Return of the Continuums

Gr 7 Up—Descendants of survivors from remote colonies who escaped the apocalyptic Doom return to Earth to find a planet seemingly devoid of life. Teen engineer Myra Jackson of the underwater 13th Continuum and warrior Aero Wright of the outer space Second Continuum have landed on the surface with a few companions in an attempt to reunite with the First Continuum and reestablish civilization. With injured friends, minimal supplies, and enemies still working against them, the situation seems dire until hope appears in an unlikely form. Seeker, a feral humanoid from the Seventh Continuum, discovers Myra's group starving in the mountains and offers food and guidance. Coming from an underground colony ravaged by radiation and deprivation, Seeker is the most compelling and unfathomable character yet in the series: Does she really intend to help the ragged survivors? What choice do they have but to find out? Revelations about the fate of other continuums contribute to the world-building and enhance the story line. Strong female and male characters join forces to save what's left of the world, while a subplot of love triangles adds emotional suspense. Classic themes of loyalty in the face of adversity and good vs. evil underpin this plot-driven science fiction adventure. Although this is the second volume of a trilogy, enough backstory is included to allow teens to pick it up without having read the first installment.