Randoms

May 11, 2015
In this romp of a space opera, adult author Liss’s first children’s book, 12-year-old science-fiction fan Zeke is picked as one of four human children to take part in a competition to determine whether Earth can join the peaceful Confederation of United Planets. There’s just one catch: while the other children were chosen for their intelligence and skills, Zeke is a “random,” selected by chance. The other human competitors decide that Zeke will drag down their score and ostracize him, which leaves Zeke to the other two ostracized randoms: the “cockney lizard” alien Steve—“Your name is Steve?” “That’s right. What of it?”—and the temperamental, feline Tamret. Things grow more complex when aliens from the rapacious Phandic Empire attack the Commonwealth spaceship, destroying a shuttle with other competitors on board; Zeke saves the day, but is branded a war criminal. Liss’s characters are engaging, the video-game-like competitions and SF commentary are fun, the sheer plenitude of alien species is fascinating, and the jokes just keep on coming. Ages 10–up. Agent: Liz Darhansoff, Darhansoff & Verrill.

May 15, 2015
Part of Spider-Man's appeal is that he's a geek; people love him because he gets picked on as much as any nerdy teenager. Zeke Reynolds follows in the same tradition. As the story opens, Zeke is being smacked in the head by a bully, immediately establishing sympathy. Even when Zeke travels into space as one of the first people to make contact with extraterrestrial life, the other kids from Earth avoid him at all costs. And when he defeats an attacking warship, he's threatened with an intergalactic trial. Like Spider-Man, Zeke has superpowers, but his power is his geekiness. When he has to come up with strategy, he says, "Our lives, at this point, depend on a scheme I'm stealing from Star Trek Two." He goes into battle wearing Firefly suspenders. Zeke is a terrific character, and Liss is also, clearly and joyfully, a geek-occasionally to the book's detriment. Page after page is spent on discussions of nanites and their effect on the human body, nearly shutting down the story. (There's even a flowchart.) But the aliens feel genuinely-and wonderfully-alien, with fully developed cultures and biology. Like the best Marvel comics, the book ends on a note of tragedy. This is jarring, but it gives Zeke's victories a feeling of depth and realism. Real geeks wouldn't have it any other way. (Science fiction. 10-16)

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August 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-Sixth-grader Zeke Reynolds is a second generation science fiction geek, so when he gets a top-secret opportunity to spend a year on a space station along with three other Earth kids, he leaps at it. It turns out that his fellow humans are all talented geniuses who shun Zeke for being the "random" pick, but on the space station, Zeke befriends two other young randoms of different species. Together, they set about trying to rack up skill points for themselves and their worlds, while simultaneously uncovering a deadly conspiracy that is undermining the Confederation of United Planets. Zeke may be a geek, but he's no nerd; his readiness with a clever retort or a bon mot makes for a formidable character and an entertaining read. The cliff-hanger ending promises more space shenanigans for Zeke and his friends. VERDICT Fans of science fiction and nonstop action alike will enjoy this smart, light adventure that brims with allusions to a variety of sci-fi movies and TV shows old and new.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Twelve-year-old Zeke Reynolds has never been anything specialjust a sci-fi movie buff and comics nerd like his father. When he is chosen at random to represent Earth in a secret mission involving the Confederation of United Planets, he cannot turn the opportunity down. Life aboard a spaceship among beings from other planets is as difficult as it is exciting, and Zeke has to wrestle with bullies, who to trust, and why he has trouble fitting in. This novel is every Trekkie's dream, filled with starships, superpowers, different technologies, and alien creatures that contribute to an utterly absorbing reality. Liss, an acclaimed author of adult historical mysteries, strikes cosmic gold in this addictive space saga with solid writing, excellent storytelling and pacing, and imaginative world building. Fully developed preteen and adult charactersboth human and otherwisemake the story appealing to readers of all ages. Important themes of trust, guilt, and love run beneath the surface of the adventure, adding substance to the abundant action. First in a series, Randoms is an exhilarating read that will have no trouble hooking sci-fi fansparticularly with its many sf referencesand it carries enough fun and excitement to appeal to reluctant readers, in spite of the intimidating page count. With a tip of the hat to geeks everywhere, this novel is a class act.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)