From the Publisher
"Inventive...should please fans of the first volume."—Kirkus Reviews
Lindsay Currie
"FINCH HOUSE is a thought-provoking and layered haunted house story that will spark meaningful discussions about family, forgiveness, and what it means to truly coexist."
School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 5–8—Tony DiTerlizzi suffers from something of a sophomore slump in his sequel (2012) to The Search for Wondla (2010, both S & S). Heavily plot-driven, this book continues the journey of Eva Nine and alien friend, Rovender, as they try to find others on the planet Orbona (Earth, many years into the future). They find a human boy pilot who promises to take them to New Attica, supposedly a utopian center for humans. The utopia proves false and Eva Nine, Rovender, and a weirdly familiar adult female must attempt to escape the city. The ending is very abrupt, making this part of the series something of a place setting. Have the book available so listeners can peruse DiTerlizzi's wonderful illustrations. Teri Hatcher does an excellent job when voicing dialogue. However, the pace falters every time she recounts exposition by over-enunciating each descriptive word. Still, those who enjoyed the first book will likely be entranced by the many fantastic details and the painful learning process Eva Nine must go through. Some extras are available for those with a webcam and the ability to download the proper software.—B. Allison Gray, Santa Barbara Public Library System, CA
SEPTEMBER 2012 - AudioFile
After spending her first 12 years underground, being raised by a robot, Eve Nine has finally found a home in the human colony of New Attica. In this second book of DiTerlizzi’s WONDLA trilogy, Eve comes to realize that something dark and dangerous runs beneath the surface of this apparent utopia. But there is little wonder in Wondla. The audiobook suffers from the absence of the illustrations that breathe life into the print version of this science-fiction world. Although there’s a smattering of interesting vocabulary in the story, its monosyllabic language and repetitious dialogue are a challenge for narrator Teri Hatcher. Her plodding pace and monotonous tone create a lackluster world the listener never gets lost in. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Long on action and atmosphere, with detailed descriptions and illustrations of the odd world of Orbona, Eva Nine's adventures pick up just where they ended (The Search for WondLa, 2010). In the ruins of an ancient city, an airship has appeared, piloted by the first other human Eva has ever seen. Hailey (think a teenage Han Solo) promises to deliver Eva and Rovender to New Attica (the reference will doubtless be lost on young readers), where the human population lives beneath a giant dome. Once there, Eva gets briefly caught up in its glamour and novelty before a strangely familiar young woman opens her eyes to the destructive intentions of the colony's leader. A complicated escape and a series of chases ensue, with dramatic battles, a stop to reunite Rovender with his estranged family, betrayal by an ostensible ally, a mystical encounter and an attempt to rescue friends from danger. Once again, a not-terribly-surprising surprise ending sets up the next installment. The pace is faster and DiTerlizzi's voice is stronger in this sequel, but it still feels like less than the sum of its parts. The accompanying website offers games, character descriptions and an "Augmented Reality" flying game. Full interactivity requires a webcam and a software download and may or may not increase readers' enjoyment. Inventive in detail if predictable in plot, this should please fans of the first volume. (Science fiction/fantasy. 10-13)
