Spirit Dance

by E.L. Chappel

A remote corner of the Nevada desert hides a big secret. The campus is impenetrable. Protected by armed security and rugged terrain. Unmarked on any maps. So why are so many parents willing to give up everything to send their child to the Pioneer Academy? A guarantee. The fast-track to a successful future.

Tana Lyre, daughter of two esteemed diplomats, isn’t interested in the future. In fact, she uses every ounce of her internationally educated brain to avoid going to high school. It’s the present that concerns her. The how and the why someone who blew up a plane and killed a man, remains at large. Suffering the effects of seeing her dad blown to bits, Tana swears off flying, using every spare moment to search for her dad’s murderer. That is, until she meets Trigger Flough.

The son of a world class fighter pilot challenges Tana to return to the air. An unforecasted storm catapults the aviators cross country to the gates of Pioneer. Stranded, they become reluctant candidates at the wonderland school and are forced to face the reality that the only way to resolve the past is to glimpse into the future.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2015

Reviews

[Girl Anonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

To some, this may seem like a book about flying. But this book is SO much more than that. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it wasn't really a "standard utopian and/or dystopian trilogy". Not to say dystopian/utopian trilogies aren't great and all, it just gets repetitive. This book (the first in a trilogy) is really unique and different because it is a thriller/mystery with a side of adventure. It is a new genre idea which makes me VERY excited for the next two books of the series (Storm Chaser here we come!!!!). Another thing that I also liked was that the ending made sense. So many times have I read a book with an ending that left you thinking "What was this author thinking?!?!". The groundwork for the ending is literally tucked into the first chapter, not rushed into the second to last one. This book was also very easy to visualize, which made it a good read. Spirit Dance doesn't take a long time to get started, and you'll have a very hard time putting it down.

My only complaint is that Storm Chaser is not already in stores. I can't wait!!

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tragedy strikes just as Tana is poised to take her first solo flight. She's left with physical and emotional scars and a strong desire for revenge. Uprooted from her home, school and friends, Tana is enrolled in a new school, one where she is expected to take her place in the pilot's seat. A freak storm leaves her and a hunky fellow student in a strange community off the grid. Are they safe? Will they be able to leave? Who can they trust? There are numerous editing issues with the book, especially the difficulty in discerning who is speaking during conversations. True to the Young Adult genre, the characters sometimes make wild leaps in logic and behavior, but that is standard in these books. I enjoyed the story and cared about Tana. The ending seemed a tad rush. Still, this is a worthwhile read.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite book. Its fast pace and kept me reading all day everyday.