Supernova

August 1, 2019
In the sequel to Light Years (2018), the four lead characters struggle to resolve their romantic difficulties and prevent the Sylvans and the Quatrans from destroying each other. The first Sylvan attack on the Academy was thwarted by Squadron 20, only to be quickly followed by another. Orelia, now unmasked as a Sylvan spy, has a chance to redeem herself by negotiating a cease-fire. Has she already lost Zafir's love and the friendship of her fellow cadets? The Quatran Academy rewards Arran for his technical talent and bravery in combat, but his breakup with Dash has broken his heart. Vesper is closer than she's ever been to her mother, but she's hurt and confused when Rex suddenly breaks up with her. Vesper's malicious ex-boyfriend discovers that Cormak is impersonating his dead brother, Rex; can Cormak keep both the girl he loves and his place at the academy? Meanwhile, intrafederation tensions still run high for reasons as inscrutable as the expression on Zafir's handsome face. The four cadets must overcome the terror flooding their veins, jolts of pain and panic, waves of hot anger and cold terror, and a barrage of other emotions to come together and fight for peace. As with the previous volume, there is diversity in the cast, and race is not significant in this world. A relationship melodrama that runs now hot, now cold but never quite manages to explode. (Science fiction. 12-17)

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August 2, 2019

Gr 7 Up-The saga continues in this science fiction romance follow-up. Readers who haven't visited the first volume recently will find themselves scrambling to refresh their memories as little or no recap is provided. Readers are back with all of the same characters. Orelia, the traitor, has been discovered and is being held prisoner. Arran is on-again off-again with the boy his father doesn't want him involved with. Cormak lives in mortal fear of being discovered for having assumed his dead brother's identity to enter the academy. Meanwhile, Vesper seeks to live up to her high-ranking mother's ambitious expectations. There are several high-action sequences that resolve too easily. Romance is lurking at every turn but never results in anything more than kissing and suggestive overtures. The inappropriate relationship between teacher and student is never addressed and is whisked away by simply graduating the student based on meritorious battle performance. Similarly, all of the tensions created are unsatisfyingly erased in the final chapters. It's a happy ending, but it seems forced. VERDICT Purchase only where the first in the series was popular.-Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
Grades 6-9 Orelia is exposed as a Sylvan spy, and saving her Quatra Fleet Academy friends from being killed by Specters (aka Sylvans) hasn't helped her cause as much as she would like?especially with crush Zafir, who happens to be a counterintelligence agent and her former teacher. But Orelia's role in escalating tensions between Quatra and Sylvan pales in comparison to discoveries that one or more people at the top of Quatra's power chain may be pushing the war for profit. Arran, Cormak, Vesper, Orelia, and other familiar characters return in this sequel to Light Years (2018), which delves more deeply into favorite character backgrounds, the differences between Quantran haves and have-nots, and the espionage plotline. There's never much doubt about how things will evolve, but the mix of spycraft, romance (both gay and straight), and friendship form an enjoyable journey. For a more intense school-buddy experience, try Caryn Lix's Sanctuary novels, or for another hidden-in-plain-sight story, try Brandon Sanderson's Skyward books.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)