A Hero for WondLa

June 25, 2012
The sequel to DiTerlizzi’s The Search for WondLa finds 12-year-old Eva Nine and her alien companion Rovender Kitt in the human city of New Attica. At first, this seems like the culmination of Eva’s quest: raised by a robot in an underground sanctuary, she had been searching for humans like herself. But in New Attica, Eva begins to notice that her human peers have ulterior motives and hidden motivations. Narrator Teri Hatcher’s performance of the book’s dialogue is exceptional: she breathes life into each of the characters, differentiating them with distinct voices and vocal mannerisms. However, when she reads expository or descriptive passages, her voice becomes stilted. And this contrast will likely prove jarring to listeners—especially ones immersed in the story by the narrator’s fine rendering of the characters. Ages 10–up. A Simon & Schuster hardcover.

June 1, 2012

Gr 4-7-Picking up where The Search for Wondla (S & S, 2010) ended, Eva Nine, along with her close alien friend Rovender, is on her way to a human city for the first time. She is torn between suspicion of the young pilot named Hailey, who has come to transport her, and wanting to feel as if she belongs among "her people." Appearances, however, can be deceiving. Eva's excitement at being part of a community is soon replaced by dread as she realizes that the mastermind behind the city, Cadmus, is not a benevolent father figure, but a controlling dictator who wants to destroy the alien populations and reclaim the Earth for human inhabitants. She quickly realizes that the human city is more of a trap than a home and she is marked for bigger things. With the help of a newfound sister, she rescues her friends from evil science experiments and sets off to warn the rest of the world. Sacrifices are made and Eva Nine goes through her own transformation, finding out what it means to have family and perhaps where she truly belongs. This installment in the series is as well written as the first and will leave readers wanting to know what happens to all those fighting to save their world. With complete descriptions of scenery, creatures, flora, and cities, DiTerlizzi has created a world that is easy for readers to step into. A strong recommendation for anyone who has read the first volume and motivation for others to start the series.-Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2012
Grades 5-8 The bloom falls off of the rosy ending to The Search for WondLa (2010) in this second book of DiTerlizzi's trilogy. Hope for Eva Nine came in the form of a boy pilotand the first other human she's ever metwho claims he will take her home. Home turns out to be the perfectly harmonious city of New Attica, sheltered from the rest of Orbona (aka Earth, way in the future after the planet got ruined and then colonized by aliens). But as with any utopia, there's a dark flip side to the idylls of New Attica, and its leader has grander, more nefarious plans in store. Packed with lavish, two-toned artwork (essential to visualizing the fullness of this bizarre world), the book also makes use of a webcam to draw readers into a unique online experience. DiTerlizzi's fascinating, if bloated, swizzle of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, and Brave New World makes a few significant leaps forward here, especially in its treatment of a young girl weathering disillusionment while trying to find her place in a truly unknowable world, but it leaves enough unanswered questions in its pocket for the finale. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: If the buzz around this middle installment from the best-selling author and illustrator wasn't already loud enough, news of a major movie in the works should crank up the volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)