The Six by Mark Alpert

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Adam, crippled by muscular dystrophy, and five other terminally ill teenagers sacrifice their bodies and upload their minds into weaponized robots to battle a dangerously advanced artificial intelligence program bent on destroying humanity.

REVIEW: Two questions…

1.  If you were terminally ill but were given the chance to live forever as a robot – would you take it?  

2. What if we developed a super computer programed to learn from their mistakes who decided humans were expendable?

Both of these premises come together in Mark Alpert’s thrilling novel, “The Six”. Adam and five other teenagers are given the opportunity to cheat death by having their brain functions transferred into an android. The kids and their families have a massive decision to make. Will they lose their personality? What part of us truly makes us human?  

Adam’s father is also the computer expert who had developed the super computer who learns from its mistakes. Ahh, if only us human’s would too… The computer deducts that humans; infallible and emotional creatures that we are, can shut it down permanently. The computer’s self-preservation tells it that it needs to eliminate us as a potential risk. Thus we become its prime target. The government, who has funded both products, sees the teens as an unknown equation for the computer. Perhaps they are the only way to save humanity from the super-computer we’ve created.

I was intrigued by both plot scenarios and how the author was able to meld them into a thought-provoking, high-action story. The reader is kept on the edge of their seats as the teenagers struggle to adapt to their new forms and their mission. The teens acted like teens, sometimes rebellious, sometimes cooperative, and never predictable. The computer scenario reminded me of an updated version of the 1980’s hit movie called “WarGames”. I can tell that the author, Mark Alpert, who is the editor for “Scientific American” has done his homework! This is a great book I could easily recommend to anyone from middle school to adult. The story had a satisfying conclusion but left the door open for future adventures. I can’t wait to see if there are sequels! 

FULL DISCLOSURE: copy obtained through Sourcebook publishing. 

Review: Prized

Prized
by Caragh O'Brien
Birthmarked Trilogy, book two

Book Description:

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

 

Review:

Hallelujah. A second book in a trilogy that tells its own complete story. :)

 

 

I was amazed at how different this book was from say Ally Condie's Crossed which although it also involved the main characters relocating to a new, dangerous environment, did not seem to actually have any purpose...it was a book that did not need to be written. Here, Gaia grows as a person. She defines her ideals. She faces a new hostile environment and she triumphs.

 

 

I was extremely excited to read about an entirely new and believable society. I thought that O'Brien did a marvelous job with the worldbuilding in Sylum and that the way that Gaia and Leon reacted to it was completely legitimate and realistic. Gaia and Leon, who have both been forced to grow up way too quickly, must still struggle with regular teen issues. 

 

An excellent second book. I cannot wait to find out how the series will finally end! 

Review: Bluefish

Bluefish
by Pat Schmatz

Book Description:

Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he's missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there's just the cramped place he shares with his well-meaning but alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of passing when he's called on to read out loud. But that's before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn't take "pass" for an answer--a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it's before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own.

 

Review:

I was surprised, honestly, by how much I liked this book. It has such a "blah" title and the cover does nothing for it...so without being prodded, I might never have picked up this book.

Short and quirky, this was a good read. It has a heartwrenching feel that builds into a heartwarming feel that will stick with you after the book is done. Both Travis and Velveeta are characters that you just want to see succeed. Both come from families with some *issues,* but luckily they find one another and one great teacher.

This is a book that just feels honest and true to life. It was one that I rolled around in my brain for a few days after I'd finished listening to it. It is one that I think would actually interest more people than they might expect... 

Review: The Unknowns

The Unknowns

by Benedict Carey

Book Description:

In a trailer park called Adjacent, next to the Folsom Energy Plant, people have started to vanish, and no one seems to care. At first Lady Di and her best friend, Tom Jones, barely notice the disappearances—until their beloved math tutor, Mrs. Clarke, is abducted, too. Mrs. Clarke has left them clues in the form of math equations that lead them all over the trailer park, through hidden tunnels under “Mount Trashmore,” and into the Folsom Energy Plant itself, where Lady Di and Tom Jones and a gang of other misfits uncover the sordid truth about what’s really happening there.

Review:
While I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book and I'm usually a *huge* fan of puzzle-based books, this book just had too much real math in it for me.Anyway, I found myself skimming through the math explanations just looking for the next actual piece of action...not good.  The two main characters were interesting and I found myself very curious as to what was going on in their little island, but I just couldn't push past the math part of this book to really, truly enjoy it. :(

However, if YOU like puzzle-based mystery books or math problems, I would still give this one a shot!!