Homicidal Aliens and Other Disappointments

February 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Yansky begins with a prologue explaining, in brief, what happened in the first work of this duology, Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences (Candlewick, 2010). New readers learn that aliens, called the Sanginians, have colonized Earth, killing most humans in their wake. Narrator Jesse, along with some other telepaths, was kept by the aliens as a slave, though he eventually escaped and (after many trials and tribulations) managed to kill the alien overlord, although even Jesse doesn't know exactly how he managed it. As the second book opens in earnest, many of the remaining rebels hail Jesse as a Warrior Spirit or Chosen One, hoping he can lead them to safety. Others, including Dylan, a rival for power, and Lauren, Jesse's girlfriend, dismiss him as a skilled fighter at best and irresponsible and selfish at worst. The teen's powers continue to develop, and with the help of a shamanlike character named Running Bird, he is eventually able to time travel (or, as he calls it, move into different moments). Fans of the first book will enjoy Jesse's sense of humor and the interplay between his normal problems (which girl to date, for example) and the high-stakes pursuit of survival. Some pacing problems, lack of character development, and incomplete world-building may prevent many new readers from feeling invested in Jesse's struggles. Recommended for libraries where the first book is popular.-Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

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August 15, 2013
In this continuation of the story begun in Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences (2010), elements of mythology add spice to the science-fiction adventures of a group of American teens who escaped from slavery under the alien Sanginians. Having left slavery behind, Jesse, Lauren and Catlin find life with the rebels in the camp in New Mexico's mountains to have a different--but no less disturbing--set of pitfalls to navigate. In the battle at Taos in the previous book, Jesse managed to kill Lord Vertenomous and acquired the reverence of some rebels as the mythical Warrior Spirit as well as the hostility of those with plans of their own. As revealed by Jesse in his present-tense narration, this is not something he is particularly comfortable with. The addition of a new alien called the Hunter that's searching for Jesse results in a potent mix of political conflict, double crosses and maximum suspense. The believable resolution is preceded by several shocks that add to its credibility. Fans of the first book are a natural audience for this one, but thanks to the graceful insertion of back story in the form of a recapping prologue, this second act will attract and satisfy new readers. (Science fiction. 12-15)

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