Review by Booklist Review
The bloom falls off of the rosy ending to The Search for WondLa (2010) in this second book of DiTerlizzi's trilogy. Hope for Eva Nine came in the form of a boy pilot and the first other human she's ever met who claims he will take her home. Home turns out to be the perfectly harmonious city of New Attica, sheltered from the rest of Orbona (aka Earth, way in the future after the planet got ruined and then colonized by aliens). But as with any utopia, there's a dark flip side to the idylls of New Attica, and its leader has grander, more nefarious plans in store. Packed with lavish, two-toned artwork (essential to visualizing the fullness of this bizarre world), the book also makes use of a webcam to draw readers into a unique online experience. DiTerlizzi's fascinating, if bloated, swizzle of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, and Brave New World makes a few significant leaps forward here, especially in its treatment of a young girl weathering disillusionment while trying to find her place in a truly unknowable world, but it leaves enough unanswered questions in its pocket for the finale. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: If the buzz around this middle installment from the best-selling author and illustrator wasn't already loud enough, news of a major movie in the works should crank up the volume.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The sequel to DiTerlizzi's The Search for WondLa finds 12-year-old Eva Nine and her alien companion Rovender Kitt in the human city of New Attica. At first, this seems like the culmination of Eva's quest: raised by a robot in an underground sanctuary, she had been searching for humans like herself. But in New Attica, Eva begins to notice that her human peers have ulterior motives and hidden motivations. Narrator Teri Hatcher's performance of the book's dialogue is exceptional: she breathes life into each of the characters, differentiating them with distinct voices and vocal mannerisms. However, when she reads expository or descriptive passages, her voice becomes stilted. And this contrast will likely prove jarring to listeners-especially ones immersed in the story by the narrator's fine rendering of the characters. Ages 10-up. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Tony DiTerlizzi suffers from something of a sophomore slump in his sequel (2012) to The Search for Wondla (2010, both S & S). Heavily plot-driven, this book continues the journey of Eva Nine and alien friend, Rovender, as they try to find others on the planet Orbona (Earth, many years into the future). They find a human boy pilot who promises to take them to New Attica, supposedly a utopian center for humans. The utopia proves false and Eva Nine, Rovender, and a weirdly familiar adult female must attempt to escape the city. The ending is very abrupt, making this part of the series something of a place setting. Have the book available so listeners can peruse DiTerlizzi's wonderful illustrations. Teri Hatcher does an excellent job when voicing dialogue. However, the pace falters every time she recounts exposition by over-enunciating each descriptive word. Still, those who enjoyed the first book will likely be entranced by the many fantastic details and the painful learning process Eva Nine must go through. Some extras are available for those with a webcam and the ability to download the proper software.-B. Allison Gray, Santa Barbara Public Library System, CA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Having been raised in isolation by a robot on a futuristic Earth, Eva Nine (The Search for WondLa) now journeys to a human city. Her discoveries about her origins avoid clear heroes and villains and let readers make their own determinations. As in the first volume, several of the blue-and-gray-hued illustrations serve as keys to an interactive game on the series' website. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Long on action and atmosphere, with detailed descriptions and illustrations of the odd world of Orbona, Eva Nine's adventures pick up just where they ended (The Search for WondLa, 2010). In the ruins of an ancient city, an airship has appeared, piloted by the first other human Eva has ever seen. Hailey (think a teenage Han Solo) promises to deliver Eva and Rovender to New Attica (the reference will doubtless be lost on young readers), where the human population lives beneath a giant dome. Once there, Eva gets briefly caught up in its glamour and novelty before a strangely familiar young woman opens her eyes to the destructive intentions of the colony's leader. A complicated escape and a series of chases ensue, with dramatic battles, a stop to reunite Rovender with his estranged family, betrayal by an ostensible ally, a mystical encounter and an attempt to rescue friends from danger. Once again, a not-terribly-surprising surprise ending sets up the next installment. The pace is faster and DiTerlizzi's voice is stronger in this sequel, but it still feels like less than the sum of its parts. The accompanying website offers games, character descriptions and an "Augmented Reality" flying game. Full interactivity requires a webcam and a software download and may or may not increase readers' enjoyment. Inventive in detail if predictable in plot, this should please fans of the first volume. (Science fiction/fantasy. 10-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
