Struck

Jennifer Bosworth

MacMillan Children’s

Publishing Group

ISBN 13: 978-0374372835

$17.99
2012

After a devastating earthquake, downtown L.A. is left in ruins, with the exception of one untouched tower. Downtown becomes a focal point for a traveling party that moves to a different building every night; the partiers drawn by an irresistible force. Homeless gangs roam the streets; the beaches have become tent cities and two groups vie for power over the lives and souls of those fortunate, or cursed enough, to be left alive.

Teen Mia is a lightning rod; literally. She has been struck not once or twice, but many times. But rather than fearing lightning; Mia craves the energy that could kill her one day. To prevent future strikes, her mother, brother Parker and Mia have moved to L.A. because lightning rarely strikes there. However, she still covers her body completely before going out to avoid both the lightning she attracts, and to conceal the vivid lighting scars that cover her body.

Mia’s mother is battling mental illness caused by the devastation of the quake, and Mia and Parker must buy her meds on the black market. This sends them out to the beach, and a confrontation with Prophet’s people.
The two warring groups are convinced that Mia is connected to the freak electrical storm that caused the earthquake; and the two groups; one led by a school teacher, and the other, a cult lead by the charismatic but creepy Prophet, try to get her to join them. The Prophet’s massive tent city covers the beach; and his followers, dressed in angelic white, are everywhere. Then there is the mysterious Jeremy, who has promised to protect her. Can she believe him? But just as she begins to trust Jeremy, and her feelings blossom into love; she learns that he is Prophet’s adopted son; sent to “trick” her into joining his cult. Worse yet, the Prophet has convinced Mia’s mother to marry him on the night when he plans to use Mia to call the lightning; and begin the Apocalypse. And if Mia doesn’t do as Prophet wishes; her mother will be killed. As night falls, Mia must decide who to sacrifice; and whether to risk unleashing the full extent of her powers to save those she loves, a power that could destroy her, and ignite the Apocalypse.

A straight arrow, Mia is a tough, determined heroine; but one who is plagued with doubts. Buffeted by those who want her powers, she must rely on her instincts to make the right choices to survive, and save the world. Fast paced, compelling and electric; this can’t put down novel offers a gripping view of an apocalyptic future.

Focus on Science Fiction: Veracity by Laura Bynum

Pocket Books

ISBN 10:  1439123341

ISBN 13:  978-1439123348

$25.00

January 2010

This dystopian novel echoes George Orwell's 1984; set in the near future, where the government, The Confederation of the Willing, has isolated what used to be the United States, locking it into a virtual police state. The Confederation is ruled by a small group of men determined to stay in power, no matter what the human cost.  They came to power after "The Pandemic", a virulent disease that killed one third of the population.  Most of the remaining people are controlled by implants in their necks called "slates" that monitor every word they speak; and which viciously shocks them if they utter a forbidden or "red listed" word.  Each night, new words are added to the red list and announced to the populace.  If a painful shock is not enough, further damage control is meted out by the brutal Blue Coats, thugs who use excessively violent methods to punish or even kill offenders. Dedicated government worker Harper Adams has become a new sentient monitor, because she is able to read people's emotions.  However, she has a conscience, and after her daughter is taken from her, and her name, Veracity, red listed, Harper has increasing doubts about what it is she really does.  Just as her position becomes more and more important to the government, she is recruited by the Resistance. 

The Resistance, composed of those who have disappeared by removing their slates (a great risk as this often proves fatal), or those born to the original resistance members, has grown over the years.  Members live underground to avoid detection and are comprised of some of the most brilliant academic and scientific minds.  Inspired by the cryptic "Book of Noah", they have honed in on what needs to be done to bring down the government.  But to do this, they need someone special, and when Harper Adams defects to their cause, they've found that person.

After a short but arduous training, she is given the task of finding the precise location of the main redactor, the machine which controls and monitors the slates so it can be disarmed by another member of the resistance.  This has to be done before the Resistance has any hope of succeeding in their war against the government.  But there are hundreds of redactors, and if Harper chooses the wrong one, the game will be up and thousands of people will die.  But that's not all, there's a traitor in their midst, just waiting for the right moment to betray them, and that moment is fast approaching.

This gripping Orwellian novel is full of fear, mistrust and brutality, but also with love, hope and humanity that shows us a brave new world indeed.  You'll want to stay up all night to finish this book.  A terrific debut effort from Laura Bynum.