Icons

Gr 8 Up—Seventeen years ago, Dol's parents were among the billions killed on The Day. Since then, Dol and her best friend, Ro, have grown up in the Grasslands, protected and kept hidden in a peaceful mission. But things change on Dol's 17th birthday, when Embassy soldiers kill the Padre and capture Dol and Ro. Held captive by the Embassy's alien ambassador, the teens meet Lucas and Tima, both of whom have similar markings on their wrists as Ro and Dol. The four learn that they are Icon children who possess the supernatural ability to read and control emotions. Icons has a promising start, slows considerably in the middle, and gets only slightly more exciting by the end. "Top secret" and "Classified" documents appear between the chapters to provide necessary background information about the new alien-controlled planet. The four protagonists are difficult to care about. Two love triangles feel forced as only Ro seems to really feel anything for anyone else. The premise, while original, is confusing at times and requires infinite patience from readers, who will wonder far too long what the point is. For another alien-takeover story with excellent world-building, suggest Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave (Putnam, 2013).—Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX