, what is this? A lone descenter with a specialized bot dog that can morph into anything and anyone? Hhmmmm...

This is a good book. The audio took sometime to get into but once I did I was hooked. This would make a good movie. I need to listen to the sqeuel because there needs to be some closure.

For fans of The Giver and Logan's Run.

Minor language and no sexuality with minor violence

This story is about Martin, a boy who lives in a suburb with his mother, father, and sister Cassie. The suburb seems like a nice place at first glance. However, the families are being monitored in their homes and are afraid to say anything against the government and policies. Martin swallows a bitter mouthful of the policies when they affect his sister Cassie.

Martin is very protective of his sister Cassie. Cassie's generation is a genius generation called "wonderbabies." They threaten the governmental polices because they ask too many questions. They also do not fit into their families because they are too smart and do not have good interpersonal skills. Other kids in the suburb bully the kids, and Martin becomes their protector. However, the government steps in and decides to remove the children because they do not fit in. Martin has seen examples of disturbing things that happen to unwanted members of society, and he is afraid that the same thing will happen to his sister. He escapes from the suburb in an attempt to save his sister.

I enjoyed Clare Dunkle's "Hollow Kingdom" trilogy. I think that her writing is excellent. Her characters are well developed and the plots are intricate and unique. I am not a big fan of dystopias. I read Lois Lowry's "The Giver" and was disappointed after the awards and great reviews. However, this dystopia is one that I would recommend reading. Other reviewers have said that the story doesn't start early enough and the development of characters takes too long. However, I thought that the subplots made the beginning exciting, and I was not bored at all with the character development. The subplots add to the story and give it dimension. I felt that the ending was left open for another book in the series, but it was still a satisfying finish.

This is a so-so book that could have been so much better! It seemed to me that Dunkle tossed too many dystopia themes--genetic engineering, autocratic government, killer robots, mind-control--into one book. Some of the descriptions of life under the dome are hilarious (mandatory voting on issues such as the color of the new drapes in the Oval Office, the ludicrous programs and commercials that run on government-controlled TV stations), but the plot lacks focus and is extremely confusing.

Interesting Juvenile dystopian science fiction. People live inside created areas where there is "sky" held up by steel girders. The stork brings babies that are marketed and sold. There is no illness or want. There are 1984 elements of being watched and listened to. The main character seems to be different. He figures things out because of his loyalty and curiosity. The plot is kind of harsh in its truth about how this new civilization was created. I wouldn't recommend the book to just any kid. I would say over 12 years old would be best. That age reader could make some text connections between the book and real life historical events: Holocaust, climate change, population explosions, genetic engineering, . . .