Unbreakable

February 15, 2013
Grades 8-12 This taut sequel to Unraveling (2012) picks up four months after Janelle and Ben save the world and sacrifice their true love in the process. The world they rescued, though, will never be the same, and Janelle struggles to find a new normal, haunted by ghosts and memories. But there's no time for nostalgia; Interverse agent Taylor Barclay appears with news of an inter-universe human trafficking ring, and Ben is the prime suspect. Fans of the first novel will find much that's familiar: Janelle's strength, Elijah's affinity for the f-bomb, plenty of adrenaline, and the relentless tick of a countdown clock to begin each short, episodic chapter. And at least one obligatory, heartbreaking good-bye. But there are plenty of surprises in store as well, with abundant plot twists and betrayals to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Norris seeds the intrigue with sf details (hydrochloradneum bullets prevent inter-universe hand-ons healing, it turns out) and balances the violence with the palpable drama of adolescence. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With a companion novella from Ben's point of view on the horizon and MTV developing Unraveling into a scripted series, Norris's fanbase is destined to grow.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

March 15, 2013
What do you do for a follow-up when your heroine has already saved the universe? You invent a new crisis, of course. After the events of Unraveling (2012), Janelle Tenner is dealing with the wreckage left behind and mourning the departure of her boyfriend, Ben, to the universe he came from. But she can't enjoy even this relative stability, since Taylor Barclay, the annoying Interverse Agency operative from the last book, is back, seeking her help. A human-trafficking ring is snatching innocents from across the multiverse--including her best friend--and Ben is suspected of involvement. If she doesn't help Barclay, all of Ben's loved ones, herself among them, will be killed by the IA in just a few days. This allows the book to use the same countdown graphic that was so effective in the first, but, ghastly as human trafficking and state-sponsored torture are, they just don't have the same consuming nature as the end of the universe. Moreover, in keeping Ben offstage for much of the book, Norris, perhaps unwittingly, sets up an intriguing chemistry between Janelle and Barclay that makes the Janelle-Ben romance a whole lot less compelling. Gigantic narrative flaws notwithstanding, Janelle remains a likable, kick-ass heroine, and the conclusion sets up an ongoing situation that promises smoother execution in the future. Whether readers will tolerate the contrivances of this book along the way is another matter. (Science fiction/thriller/romance. 14 & up)

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October 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-Janelle faced the very real possibility of the world ending in Unraveling (HarperCollins, 2012). Now, even though that didn't happen, she has to deal with drastic changes in her life. Her parents are both dead, as is her best friend. She and her brother are living with Struz, her dad's former coworker and trusted family friend; Ben, the guy she loves, has returned to his own world; the planet is in ruins and there are precious few supplies; and people keep disappearing at an alarming rate. But Janelle is able to keep herself together, until her closest remaining friend disappears. At the same time, Taylor Barclay, Interverse Agent, appears on the scene to enlist her help in clearing Ben's name in relation to a crime she is certain he couldn't have committed, while Ben and his family and friends are being held in prison. The pressure is on as Janelle knows she cannot refuse to help him, yet failure in her mission will mean certain death, leaving her brother alone back home. With plenty more interverse travel and intrigue, this novel keeps up the fast pace of the first, while delivering similar suspense. Some repetition of dialogue, especially at the beginning of the story, is a distraction, and characterization is uneven but shines at times. Overall, the plotting and action will please returning fans, and readers starting with this book will quickly turn to the first one to see what they missed.-Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Several months after Wave Function Collapse destroyed her Earth, Janelle must team up with her former enemy, FBI agent Taylor Barclay, to stop a group of inter-dimensional slave traders and save Janelle's missing boyfriend, who, suspected of leading the ring, has been sentenced to death. This fast-paced sequel will satisfy fans of Unraveling and any reader who enjoys futuristic espionage tales.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)