The Nightworld

Gr 8 Up—Reminiscent of Susan Beth Pfeffer's "Last Survivors" trilogy (Harcourt), but not as well-written, this apocalypse story begins as Nick Robbins excited about being invited to a party by his longtime crush, Lara. However, he leaves early when a menacing cloud settles over the city. Upon arriving home, his father, a research scientist for the government, explains that they need to escape immediately: the storm cloud is a sign of impending doom. Government men kill him, but Nick escapes with a device his dad was working on, which may be the only chance for the world's survival. The novel starts slowly, but once the teen is on the run, it becomes a fast and energetic ride. Up to the point that Nick finds Lara holed up in her penthouse apartment, readers might be able to accept how he survives, but what happens after that completely strains credulity: he and Lara take off on a motorcycle to Detroit, find an underground refuge, inoculate themselves from the virus that killed everyone in the refuge, and begin saving children who are left to fend for themselves. The ending is way too pat and leaves too many unanswered questions. This story was inspired by a video game and feels like it. It's only for readers who just can't get enough about the end of the world.—Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, LA