Night Sky Series, Book 1

September 22, 2014
Best known for her romantic thrillers, Suzanne Brockmann teams up with her daughter Melanie for a YA adventure set in her Fighting Destiny world (as seen in 2012’s Born to Darkness). Sixteen-year-old Skylar Reid is shocked to discover that she’s a Greater-Than, born with superhuman powers—in her case telekinesis, super-speed, prophetic dreams, and more. Also shocking to her: that there are those who kidnap G-Ts and use their blood to synthesize a dangerous drug. Skylar joins her wheelchair-bound friend Calvin, motorcycle-riding bad girl Dana, and mysterious hottie Milo to rescue a missing child and bring down those who would exploit people like her. But first she has to master her newfound gifts while hiding her
activities from her overprotective mother. The Brockmanns deliver a complex, entertaining tale that blends action, suspense, and romance in a near-future setting. The story does drag at times, with the characters roaming in every direction as they play detective, but it’s a strong start to the series, and a great lead-in to Brockmann’s adult work. Ages 14–up. Agent: Steven Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

Starred review from August 1, 2014
Best-selling author Brockmann teams up with daughter Melanie to launch an exciting new series for teens interested in being more than just "normal." Skylar's mother has always urged her to fit in, and Sky has always complied, even while chafing at the restrictions. But when Sasha, a little girl she babysits, is kidnapped, Sky can't just stand by anymore. With her bestie Calvin by her side, she starts to push the boundaries of her circumscribed life, and she finds that the bizarre surrounds her-and that she is not so "normal" herself. Newfound abilities to smell emotions, to run faster than a fine-tuned athlete and to react to danger with strength as well as speed are just some of the changes happening to her. When she meets Dana, she realizes she's a Greater-Than, as are Dana and Sasha. Sasha has been taken by criminals who want her blood to make the hottest new drug on the market, Destiny. Sky, Calvin, Dana and Dana's mysterious friend Milo take to the streets in a quest where time is running out. With a little something for everyone and a hip sense of humor, dialogue and teen angst, this is a gripping page-turner from first to last. Particularly nice is the full integration of wheelchair-bound Calvin, who is far more than his disability. The start of something that can only be described as "greater-than." (Paranormal suspense. 14 & up)

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November 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-High school senior Skylar Reid thought she was totally average until Sasha, the little girl she babysits, is brutally kidnapped from the town of Coconut Key, Florida. The investigation takes Skylar and best friend Calvin to the local Sav'A' Buck to refuel on junk food when they are nearly shot to death by a "murderous trophy wife from hell," a woman high on Destiny-a wonder drug made from extraordinary human blood taken from unwilling donors. These characters are Greater-Thans, people with supernatural gifts of telepathy, superhuman strength, incredible speed, or psychic powers. Skylar discovers her true self when she meets Motorcycle Chick Dana and her dreamy partner, Milo, who promise to help her develop her astonishing gifts and use them to find Sasha. The novel's setting is disappointingly underdeveloped, set in a futuristic United States where the police have little funding or motivation in the aftermath of an unnamed war and subsequently unstable government. Some of the banter and humor are forced, such as jokes made at Calvin's expense, although his "Would-you-rather" game with Skylar will elicit chuckles. The holes in this novel fail to make it "Greater-Than" others of its kind, but the characters will stick. Recommended for readers hungering for paranormal action and a fresh heroine.-Jamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 After a series of bizarre and terrifying events, 16-year-old Skylar discovers she is a Greater-Than. First the 9-year-old she babysits, Sasha, is kidnapped. Then Sky herself is suddenly bombarded by myriad smells, and two strangers, Dana and Milo, enter her life during a grocery store stickup. Suddenly Skylar has abilities. She can run like the wind, has predictive dreams and visions, saves lives by exploding objects, and can heal herself. The downside? Greater-Thans are being kidnapped, bled, and killed for their blood to create the drug Destiny. Working with acerbic Dana, desirable Milo, and best friend Cal to find Sasha proves challengingnone of the others believe her when she says the girl is still aliveand dangerous. There's some clich'ed dialogue here, but the detailed, unusual characters, light romance, and paranormal elements that augment the suspense combine for a page-turning read. Special kudos for the creation of Cal, the delightfully positive, funny wheelchair-bound teen who costars with Sky in this first in a promising series by a mother-daughter team.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)