Breaking Point

October 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-After escaping from one of the Federal Bureau of Reformation's detention centers in Article 5 (2012), Ember and Chase rejoin the Resistance to hide out in the second title in Simmons's dystopian trilogy (2013, both Tor Teen). It's not long before Ember's picture is plastered across the country. She's now one of the FBR's most wanted, sought in connection with the sniper attacks that have killed several soldiers. The leader of the Resistance wants to use her sudden celebrity to inspire people to revolt against a society where the Bill of Rights has been revoked and replaced with the Moral Statutes, and Ember agrees to come out of hiding. Things quickly go south, and Ember and Chase are soon on the run again, determined to get to Chicago and rescue Rebecca, the girlfriend of their friend Sean and Ember's old roommate from Reformatory. They are joined by Tucker Morris, the now ex-soldier who killed Ember's mother. Ember can't bring herself to trust Tucker, but realizes they will need his help to pull off the rescue. Jennifer Ikeda's youthful voice is ideal for the first-person narration. She gives a solid performance, conveying the range of emotions Ember experiences and highlighting her determination with a controlled pace. Listeners who have followed Ember and Chase through both titles will be anxious to see how their story ends in the final volume.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

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