The Comet’s Curse: A Galahad Book

Author: Dom Testa

Publisher: New York: Tor Teen 2009
ISBN- 978-0765321077
pages: 240
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Media Type: Book

Grade level:8-adult

Reader's annotation: As the adults on earth slowly die out, a bold plan to send 251 teens to find a new planet to live on and save the human race takes shape. Now they are off in space but is there a stow-away on board?

Summary: When Bukhtul’s Comet just barely missed colliding with earth everyone thought they were safe, until people started dying. When it was determined that the comet left behind deadly particles in the air that only affected adults a desperate plan was put into place to try to save the human race. 251 teenagers would travel for 5 years on a huge spaceship to a faraway planet in another galaxy that looks like it has the right conditions to support human life. The story alternates between the teens as they take off and their first few weeks in space, and the scientists as they plan and organize the flight. We see how and why the people who are part of the mission were picked and hear about the opposition to the plan as well. Everything seems to be going fine until they discover evidence of a stowaway. And this stowaway means to harm them all. Can they stop him in time to save the mission?

Evaluation: This book has a great premise that will really hook teens in. It has enough technical jargon and description to fit the sci fi label but is really about the people and the problem(s). Great sci fi choice for girls as the teen leader is a girl and the personalities are important.

Series: Book 1 in a 6-part series
Book 2 - The Web of Titan
Fan club for the series

Dom Testa's writing tips and resources

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension

Author: Earl MacRauch
Director: W.D. Richter
Actors: Peter Weller, Ellen Barkin, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd

Publisher: Santa Monica, CA: MGM Home Entertainment 1984
ISBN-978-0792848981

Classification: PG
Genre: Fantasy, adventure, romance
Media Type: movie

Grade level: 6-Adult

Reader's annotation: World-renowned scientist, rock musician, surgeon, and adventurer has developed the Overthruster which takes him to the 8th dimension and back again. Once aliens steal it Buckaroo and his band of men (with a couple women along for the ride) have to reclaim before they destroy earth.

Summary: This movie has more costume changes and identity changes than any other I can think of. Opening with Buckaroo finishing up in the operating room, he goes off to his test drive of the Overthruster which takes him through a mountain and out the other side by rearranging the molecules to let him pass through. Then he and his band of followers are off to a press conference where his Overthruster is stolen by John Lithgow who plays an alien. One of the zaniest movies you will ever see, that is just the beginning.

Evaluation: A timeless crazy adventure that almost all teens will find some part of that they can relate to, whether it is the adventure, the musicians, the romance, the aliens or the fast cars. Somehow the story holds together even though it jumps from one wild adventure to the next. This is the type of movie that you want to watch again every year or so.

Mirror's Edge

Creator: Electronic Arts
Publisher: Redwood City, CA: Electronic Arts 2008
ASIN- B00149PCAO
Rating: Teen

Classification: Young Adult Game
Genre: Sci Fi or Futuristic
Media Type: XBOX 360 Game

Grade level: 8-12

Reader's annotation: A rebel group in a future city leads your character on an epic chase to rescue your sister from the enemies.

Summary: In this first person action-adventure game, you are a runner (an agent that is trained to escape any situation by running and using their gymnastic skills to maneuver over and around objects and buildings as fast as possible) in a rebel agency against the government. You're trying to save your sister who was kidnapped and you are chased through the city, as well as chasing others in search of your sister. Sticking to the rooftops, you run through this futuristic city, getting into gunfights and chases, jumping to helicopters from rooftops and swinging down cranes.

Evaluation: As a fast paced action thriller, there’s a surprise around every corner. Lots of colors and action bring this game to life and it’s hard to look away with everything that's going on. The camera action makes you really feel like you are there.

Ender's Game

Author: Orson Scott Card

Publisher: New York: T. Doherty Assoc. 1985
ISBN-978-0312932084
pages: 357
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Media Type: Book

Grade level: 9-Adult

Reader's annotation: Chosen by the government to go to The special school, Ender leaves home at the age of six. Will he be the savior of the human race?

Summary: After feeling very unappreciated in school and as the youngest child in his family, Ender is chosen by the government after all to attend the special training program at the age of six. Now Ender can excel at what he is good at, computer gaming. He still has to deal with personality issues and competitiveness, something that he would rather put aside. But the training is rigorous and exciting, especially the descriptions of the games in the weightless room. Ender though has strong internal conflicts when he is forced to be brutal in order to survive.

Evaluation: Full of retribution and space age action this book is a real hit with teen boys. Some of the ethical and moral questions are good for teens to think about, especially those related to the value of life. The story is told as if it was happening at the moment which brings an excitement and urgency to it.

Series: Ender Wiggin - book 1

47

Author: Walter Mosely

Publisher: New York: Little Brown, 2005
ISBN-978-0316110358
pages: 232
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical fiction
Topics: slavery, SciFi, friendship
Media Type: Book

Grade level:7-Adult

Reader's annotation: Slave #47, a young boy doomed to picking cotton until he dies, meets Tall John, a mysterious stranger claiming to come from a different planet. Together they find new meanings to the concept of freedom.

Summary: There were 98 slaves on the Corinthian Plantation, each named by their number. When one died another just took its place. This is the story of a young boy as he takes position 47 under a cruel slave master in pre-Civil War south, doomed to work in the cotton fields for his entire life. Having been raised by one of the kitchen slaves and allowed to live in relative luxury in the barn his transition to the hard labor of cotton picking was difficult. One day, Tall John, shows up on the plantation. The reader understands him to be a runaway slave but he spins a tale of supernatural powers and tells 47 he was sent there to help him. Tall John is welcomed into the slave community and works with them in the fields. There is a bit of magic around Tall John as he entertains, encourages, and brings confidence and self-worth to the slaves as they toil in the fields. What I took as to be the imagination of 47 in a historical setting as he recounted the almost magical things that led them to rebellion, other reviewers have called science fiction. Tall John does do things and has special healing powers that don’t seem to be able to be explained. The mix between the two genres, historical and science fiction is interesting and casts a surreal quality to the story.

Evaluation: This is a different take on a Southern plantation slave story than I have seen before. There are some very graphic sections of the cruelty, something that made me squeamish but I bet teens would love it. You will find themselves thinking about statements Tall John made long after the story is finished.