ISAN

April 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Captivating from the very beginning, this sci-fi novel explores issues of autonomy and survival in a world where there are few remaining citizens after meteors crashed into Earth. Ava, who was young when her mother passed away, was placed in foster care where she was forced to grow up fast. She eventually ran away from her abusive foster family only to end up in a juvenile detention center for stealing in order to survive. When she turned 17, the International Sensory Assassin Network came for her, offering her a new life with one caveat: the teen had to agree to be injected with the experimental "Helix serum." It heightens her senses and gives her superhuman abilities and strength to carry out missions. On a mission, Ava is captured by a rebel group that claims Ava's past is not what she believes it to be, and that her memory has been altered. Written from Ava's perspective, this thrilling dystopian drama has a splash of romance and tons of action. The fast-paced chapters will engage reluctant readers and fans of postapocalyptic scenarios. VERDICT Purchase where speculative fiction remains popular.-Gilly Yildiz, Eisenhower Public Library, Harwood Heights, IL

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