Amy Kathleen Ryan grew up in Wyoming, adoring books by Madeleine L'Engle, Susan Cooper and Judy Blume. She studied Anthropology at the University of Wyoming, then did an MA in English Literature at the University of Vermont. From there she went on to the New School Creative Writing for Children Program. She is the acclaimed author of VIBES, and ZEN & XANDER UNDONE. Amy lives in Colorado, USA.
Gr 9 Up-In Glow (2011), the first book in the series, the Empyrean was first attacked by their sister ship, the New Horizon, and almost every adult on board perished. Then, the New Horizon's leader kidnapped every girl child to use for procreation purposes. In Ryan's second title (2012, both St. Martin's Griffin), it is only through a brash plan and the acknowledgment that the few remaining adult crew members being held for ransom will not be able to be saved that the eldest girl, Waverly, can reunite the girls with their brothers and friends again. As their relieved elation fades, harsh realities set in, and each child begins to buckle from the strain. Waverly, now blamed by many for failing to save their parents, questions her feelings for Kieran, the boy she once loved, but no longer recognizes. Kieran has turned to religion, hoping to unite and buoy the entire crew. He has also become power hungry and hardened after almost being killed by his rival, Seth. Meanwhile, Seth has been languishing in the brig, until a stowaway releases him to create a distraction to mask his own nefarious actions. Ilyana Kadushin and Matthew Brown both bring depth to their characters, narrating the tough decisions that Waverly and Kieran must make as they attempt to lead their ship to safety. Seth's added perspective brings action and danger to the story line, keeping the pace moving, though this book is much more character driven than the previous title. Fans of the first audiobook will clamor for this sequel.-Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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