Devastation Class

July 1, 2020
Teenage cadets must fight battles both within and outside their ranks to survive the unknown. When the Kastazi--an alien race fleeing a dying planet--came to Earth, it started the Nine-Year War, but the Alliance destroyed them. Now in peacetime, the Alliance has launched the Explorers Program, selecting only the most elite cadets who will be future leaders. Leading them are JD and Viv. Overwhelmed by the program's challenges, JD has been sabotaging himself. Meanwhile, Viv is consumed by the events surrounding her father's death when new evidence of what happened appears. But none of that matters when their battleship, the UAS California, is unexpectedly attacked by a Kastazi Destroyer. The moment the cadets thought was far off is suddenly present: Seizing control of the ship, JD and Viv take risk after risk to fend off hostiles as the deep-rooted distrust between civilian students and cadets mounts. Just as the cadets think they've found respite, a new mystery unfolds, leaving them searching for answers. Readers who don't mind the near-glacial buildup laying out the history with precise, technical language will be rewarded with the action that follows. Although there are several alternating first-person voices, JD and Viv are the most well-realized characters; their peers fall flat. Readers may get lost in the dialogue, as speech indicators are sparse. Main characters are cued as white; names suggest some ethnic diversity in the supporting cast. A tempting concept marred by uninspired writing. (Science fiction. 13-18)

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September 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-A thriller reminiscent of Star Trek, this is set in the far future when humans, nearing extinction as a species, hurtle through space fighting alien enemies. Humans are threatened by an alien race called the Kastazi. Teen protagonists JD Marshall and Viv Nixon are overshadowed by the deeds of their famous parents, but they hope to carve out separate identities of their own as cadets on the Alliance Devastation Class starship California. JD and Viv are up-and-coming heroes who are waiting for a chance to prove themselves, and they get that chance when they are forced to mutiny and perform a dangerous teleportation maneuver by activating the ship's Blink Reactor. The themes of self-discovery and eventual disillusionment with reality are classic ones in YA novels, and they are well-placed here. Much attention is paid to keeping the adrenaline level high and the plot moving, leaving character development slightly lacking. As is usual in science fiction set in the distant future, there is some tech-speak to learn-Zipper and Mongeon build a world where space travel, realistic simulations, teleportation, and conversing with alien beings is the norm. Some secondary characters' hair color is noted, but JD and Viv's appearances are notably never described. Readers will not be surprised to learn that the movie rights for this novel have already been sold. VERDICT A futuristic adventure that packs in the action but may leave fans feeling flat; recommended for teen Trekkies looking for something fast and furious.-Shannon O'Connor, Unami M.S., Chalfont, PA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 19, 2020
Cadets John Douglas Marshall and Vivien Nixon are part of the training complement on the Alliance’s Devastation-class spaceship, the UAS California. When a surprise attack by the alien Kastazi destroys the Gallipoli Station, where the California is docked, all officers but two ensigns are away from the ship. After one is killed and the other has a breakdown, the cadets assume command of the California. Further Kastazi attacks follow, and the crew employs typical science-fiction tech fixes to try to save the day. In this series opener, filmmakers and debut authors Zipper and Mongeon write compelling action sequences, but the book’s first third is slow, the characters are standard, and some plot elements don’t add up—in particular, science-savvy readers may spot an astrophysics fallacy about star movement in descriptions of a device that makes it possible to jump into the future. This will appeal most to action junkies who don’t mind being left hanging, but seasoned genre readers may want to pass. Ages 13–up.