Epoch

July 2, 2007
Christians take a beating in Carter's fast-paced comedy, which thumbs its nose at the Left Behind genre while borrowing heavily from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Vincent's parents and older brother are passionate members of an extreme Christian sect called the Triumvirate; Vincent isn't a believer, but stays quiet to keep the peace. At a school science fair, he notices a small demonic-looking creature-then later sees another one in the cupboard of Chanteuse, the pagan babysitter who lives down the street. He's kidnapped by a horde of the creatures one night and implanted with a small bug that allows them to control his actions. Other inhuman creatures start to come out of the woodwork-centaurs, pixies, elves-all preparing for the great cleansing of the earth that is about to take place. The only chance for survival lies in locating the Portal Sites, gateways to other, safer dimensions. With the exception of Vincent, character development is practically nil-the hyper-religious parents, the tea-sipping New Age girl and a rich bully are barely more than caricatures, but given the book's allegorical nature, they serve the plot just fine. It is certainly not subtle (the book oozes a smug, anti-Christian attitude) but Carter delivers the finale he promises: he really does close the book with the end of humanity. Ages 12-up.

December 1, 2007
Gr 7 Up-At his school's end-of-the-world-themed science fair, 14-year-old Vincent Drear's presentation consists simply of literature from his parents' church. The teen's family is Triumvirate, followers of a branch of Christianity that believes that dire times are ahead and that only they know the path to salvation. Vincent, not an observant follower, wonders if there is more to life. Then he learns from pixies Clara and Nod that Earth's rejuvenation will begin in two days. In order to rid the world of the current dominant species, whose epoch is at an end, Portal Sites will appear to allow all life-forms to leave this world for another. When they close, demons will destroy any who remain from the formerly dominant species, and many others as well. Vincent, with the help of his brother and friends Chanteuse and Big Tom, as well as elves, pixies, and ogres, sets out to discover why the portals have been hidden and who seeks to destroy humanity. In this fast-paced novel, readers will identify with Vincent's ability to see goodness in the world, and will root for him and his companions as they triumph over evil. At times things seem too superficial and a bit silly, but the story will hold readers' attention. The countdown clock at the beginning of each chapter adds to the suspense. The issue of the apocalypse and its religious overtones might not be everyone's cup of tea but, overall, Epoch is entertaining.Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 20, 2007
Christians take a beating in Carter's fast-paced comedy, which thumbs its nose at the Left Behind genre while borrowing heavily from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Vincent's parents and older brother are passionate members of an extreme Christian sect called the Triumvirate; Vincent isn't a believer, but stays quiet to keep the peace. At a school science fair, he notices a small demonic-looking creature-then later sees another one in the cupboard of Chanteuse, the pagan babysitter who lives down the street. He's kidnapped by a horde of the creatures one night and implanted with a small bug that allows them to control his actions. Other inhuman creatures start to come out of the woodwork-centaurs, pixies, elves-all preparing for the great cleansing of the earth that is about to take place. The only chance for survival lies in locating the Portal Sites, gateways to other, safer dimensions. With the exception of Vincent, character development is practically nil-the hyper-religious parents, the tea-sipping New Age girl and a rich bully are barely more than caricatures, but given the book's allegorical nature, they serve the plot just fine. It is certainly not subtle (the book oozes a smug, anti-Christian attitude) but Carter delivers the finale he promises: he really does close the book with the end of humanity. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.