Aluna, the young ocean-dweller Kampii, is back and still racing to save herself and her friends in Reese's imaginative sequel to Above World (2012). Traveling overland with pals Hoku, Calli, and Dash, Aluna's plan is to reach the desert city of Mirage and warn Dash's kind, the horselike Equians, about the evil plans of megalomaniacal Karl Strand to conquer all Above Worlders. Obstacles in their way include the evil clone, Scorch, who harbors nothing but bad intentions for the young heroes, and the secret, very unwanted growth of Aluna's mermaid tail as she struggles through the dry desert landscape. Creativity flowers throughout the narrative, with the different types of human descendants nged Aviars; merpeople Kampii; merciless Upgraders, with their tech-scavenged bodies; half-snake Serpenti pturing the reader's fancy. The strong friendships between Aluna and her pals are refreshingly free of too much drama and predictable romantic ties, although innocent love does blossom here and there. A strong sequel that should garner continued interest in this engaging, innovative middle-grade series.

Although she is secretly growing her mermaid tail, Aluna (Above World) and her Kampii friends train to compete in the Thunder Trials in order to prevent the evil Karl Strand from conscripting their Above World desert-dwelling friends, the centaur-like Equians, into his army. This well-written, action-packed sequel, a blend of science fiction and fantasy, will delight fans of speculative fiction.

In this sequel to Above World (2012), best friends Aluna and Hoku pursue their quest to prevent power-mad Karl Strand from controlling a futuristic world in which genetically modified races live in the oceans, skies and deserts. Ocean-dwelling Kampii, Aluna and Hoku travel across the desert to Mirage with winged Calli and Dash, an exiled Equian, to warn Equian High Khan Onggur about Strand. They arrive too late. Onggur has allied with Strand, whose cunning clone daughter, Scorch, is now eager to eliminate Aluna, Hoku, Dash and Calli. Dash is condemned to death for breaching his exile, while Aluna, Calli and Hoku will be delivered to Scorch after the Thunder Trials unless they find a way to save Dash and thwart the alliance. Preparing to compete in the Trials, Aluna secretly worries about her legs, which are fusing into a Kampii tail, threatening her ability to fight on land. Ever resourceful, the companions use their differences to their advantage, allying with the half-snake Serpenti to form their own unique tribe. A strong, seemingly indestructible warrior, Aluna discovers she must rely on her friends to survive as the battle to save Above World continues. A powerful sequel with sustained themes of friendship and honor. (Science fiction. 10-14)

Gr 5-8 In this sequel to Above World (Candlewick, 2012), power-hungry Karl Strand will stop at nothing in his quest for domination over all peoples, humans genetically modified long ago to survive in different environments: the underwater Kampii, the Aviars of the skies, and the horselike Equians, and the half-human/half-snake Serpenti of the deserts. Aluna, a Kampii, and her friends must race against time to convince the Equians and Serpenti to let go of their long-standing conflict and stand together against Strand and his malicious clone, Scorch. Mirage features compelling characters, plenty of action, and a thoroughly imagined world in which mermaids, centaurs, and others must work together to survive despite their differences. Those unfamiliar with the first book may find it difficult to cobble together a complete understanding of the Above World and its villain, but the dynamic plotline will keep readers engaged. Sara Saxton, Tuzzy Consortium Library, Barrow, AK