"Kaufman and Spooner prove that their first brilliant installment was no fluke with this strong second outing. . . . There is action, a spark of romance, and a mystery, all set on a fully-realized planet. "—School Library Journal
"Neither side is right, neither is wrong, but this sci-fi Romeo and Juliet are destined to fall in love in spite of the hatred and danger that surround them. Kaufman and Spooner have transitioned smoothly from These Broken Stars."—Booklist
"Fans of the first book, as well as those who like impossible romance between two people on opposing sides, will enjoy this sequel."—VOYA
Praise for These Broken Stars: "Absolutely brilliant. This is the sci fi I've been waiting for! Action, romance, twists and turnsthis book has it all!" —Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Across the Universe
"With rich, complex characters and a dynamicand dangerousnew world, These Broken Stars completely transported me."—Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate series
"One of the most intense, thrilling, and achingly beautiful stories I've ever read. Kaufman and Spooner will break your heart with skilled aplomb, and you'll thank them for it. Absolutely incredible! If I have to, I will come to your house and shove this book into your hands!" —Marie Lu, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Legend Trilogy
*"Lilac and Tarver are characters of depth, complexity, and strength, young people who alternately elicit the reader's admiration, frustration, and sympathy ... a testament to love, loyalty, courage, and the power of good over dystopian greed and perversity."—Booklist, starred review
"The authors begin with star-crossed lovers and a crash-landing survival story but add excitingly original material to these tropes to create a wonderful tale that should appeal to both teen and adult readers."—School Library Journal
"Kaufman and Spooner's debut collaboration is a stunning, gorgeously imagined romance with epic sweep, brimming with lush detail of setting and intricate character study. It's the kind of read to savor, but the survivalist plotting still rushes the reader to keep turning pages." —Ingram Library Group
"With well-developed characters and an excellent narration style, Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have crafted an insightful, shrewd and genuinely moving exploration of life, humanity and the moral obligations neglected in the name of progress. These Broken Stars is a romantic and heartbreaking tale that is complete in its own right while still leaving readers excited for future installments. Intense, emotional and compelling, it will appeal to readers (aged 12 and up) who like their sci-fi thoughtful and challengingand just a little bit sexy."—Books+Publishing
2014-10-01
It's not exactly a meet-cute. Despite a cease-fire, the planet of Avon is only a hair's breadth from tipping into open war, so it's not surprising that two characters from opposing sides have an unfriendly first encounter when they meet in a bar. It's unsettling that when Flynn, a white teen from a community of rebels living in hidden caves, uses a gun and gasoline fumes to kidnap Lee, a brown-skinned, partly Chinese military officer with a combat specialty, readers are expected to accept Flynn's physical dominance. Readers unperturbed by this early dynamic—later, Lee becomes more kickass, and her competence equalizes with Flynn's—will find a fast-paced adventure, though enjoyment requires accepting that a forceful kidnapping is a fine start to an oh-but-they're-enemies romance. Alternating first-person narration, Flynn and Lee overcome wariness to work together, coping with barbarous mind manipulation, horrific violence and mysteries—like why Avon's terraforming never progresses to become an ecosystem and how an unidentified compound of buildings repeatedly vanishes into midair. The bad guy and his methods—mind control of humans via torture of aliens from another realm—carry forward from series opener These Broken Stars (2013), and its protagonists have cameos here. The cringe-worthy romantic setup chafes, but on the plus side, this soft science fiction offers intense, nongratuitous bloodshed, corporate conspiracy and intriguing explorations of culpability. (Science fiction. 13 & up)