The Dark Shore

Gr 9 Up—This fast-paced sequel to The Lost Code (HarperCollins, 2012) reads like a combination of Star Trek, Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, and Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. Owen is a descendant of the ancient Atlanteans and has the power to find an almost-extinct technology that will reverse climate change. Wanting that secret for himself, Paul, who is the evil head of the Elysium Project, is determined to find Owen and his friends, Leech and Lilly, and use the teen's secret for his own purposes. In order to evade the villain and find Atlantis, the three travel by aircraft across the barren wasteland of what used to be the United States. They encounter dead bodies fallen by pandemics and numerous other horrors. They meet untrustwothy people, but finally form an alliance with the Benevolent Mother, the leader of a cult who tries to help them with their mission. The plot twists around like a vine, blending mythology, technology, pandemics, violence, and excitement. The three main characters are likable, though they all seem to have nine lives. This second installment will appeal to dystopian fans as well as to students who can keep track of the many subplots.—Kathy Lyday, South Caldwell High School, NC