Across+the+Universe

//Across the Universe// by Beth Revis

A great sci-fi space odyssey where all is not as it seems. The main character is woken from a deep space sleep "by accident" and soon sees that all is not well on the ship that is careening towards a new home planet. Politics, dystopia elements, and a little romance. It certainly leans high school level due to some sexual content...let's just say the men on board during certain times of the year when the are rambunctious feel entitled to procreate. Brings up ethical issues and makes kids think about how things can go wrong when one person has too much power. Sequels __#|available__. Good choice for the list. Amy I - Barrington

It was really interesting trying to understand the fact that everyone aboard the ship except for Amy, had never seen the sky, the ocean, real mountains. It was a little mind-blowing to think that these folks were completely contented in their small metal world. I loved the romantic tension in the novel between Amy and Elder. It was exceptionally good when Amy was trying to battle against her memories of her long-since dead boyfriend Jason. The characters were well-rounded and fantastically delicious. I loved how well you got to feel you knew each and every one of them. The ship was a completely new world and you could certainly feel the claustrophobia that Amy was experiencing. The chapters alternate between Amy and Elder and I really like how that flows throughout the novel. I think it is key to be able to get inside both of their minds while they both uncover the truths of Godspeed. I think this should definitely be on the list. **Brittany Moore - Hall Memorial Library**

It's on the TTT list this year. I like the series very much but prefer to promote something that hasn't already been promoted so much.

Kelly Budd, Keene High School

This is one of my favorite teen books of the past few years and here is why: It's a classic sci-fi story that represents the genre very well, but is also very accessible to non sci-fi readers. I think it appeals to both genders due to its dual-narration as well as its excellent balance of action, romance, and its well-built characters. While one of the big twists is very predictable (to me), it had a couple of other ones that genuinely surprised me. The futuristic setting feels both firmly rooted in the future, but not so far that you can't imagine yourself within it. I have gotten good feedback from teens on this book and think it would be well-placed on this list. I'd recommend it for the final 13, unless we feel like it's already super-promoted. - Liz G, Merrimack

I started reading A Million Suns to see if it could stand alone w/out reading this first book (it can't), so the very little that I read sort of ruined this story for me. I knew what was coming, so the only mystery was how it was going to come to that ending. An interesting and relatively original (in terms of YA Dystopian Fiction) story, it focuses on Elder, the future leader of the ship, and Amy, the cryogenically frozen girl who is awoken early, on a massive ship destined for a new planet. It's not really clear why it was necessary to leave earth, but having decided to do so, folks were hand-picked to be frozen and transported on the 300 year journey on a bio-dome sort of ship. Amy's parents were both selected to be frozen, and her parents lobbied for her to able to join them. In the meantime, generations have passed on the ship, each generation being lead by one man, born in between the generations, Elder (until he is the leader, at which time, he becomes Eldest, whether or not he is actually the oldest on the ship). The two perspectives make this book appealing to both boys and girls. High school age-appropriate, though I would not say younger, due to the obscene nature of the "season." -Kirsten Rundquist Corbett Lane Memorial Library, Hampton

This would be a great book for the list. It incorporates mystery, science fiction, and romance. The characters are well drawn and the setting nicely described. It would appeal to both boys and girls as it is told in the voices of each. I can't see how we could go wrong with this title. ~ Sharon Flesher, Nashua High South

Our student/staff book club read this. Our staff didn't like it, students loved it and asked for the sequels. A lot of sexual description, and the writing seemed mediocre to me. ~ Beth Strauss, Laconia High School