Elusion

January 20, 2014
Gabel (Romeo & Juliet & Vampires) and Klam (Learning to Swim) team up in this near-future tale of the seductive virtual world of Elusion, which people can plug into and escape the realities of a seven-day work schedule and pollution so bad oxygen masks are needed to venture outdoors. Regan Welch’s father invented Elusion and died in a mysterious accident, leaving her best friend, computer prodigy Patrick Simmons, and his Orexis corporation to develop the next generation of high-definition “Escapes.” Regan is a staunch defender of Patrick and his technology, despite allegations that it’s harmful and additive, until a series of cryptic clues from her late father, a number of teens turning up comatose, and hunky bad-boy Josh make her question Elusion’s safety. A predictable love triangle (childhood friend vs. Josh and his “devastatingly beautiful amber-colored eyes”), heavy exposition, and Regan’s obliviousness bog down the story’s second act, though corporate intrigue and a dangerous venture into the virtual realm enliven the cliffhanger ending. Ages 14–up. Agent: (for Gabel) Christy Fletcher, Fletcher & Company; (for Klam) Esther Newberg, ICM.

January 15, 2014
This series debut features a smart, surprising teaser of a plot that keeps readers off balance--in a good way--to the last page. Regan missed her dad even before his tragic death. Elusion, the form of virtual reality he developed with her best friend, Patrick, took most of his time. Now, Elusion's launch is a bittersweet triumph. For an hour, users are immersed in a beautiful Escape, forgetting life in a polluted Detroit subject to damaging acid rains, where oxygen masks are essential gear when outdoors. Not everyone is thrilled with Elusion. Regan's classmate Avery is making damaging claims that though regulators have approved it as safe, Elusion's highly addictive, putting users who've figured out how to stay longer at serious risk. While Regan rejects this, her attractive new friend, Josh, takes it seriously, and Patrick's evasions don't help. There's something wrong with Elusion, and it's been carefully covered up. The more Regan and Josh investigate, the worse it looks, causing Regan to question her dad's role as well as Patrick's. Exactly what's behind the euphoria Elusion generates is unknown, but as her father tells her when he turns up in an Escape, it's dangerous. Regan's appealing though--minor quibble--perhaps a tad too rational when responding to the reality-twisting scenarios that are thrown at her. An ingenious, compulsively readable cure for the blahs. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-In this grim sci-fi tale, Earth is destroyed by pollution and technological progress. "Elusion," a virtual reality technology that transports users to "escapes," which mimic untainted landscapes, was created by Regan Welch's father and his teen protege, Patrick. In a world where work and school take place seven days a week and air quality is so poor that oxygen shields are often required, Elusion was meant to offer recreational getaways from the abysmal daily grind. However, Regan's father is killed in an accident, and reports surface that Elusion may have life-threatening side effects. Patrick's feelings for Regan begin to shift, especially when his friend Josh becomes a romantic rival who encourages her to take a deeper look at Patrick, Elusion, and Orexis, the company responsible for its development. Given the current reliance on smartphones, readers will have no trouble believing that virtual escape is addictive. Orexis falsifying data and endangering users to protect their bottom line is sadly also realistic. These elements, combined with the teen romance, ground the book's more fantastical aspects, such as Patrick's redesigned trippy escapes and Regan's experiences within upgraded Elusion. Unfortunately, the young scientist's characteristics and actions take on a cartoonish quality. The occasional use of swear words makes this better suited for older readers. Pithy dialogue and a cliffhanger ending will leave fans in high anticipation for the sequel. Perfect for collections where sci-fi tempered with romance flies off the shelves.-Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 More excited than scared, Regan dons a microlaser visor, audio buds, and a wristband as she joins her father for her first experience in Elusion, the advanced virtual-reality system that he invented. Five months later, her father is gone and her real world is falling apart. While rumors about teens harmed by Elusion fly, Orexis (the company that made it) struggles to minimize the damage to their product's reputation. Regan must decide whether to trust Patrick, her childhood friend who works for Orexis, or Josh, whose sister is an Elusion victim. Regan follows cryptic clues as far as she can, but her central question keeps circling back to reality: who is lying? The stock characters deliver few surprises, though the plot twists in entertaining ways. This page-turner of a novel combines elements of dystopia, science fiction, adventure, and romance as well as mystery. Answers are revealed at the conclusion, but the story isn't over, leaving the door open for sequels. The cover will draw readers, and many will stay for the fast-paced narrative.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)