Author: Nick James
Publisher: Flux
Publishing Date: September 8, 2011
Length: 376 pages
Summary: (From book) A devastated earth's last hope is found in pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers-political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere-and the corrupt Surface government.
Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable-and dangerous-abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.
Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.
*Major Spoiler Post*
My Thoughts: Well....the cover is cool. The one for the sequel looks even better. This book was depressing. Just downright sad. I felt awful for Cassius who will need some serious counseling and repulsed at the idea of his fake mother, 'Madame' who did nothing but use him for her own twisted ideas.
The switching from first person to third person narrative I thought to be wonderfully done and is a technique I haven't seen before. I might have to try it.
The book would have been alright, sadness aside, this is dystopian after all, if it wasn't for what you find out at the end. *Spoiler alerts*
The Pearls are actually people. They have been killing people for their power source to fuel their stupid cities. Granted, they didn't know, but still the idea does not settle well for me. The Pearls are actually a form of transport for those from another planet to come to Earth and the boy, Jesse, is responsible for freeing them.
All I could think about was the millions of lives they'd lost.
I don't think I would have read this one if I had known what it was about. I guess the sequel will about the two boys going out to beat the system and free the aliens. But I don't think I want to read it-way too depressing. Here's what the cover looks like; he's quite dashing. Kind of like a Charlie Mcdonnell.
Things To Be Cautious Of: Swearing. Nothing extreme, just your usual television usage.
Violence: Mention of fighitng, playing a role simulating kind of thing, guns, one man is killed, a train with passengers explodes.
Psychological Weirdness: Madame's bizarre control over poor Cassius. Someone please get that boy to therapy.
Awkward Content: One oddly placed scene for a quick kiss, one guy cracks a joke about a guy's manhood.
