Genesis

Gr 8 Up—In the sequel to Nemesis, this entry has alternating chapters from the perspectives of the two main characters: Min, a strong female protagonist, and Noah, the anxious and complicated love interest. In this second installment, readers see Noah coming into his own as the teenagers trapped in Project Nemesis battle one another to stay alive. They are being held in a simulation of their town, Fire Lake, where one must kill the other in order to survive. The characters understand they are playing a dangerous game, but to what end? There are several intense moments and a significant number of deaths. As the plot unfolds, readers will learn about the Guardian, his real role in the project, and who he is in relation to the main characters. The events that move the plot forward are a little repetitive, and the story drags at times but Reichs's writing style and portrayal of the two main characters keep the story exciting. Everything picks back up toward the conclusion and there are several unexpected twists and revelations for the characters. Min and Noah experience extraordinary character development, and readers of the first book in the trilogy will no doubt be intrigued.