Sunday, August 17, 2014

Sylo / D. J. MacHale / 407 pages / 7 Swans a Swimming Challenge

This book was a total surprise!  From the title and cover, I jumped to the conclusion that it was a doomsday book about unleashed nuclear weapons.  Although this first book in the Sylo series may tend to evoke thoughts of doomsday, it does so in a creative, intriguing, inspired way.  James Dashner says it is "a relentlessly fast-paced, intriguing tale that leaves you breathless and satisfied, yet wanting more."  I agree!  This page-turner will keep you up at night and incommunicado during the day.  Tucker Pierce's parents moved to idyllic Pemberwick Island when his dad lost his job.  His dad runs a landscaping business on the island and Tuck helps him.  While enjoying one of their secret, stress-burning late night rides, he and his friend Quinn witness an incredible phenomenon.  Several mysterious deaths occur.  Is the phenomenon responsible?  The island is quarantined, supposedly due to a virus but Quinn and Ruck discover that this is a lie.  Tori Sleeper, who helps her father with his lobster business, helps Tuck in his efforts to escape the island.  We have a mysterious ruby substance that massively improves human performance and is taken by some members of the high school football squad with disastrous results.  (Unfortunately, we also have a couple of incidents of inappropriate language, nothing too serious, but I thought I should mention it.)


Truman Award Preliminary Nominee 2015-16

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