Luminary

December 2, 2013
Following the events of Anomaly, Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John flee the underground State where Scientists breed and control people in an attempt to create a perfect humanity. Finding refuge in New Hope, one of a few settlements that survived worldwide nuclear war 40 years before, the four find tough moral challenges in the town's conflict with predatory neighbor Athens. McGee adeptly balances 17-year-old Thalli's emerging jealousy over Rhen's apparent rivalry for Berk's affections. She also incorporates provocative issues such as how nonviolence can survive in a world of hostility, and how mutually suspicious neighbors can overcome deliberately cultivated hatred and misunderstanding. The counsel of wise mentor John sometimes tilts toward saccharine moralizing, but Thalli's insight that the imperfect beauty of freedom is preferable to static perfection emerges through her experience rather than as a pat sentiment. McGee blends the determination of faith, the malevolence of those who extol power over decency, and the assertion of individual integrity in a humane glimpse at youthful courage. Ages 12âup. Agent: Jenni Burke, D.C. Jacobson & Associates.

December 15, 2013
This simplistic dystopia delivers formulaic romance and a large dose of religious faith. In the second installment of the Anomaly Trilogy, naive musician Thalli and her friends, newly escaped from the evil Scientists and the underground State (Anomaly, 2003), arrive at New Hope, a small agricultural community that survived the Nuclear War 40 years ago. But alas, New Hope finds itself constantly threatened by Athens, a whole city that survived the War largely by developing never-described, constantly mentioned "pharmaceuticals." Thalli goes to Athens to convince evil King Jason not to attack and meets his son, Alex, who seems like a nice guy. Sadly, Alex turns on a dime into a threatening character. Thalli feels certain that she can escape if she relies on the Designer (apparently the future name for God). McGee appears to have two goals here: to write an entertaining dystopian novel and to promote religious faith. She mostly meets her first goal, although frequent sudden storyline reversals, such as Alex's transformation, can cause whiplash. She relies, clearly intentionally, on frequent deus ex machina plot turns to promote the second goal. The roughly third-grade-level prose, dialogue that mostly avoids contractions, avoidance of necessary description and cardboard-cutout characterizations seem to pitch the book toward an expected audience of poor readers. The faithful may enjoy it. (Dystopian romance. 10-14)

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January 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-This second book in the series suffers from multiple problems. Seventeen-year-old Thalli and her teen mates Berk and Rhen have escaped the oppression of the underground State with nonagenarian John. They travel to the settlement of New Hope where they learn that the Scientists who lead the State are responsible for the War that destroyed most of the life on Earth. The closest city, Athens, is ruled by a violent king who raids New Hope to steal the people's crops without regard to their injuries and suffering. Thalli decides that she must travel to Athens to learn more of the Athenians' intentions, buoyed by John's words of the Designer, notably the 23rd Psalm, as well as the phrase "the truth will set you free" from John 8:32. This sole verse drawn from the New Testament is used as a simple injunction against lying rather than an invitation to the Truth as contained in Christ's teachings. Without a strong connection to the Gospels, the Christian message is rather tepid. Thalli's narration is choppy and this, along with her naivete, gives the impression that she isn't the brightest individual. There are logical flaws as well, such as the fact that the Scientists who defected to Athens specialized in pharmaceuticals but were instrumental in updating electricity and infrastructure technologies. There are many strong heroines with moral fiber in dystopias these days. Readers may prefer one of the better-written alternatives.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids

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December 15, 2013
Grades 8-12 In the second book in the Anomaly trilogy, Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John have escaped the State, wandering the nuclear wasteland in search of survivors. Upon finding New Hope, they become enmeshed in the peace-loving agricultural community so different from the pristine, sterile State. When the technologically advanced Athens attacks New Hope, Thalli becomes first a spy and then an emissary for peace between the two villages. McGee once again blends a Christian message within a horrific science fiction plot as scientists experiment. Readers can only hope that the third title in the series arrives soon.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)