Firebrand

October 15, 2013
The second installment of the Elemental series sees Thomas and his friends leaving Hatteras Island for new dangers (Elemental, 2012). Having rescued both themselves and the Guardians from the pirate captain Dare, Thomas, his brother, Griffin, and the other Elemental castaways sail their way south toward a refugee camp at Fort Sumter, near Charleston, S.C. The body count on their ship is steadily rising, however, and their supernatural powers--the ability to harness the different elements such as fire, water and wind--are fading the further they move away from Hatteras; readers know there's more peril to come. John's ability to spin a good plot has improved since the first installment, and this sequel moves briskly, particularly on the perilous voyage from Hatteras to Fort Sumter, where the danger and drama run high. What's curious, however, are his choices of historical landmarks for the setting. Readers may find themselves struggling to see connections between the two, since the events that took place there are so many years apart. Though there's some back story provided to explain the displacement of the Elementals, less information is given as to why these settlements have arisen in this new dystopian world hundreds of years later. Perhaps all will be revealed in another sequel. (Post-apocalyptic adventure. 12-16)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 7-10-At the end of Elemental (Dial, 2012), Thomas was focused on defeating pirate captain Dare and his crew, and saving the Guardians-the colonists of postapocalyptic Roanoke Island-during a hurricane. Now that this task is accomplished and the storm has passed, the teen and his friends find themselves scrambling to escape as their enemies try to retake their ship. Thomas uses his newfound Element-supernatural powers derived from the elements-to channel energy into the ship's radio and hear a message directing refugees to Fort Sumter. Their journey down the coast of a plague-ridden U. S. is fraught with peril. But life at Fort Sumter is not ideal, either. While the adults are losing their powers the further they are from home, Thomas and his friends still have theirs, and try to keep these abilities hidden. Thomas struggles with trust in Chief, who runs the Fort, and his people. A dangerous mission out of their new home reveals who they can and cannot trust, and an enemy from the past reappears. The adolescents gain a better understanding of their unique abilities and the vastness of the country, and the way they adjust to these facts is realistic. The ever-present worry of contracting the Plague, along with the mystery of whether the protagonist's brother is the cure to the pandemic, adds tension to the story line. The fast-paced action is balanced throughout, and the cliff-hanger ending will leave fans waiting impatiently for Thomas's fate.-Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2013
Grades 7-10 This sequel to Elemental (2012) is quickly paced and jam-packed with action. Thomas and his friends are on the hunt for a new island to call home after battling pirates, the unknown terrors of the outside world, and sometimes themselves on Roanoke Island. Thomas' newly discovered element comes in handy now as well as bolsters his previously flagging self-esteem. When the small band of hardy, desperate adventurers discovers a colony of people living on another island, hope flares until suspicious events threaten to tear apart the group of friends like nothing has yet. John realistically weaves dystopian elements into what could be a future America, using familiar settings and creating past situations that believably lead into Thomas' story. The truth behind the division between elementals and nonelementals lingers throughout the story, finally revealing itself and creating even more plot twists to urge the characters along. A strong follow-up to an unusual, interesting postapocalyptic world dusted with just enough romantic and paranormal traces to attract a wider readership.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)