ISBN: 978-0-359-51657-5
Paper: 16.95 E-book: 4.99
PUBLISHER: LuLu
PAGE COUNT: 289
Available on AMAZON
Reviewed by Especially by and for Carolyn Wilhelm’s
Midwest Book Review’s Bookshelf.
Reprinted with Permission of Jim Cox,
Midwest Book Review’s Editor-in-Chief
This author's favorite genre is science fiction and I'm sure that helped her imagination as she wrote this book. Here is a "rule" the protagonist, Lacie, remembers when in a tight spot.
"...remember the course on Blending into Other Cultures, aka Undercover Coping. Among non-humanoids, acting lost and scared can work. On humanoid planets, find out what other humans are doing that you can do. Do it."
Lacie's parents have to leave her and she manages to cope with the help of what she learned in class and technology. Danger is close at hand many times which is often solved with brainy and complex solutions.
I found the information from classes such as Blending into Other Cultures aka Undercover Coping to be believable. The names of the ships, security characters, robots, aliens, and planets were clever and fun to read. There is a character map in the back of the book (instead of a family tree) to help keep the many characters, humanoids, princesses, miners, families, and interactive plants straight. The ships and robots have personalities and can adapt to changes and grow in knowledge.
Characters are suspicious of each other at first as it is difficult to tell which are trustworthy. Being safe is of utmost importance and there is cloaking and traveling and secrecy involved. An energy net pulls a damaged ship to where it can be repaired. A school is a central focus, SAKAWE, and people with criminal intent take it over for some time. Students, however, are not injured. (less)
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Carolyn Wilhelm reviews for has a Bookshelf dedicated to her reviews on Midwest Book Review’s Website. She is veteran educator and works toward creating a better environment for the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joy V. Smith has been writing stories since she was little and made her own little books. Her stories and articles have been published in print magazines, ezines, and anthologies; and her SF has been published in two audiobooks, including Sugar Time. Her books include Detour Trail; Strike Three; Sugar Time, Well Met by Water; Velvet of Swords; Cold New Planet; Crystal Quest; a collection of her published short stories, The Doorway and Other Stories; and several e-books. She lives in Florida with Samwise Gamgee, a Chihuahua cross, and Pemberley, the tortoiseshell cat, in a remodeled house. (She's been practicing building and remodeling.)
