The Supernaturalist [Hardcover]

Eoin Colfer (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In the not-too-distant future, in a place called Satellite City, thirteen-year-old Cosmo Hill is unfortunate enough to come into the world unwanted by his parents. And so, as are all orphaned boys his age, Cosmo is dipped in a vaccine vat and sent to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys-freight class. At Clarissa Frayne, the orphans, called "no-sponsors," are put to work by the state, testing dangerous products that never should be allowed near human beings. By the time the no-sponsors are sent to their cardboard utility pipes, given their nightly meal pack, and finally fall asleep, they are often covered in burns, bruises, or sores from the work of the day. Cosmo Hill knows that he must escape, even though he has no idea what might be waiting for him on the outside. He plans for the moment when he can make a break. When that moment finally comes, he nearly dies while escaping. But he is rescued by a gang of "Supernaturalists," a motley crew of kids who all have a special psychic ability-one that Cosmo is about to learn he has as well. They "see" supernatural Parasites-tiny, translucent creatures who feed on the life force of humans. The Supernaturalists

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up–A suspenseful, cautionary science fiction tale. In a future dystopia, cities have become for-profit businesses. Orphanages are not exempt from the struggle to make money, and at the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys, kids are forced to endure product testing and frequently end up injured as a result. With orphans facing an average life expectancy of 15, 14-year-old Cosmo Hill knows that he is on borrowed time. Unfortunately, his escape attempt nearly proves fatal. While he's lying there dying, a small, hairless blue creature lands on his chest and begins to feed. He is rescued by the Supernaturalists, a motley crew of young people who have dedicated their lives to destroying the Parasites, which feed on the essence of the living. Cosmo joins the group as a Spotter, someone who can actually see the creatures and thus destroy them. However, facts soon emerge that cause the Supernaturalists to question everything they believe in. Is it possible that the Parasites don't feed off of the energy of dying people, but remove pain? Are they actually beneficial to society? The plot's twists and turns will keep readers totally engrossed until the last page. Colfer's futuristic world seems plausible; his characters have strengths, flaws, and histories that account for their points of view. The ending is satisfying yet open to the possibility of a sequel. For anyone who loves science fiction, or just an engrossing story, this novel is a must-read.–Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. In this futuristic thriller, 14-year-old Cosmo escapes from a gruesome orphanage and is rescued from near death by a streetwise trio on a mysterious mission. The group's charismatic leader, Stefan, and his sidekicks, a Latina teen with great mechanical skills and a child-size adult who is a paramedic, are hunting seemingly evil parasites that almost no one else can see. Cosmo, who can see the blue parasites that attack the wounded and dying, joins in the team's fast-paced adventures, which involve shooting and being shot at, like a video game come to life. A high-tech car race and a precarious space flight endanger the four, as does an untrustworthy executive in the corporation that dominates their bleak city. Several twists keep the plot interesting, but a somber turn of events near the end adds a jarring, melodramatic note. Although short on character development, this is packed with action and speculative technology, and the conclusion hints of a sequel. Kathleen Odean
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (April 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786851481
• ISBN-13: 978-0786851485
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (163 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #952,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) is the New York Times best-selling author
of the blockbuster Artemis Fowl series as well as Airman; Half Moon
Investigations; The Supernaturalist; Eoin Colfer's Legend of... books;
The Wish List; Benny and Omar; and Benny and Babe. He was born in
Wexford on the southeast coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four
brothers were brought up by his father (an elementary school teacher,
historian and artist of note) and mother (a drama teacher). He first
developed an interest in writing in primary (elementary) school with
gripping Viking stories inspired by history that he was learning in
school at the time.

Eoin got his degree from Dublin University and qualified as a primary
school teacher, returning to work in Wexford. He married in 1991 and he
and his wife spent about 4 years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi
Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was published
in 1998, based on his experiences in Tunisia; it has since been
translated into many languages; a sequel followed in 1999. In 2001, the
first Artemis Fowl book was published worldwide to much success -
shortly thereafter he left teaching to concentrate fully on his writing.
To this day, Eoin has written 6 Artemis Fowl books which have sold over
12 million copies worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes I've felt parentally challenged..., July 28, 2004

By 

Jonathan Appleseed - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Supernaturalist (Hardcover)

The story begins with Cosmo Hill at the Clarisa Fayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys, and this Institute makes Oliver Twist's orphanage look like a day spa. No-sponsors live here - children without biological or adoptive parents. And here they conduct scientific experiments on these "expendable" children, the same experiments that our society currently conducts on animals. It's a gruesome, heart wrenching sight.

A chance comes for escape, and Cosmo breaks free of Clarissa Frayne, although suffering terrible injuries while doing so, and before he is found by anyone that would deliver him back to the testing lab, he is rescued and healed by the self-titled Supernaturalists. They can see "Parasites", blue creatures who thrive on energy, and who are believed to suck the life source from humans. The sole purpose of Supernaturalists is to eradicate this strangely listless, supposedly evil species. Not many people can see these Parasites, but Cosmo can, and delighted to have found purpose, and finally something resembling a family, Cosmo joins forces with the Supernaturalists.

And then the story moves from a simple fight against these Parasites to a remarkable, breathtaking series of twists and turns. Some may be predictable, but many are not, and all are exhilarating. During one such twist I found myself staring at the page thinking, "I should have known", smiling, and impressed with Colfer's seemingly boundless creativity.

The only complaint I have is that during action sequences I had to pay very close attention to make sure that I was understanding what was happening, and even doing so, wasn't certain that I had it right. Also, some of the physical descriptions were lacking - again, I had to struggle to see them, and even so, wasn't certain that the image I was supposed to see was what my mind formed. Also, Cosmo was functioning fairly well for a child who had only one year left to live - given that the life expectancy of kids at Clarissa Frayne was 15 years.

But Colfer excels in other ways. He has a razor sharp wit which had me laughing on nearly every page, and an excellent feel for the emotions of teenagers. And his ability to create unique and fully realized universes within a bare minimum of pages is beyond compare.

If there were 10 stars, I would give this a 9. It's not a perfect work. There are only 5, and I think it's closer to "I love it" than "I like it", so I'm giving this a 5.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising and intelligent, August 2, 2008

By 

LexiJane (New Market, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Supernaturalist (Golden Duck Awards. Eleanor Cameron Award for Middle Grades (Awards)) (Hardcover)

Usually I don't enjoy science fiction novels yet this one caught my eye. The first chapter was a little boring, but the action quickly heated up. The characters have great personality's that fit in perfectly with the plot. All the character's past's get twisted in with why they do things in the story and it's as if the characters link together to form a chain that is the plot. The futuristic setting only adds to the fascination you will feel while reading this book. This action packed psychedelic novel is something you HAVE to read if you are a lover of science fiction or realistic fiction. The author is very intelligent in the things he makes his characters do and feel. He also lets the character's seem partly mysterious because you don't know everything about their life and how they feel which adds to the excitement. This book is filled with excellent characters and an intelligent story line that everyone can understand!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Colfer's best, June 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Supernaturalist (Hardcover)

When i first picked up the book i thought that it was another badly written book that was all about what things in the future would have. IT IS NOT. While this does take place in the future (the darker side of the future) it focuses on so many other things. The plot kept me involved from the start, from the exciting and dangerous escape of Cosmo and Ziplock, to the climactic and plot-twisted ending of the book (which just kept me having to tell somebody about).

The characters are so well represented, and i loved reading about how the Supernaturalists were like an immune team. Cosmo is the perfect character to focus on, because of his constant curiosity and charming nature, while Mona, Ditto and Stefan all have traits that are just too much to include here.

The plot is definitely the most exciting and creative part of the story. I don't think i've ever read a book with a plot that built up to the climax so well and left me as surprised at the plot twists (The first one I kinda saw coming, but the one near the end that leads to the climax took me completely by surprise)

this book definitely goes up there with Colfer's other masterpieces - Artemis Fowl 1 + 3 (the second one i found a little boring. The wish list was well written, but i didn't really like the characters or the story)

BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF READING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER And over and over......

BRAVO COLFER!!!!!