APRIL 2015 - AudioFile
Kim Mai Guest narrates the story of an introverted girl who becomes a leader in this thrilling adventure story set on the moon. After her mother falls ill, Phaet has no choice but to join the militia in order to save her family. But as the youngest to undergo the grueling training, she's not sure if she can survive. Some of this story doesn't always translate well to audio. Phaet is shy and doesn't talk much, and a pause or nod can make an awkward transition on audio. Nevertheless, Guest uses strength of emotion and tense pacing to good effect. Listeners who enjoy science fiction adventures that unravel slowly will enjoy this series starter. S.B.T. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
12/08/2014
Generations ago, Phaet Theta’s ancestors fled an environmentally damaged Earth for the Moon; now, Lunar colonists live carefully regulated lives under the governance of a strict, anonymous Committee and authoritarian Militia. When Phaet’s journalist mother is forcibly quarantined (ostensibly for medical reasons, though dark purposes are clearly afoot), the 15-year-old and her siblings face living in the filthy, dangerous conditions of Shelter, where Lunar residents without resources are exiled. To keep her family safe, Phaet gives up her bioengineering dreams and her work in the Moon’s greenhouses with her best (and be-smitten) friend Umbriel and becomes the youngest volunteer to join the Militia. Fortunately, she’s smart, motivated, and—once she starts working out with equally driven cadet Wes Kappa—physically fit. In other words, well-equipped to navigate the now-familiar path of a dystopian heroine, gathering allies and identifying powerful enemies. Newcomer Bao’s off-world setting and worldbuilding details are intriguing, but readers may struggle with Phaet’s curiously emotionless affect, as well as some of the more formulaic elements at play in this series opener. Ages 12–up. Agent: Simon Lipskar, Writers House. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
Karen Bao is an incredibly talented young writer. Beautiful prose and one of the most interesting main characters I've read. Dove Arising marks the debut of a promising new talent. I loved the story, and I can't wait to read more!” —Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of Eragon
“Newcomer Bao’s off-world setting and world-building details are intriguing.”—Publishers Weekly
"Characters are well developed, especially strong-willed Phaet, and an even pace will keep teens turning pages. Fans of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, Veronica Roth’s Divergent and Marie Lu’s Legend should flock to this well-written debut effort by 19-year-old Bao." —School Library Journal
"Until just recently, the number of formidable young adult authors who got published before they were out of their teens was extremely small: Christopher Paolini and Isamu Fukui. Well, it is time to make room for a third name in this elite list: Karen Bao." —VOYA
“The 20-year-old Bao writes a brilliant new YA heroine in a world of true science fiction.” —Bustle.com
“Phaet is a compelling, ‘do what needs doing’ kind of girl, and her desperation to succeed and secure her family’s future is palpable…Revelations at the end pave the way for a sequel.”—Booklist.com
“Fans of The 5th Wave, Divergent, and Legend will love this smart, futuristic thriller.” —Justine
School Library Journal
11/01/2014
Gr 7 Up—Set on the Moon in the not-so-distant future, this series opener follows an introverted teenager who has spent her life working hard and obeying the rules of the Committee, the governing body of the Moon. Water has been scarce and money is tight, but Phaet and her mother always find a way to provide for her little brother and sister since Phaet's father's death nine years earlier. When the teen's mother is quarantined, however, it is up to her to find a way to keep her family out of the filthy, poverty-stricken district known as "Shelter." Though it means deferring her dream of studying to become a scientist, the protagonist decides to join the Moon's Militia. If she can finish her training at the top of her class, she will become the youngest Militia Captain in history. Competition is fierce, and Phaet will need to work harder than ever before and learn everything she can from the top trainee, a quiet boy named Wes, who often seems more machine than human. Perceptive readers will recognize a burgeoning romance between the pair. Characters are well developed, especially strong-willed Phaet, and an even pace will keep teens turning pages. Fans of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game (Tor, 1985), Veronica Roth's Divergent (HarperCollins, 2011) and Marie Lu's Legend (Putnam, 2011) should flock to this well-written debut effort by 19-year-old Bao.—Liz Overberg, Darlington School, Rome, GA
Kirkus Reviews
2014-11-11
In a far future in which humans have settled on the moon to escape wars and climate change on Earth, a teenage girl trains to become a soldier in order to support her family. Born and raised in the Lunar Bases, 15-year-old Phaet (whose name means "Dove") works part-time in the greenhouses with her best friend and hopes to become a Bioengineer. Her plans change, however, when her mother's illness and quarantine leave Phaet and her younger siblings destitute. To provide for her family, Phaet decides to begin her mandatory military training three years early. Her age and her silence (she rarely speaks) put her at a disadvantage; only her tentative friendship with Wes, a gifted trainee, gives her a fighting chance at survival, let alone at the high ranking she needs to earn prize money. Many of the elements of this debut—the totalitarian regime, amoral soldiers, class struggles, family secrets and love triangle—are familiar from other post-apocalyptic novels. Unfortunately, neither the characterization nor the prose helps Bao's riff stand out from the crowd. Phaet's journey from elective near-mute to military whiz is barely credible, and Bao's awkward attempts at lyricism detract from the narrative action. A cliffhanger ending sets up the obligatory sequel. This derivative debut never finds its wings. (Science fiction. 13-18)
