October 15, 2014
The action-packed conclusion to the dystopic alt-history trilogy.Readers are plunged directly into the middle of the action in this final installment of the middle-of-the-road series that began with Elemental (2012). Sixteen-year-old Thomas and his band of fellow elementals-Alice, Rose, Griffin and the others-escape by the skin of their teeth from an infestation of plague-ridden rats and an invasion by enemy pirates one week after they set sail to return home to Roanoke Island from a failed mission in Sumter, South Carolina. Sparks continue to fly between Thom and Alice as he discovers more about his own element and its strange powers. Meanwhile, their archenemy, the pirate Dare, follows them back to their home on Roanoke. John's history and mapping skills can get confusing, especially when he weaves in actual historical figures and places. Still, readers who have made it this far will be relieved to discover that he spends much of the latter half of the novel explaining the convoluted mysteries and secrets that have no doubt continued to intrigue them throughout the trilogy. Even after the final reveal, however, the mythology of John's universe still feels a little shaky, but that won't stop readers from devouring page upon page of hangings, thousands of hungry, angry rats, betrayals and more.Fun but ultimately unremarkable. (Post-apocalyptic historical adventure. 12-16)
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August 1, 2014
Gr 7-10-The action doesn't skip a beat in this gripping conclusion to the "Elemental" trilogy (Dial). Thomas and the others are on the ship they used to escape from Fort Sumter at the end of Firebrand (Dial, 2013), and are heading north towards Roanoke, with Thomas's uncle Dare still in hot pursuit. The teen and his friends hatch a plan to switch ships with Dare and outrun him to get back to Roanoke to find Thomas's mother. The plan seems to have worked, but at Roanoke a new obstacle appears: a child with a new Element that gives him control over the Plague-ridden rats, enabling him to force the rats-and their fatal disease-upon humans like a weapon. And, while it appears that Thomas's brother Griffin may be the Solution to the Plague, that may not be enough to stop Dare's renegade pirates from destroying everyone's only chance at survival. There is no rest from the action in this exciting last installment. Revelations come quickly and plentifully, and yet they are incorporated well in the story. Characters are not without their flaws, but these flaws are realistic, and the growth of the protagonist, especially the younger ones, is evident. Fans will not be disappointed.-Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 15, 2014
Grades 7-10 Readers will jump right into the action in this thrilling conclusion to John's Elemental trilogy. Thomas, once thought powerless, is still on the run with his friends as they work together to try to save their world. Only now the danger and suspense is amped up because Thom has discovered that his mother is still alive and imprisoned by pirates on Roanoke Island. What can he do to save her, and what will it cost him? This fierce, unique sci-fi trilogy ends on a hopeful note, and readers will be satisfied by the conclusion to Thom's epic quest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)