Having been raised in isolation by a robot on a futuristic Earth, Eva Nine (The Search for WondLa) now journeys to a human city. Her discoveries about her origins avoid clear heroes and villains and let readers make their own determinations. As in the first volume, several of the blue-and-gray-hued illustrations serve as keys to an interactive game on the series' website.

Gr 4-7 Picking up where The Search for Wondla (S &; S, 2010) ended, Eva Nine, along with her close alien friend Rovender, is on her way to a human city for the first time. She is torn between suspicion of the young pilot named Hailey, who has come to transport her, and wanting to feel as if she belongs among "her people." Appearances, however, can be deceiving. Eva's excitement at being part of a community is soon replaced by dread as she realizes that the mastermind behind the city, Cadmus, is not a benevolent father figure, but a controlling dictator who wants to destroy the alien populations and reclaim the Earth for human inhabitants. She quickly realizes that the human city is more of a trap than a home and she is marked for bigger things. With the help of a newfound sister, she rescues her friends from evil science experiments and sets off to warn the rest of the world. Sacrifices are made and Eva Nine goes through her own transformation, finding out what it means to have family and perhaps where she truly belongs. This installment in the series is as well written as the first and will leave readers wanting to know what happens to all those fighting to save their world. With complete descriptions of scenery, creatures, flora, and cities, DiTerlizzi has created a world that is easy for readers to step into. A strong recommendation for anyone who has read the first volume and motivation for others to start the series. Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

The bloom falls off of the rosy ending to The Search for WondLa (2010) in this second book of DiTerlizzi's trilogy. Hope for Eva Nine came in the form of a boy pilot d the first other human she's ever met o claims he will take her home. Home turns out to be the perfectly harmonious city of New Attica, sheltered from the rest of Orbona (aka Earth, way in the future after the planet got ruined and then colonized by aliens). But as with any utopia, there's a dark flip side to the idylls of New Attica, and its leader has grander, more nefarious plans in store. Packed with lavish, two-toned artwork (essential to visualizing the fullness of this bizarre world), the book also makes use of a webcam to draw readers into a unique online experience. DiTerlizzi's fascinating, if bloated, swizzle of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, and Brave New World makes a few significant leaps forward here, especially in its treatment of a young girl weathering disillusionment while trying to find her place in a truly unknowable world, but it leaves enough unanswered questions in its pocket for the finale. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: If the buzz around this middle installment from the best-selling author and illustrator wasn't already loud enough, news of a major movie in the works should crank up the volume.

Long on action and atmosphere, with detailed descriptions and illustrations of the odd world of Orbona, Eva Nine's adventures pick up just where they ended (The Search for WondLa, 2010). In the ruins of an ancient city, an airship has appeared, piloted by the first other human Eva has ever seen. Hailey (think a teenage Han Solo) promises to deliver Eva and Rovender to New Attica (the reference will doubtless be lost on young readers), where the human population lives beneath a giant dome. Once there, Eva gets briefly caught up in its glamour and novelty before a strangely familiar young woman opens her eyes to the destructive intentions of the colony's leader. A complicated escape and a series of chases ensue, with dramatic battles, a stop to reunite Rovender with his estranged family, betrayal by an ostensible ally, a mystical encounter and an attempt to rescue friends from danger. Once again, a not-terribly-surprising surprise ending sets up the next installment. The pace is faster and DiTerlizzi's voice is stronger in this sequel, but it still feels like less than the sum of its parts. The accompanying website offers games, character descriptions and an "Augmented Reality" flying game. Full interactivity requires a webcam and a software download and may or may not increase readers' enjoyment. Inventive in detail if predictable in plot, this should please fans of the first volume. (Science fiction/fantasy. 10-13)