Awake

February 1, 2024
Eleven-year-old Simon Theland is exhausted; his family's been on the run for a year and a half while fleeing his pyrokinetic oldest sister, Rachael, who set fire to their house and school. Simon's rest is regularly disturbed by dreams of his house burning down. But one night, the nightmare unfolds differently--hands pull him through the open refrigerator door into a whole new world. There, Rachael isn't the only one with special powers, and Simon meets and becomes friends with Lena Oneiro, a quiet girl from his history class who's the target of bullies. Soon Simon, Lena, and Aly, the middle Theland sibling, connect in real life and begin talking about their powers. But when Rachael appears with a dangerous crew of teens in tow, Simon, Aly, and Lena must work to keep the flames at bay. This sequel to Ablaze (2023) is an entertaining and emotional ride told from Simon's third-person perspective. Readers will sympathize with his plight as the youngest child. Simon struggles to comprehend and use his superpowers responsibly, reflecting middle school kids' burgeoning emotions and identities, and those navigating social difficulties will relate to his desire to be understood. The sibling dynamics also shine, and Simon's parents grapple with seeing who their children really are: a relatable feeling, no matter what your superhero status is. Main characters read white. A satisfying portrayal of budding superheroes who are grappling to do what's right. (Paranormal thriller. 9-12)

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February 23, 2024

Gr 4-7-Simon, 11, is hiding out with his family from his dangerous older sister Rachael, a pyrokinetic who can start fires with her mind in this suspenseful psychological thriller, the sequel to Ablaze. A year and a half ago, Rachael tried to kill her family by burning down their house. This was retaliation for Simon injuring her as he tried to stop her from setting the fires that Rachael blamed on their sister Aly, also a pyrokinetic. Simon can mentally enter people's minds and push them to do things. When he sees two siblings bullying classmate Lena, called Zombie by everyone because of her expressionless face and slow gait, Simon uses his powers to get them to leave her alone. When he reaches into Lena's mind he realizes she's different, like him. She's a somnipath, able to infiltrate and shape people's dreams. She helps Simon enter Rachael's dreams to try to locate her. When they do find her, she's with others like her-Joyce, an energy parasite, and Colin, a cyberpath-and they want to "own the world." Will Simon and Lena be able to stop them? Simon's struggle to understand and use his powers is relatable and his friendship with the shrewd Lena is authentic. Despite a lack of character depth, the family dynamics are well realized, particularly Simon's complicated relationship with Aly. Characters default to white. VERDICT The twisty plot, explosive action, sympathetic characters, and scary cover will hook readers, while the open-ended conclusion will ensure they return for the next installment.-Sharon Rawlins

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