Neal Shusterman
Scorpion Shards
Hardcover
(Tor Books Sept. 3, 1994)
Grade 6-9-Six 15-year-olds have struggled alone with gross exaggerations of common adolescent problems?from acne to obesity to raging hormones?until the night a supernova appears in the sky and draws them together. They begin to understand something about their amazing origins and, with the help of equal parts of astronomy, biology, and the tarot, decide to fight the parasitic monsters that have been consuming them. However, two of the teens give in to their monsters and avoid the Others in order to increase their own power. The climax comes in a confrontation between the foursome and the pair in a battle waged in this world and out of it for their own lives and souls as well as the fate of the Earth. This is a complex and convoluted story that fits more into the genres of fantasy and horror than science fiction. In the first third, the characters are introduced at length as the repulsive and dangerous young people they appear to be. While their initial escapades are unpleasant, readers suffering from similar afflictions may empathize with this group of misfits. Some readers may be shocked by the discussions of Michael's sexual tension, although the language used is circumspect throughout. Others may be offended by the fact that Winston, who is black, is the only character to speak in dialect. Once the foursome unite and begin to fight back, the pace picks up, the teens become more likable, and the novel becomes compelling and absorbing. The post-battle denouement finally allows stellar qualities to begin to shine, destruction to turn to repair, and readers to wish for a sequel to tell more about these interesting and unusual characters.
- ISBN
- 0758748442 / 9780758748447
- Pages
- 240
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