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The Secret Sea
Three friends find themselves plunged into a world of quantum physics, a rare disease, and a mysterious fact about a real-life global catastrophe.
Twelve-year-old Zak Killian is hearing a voice. Could it be a guardian angel? A ghost? No, that's crazy. But sometimes the voice is so real. . . . It warns him of danger.
One day Zak is standing on the subway platform when the tunnel starts to fill with water. He sees it before anyone else. The voice warns him to run. His friends Moira and Khalid believe this is more than a premonition, and soon all three find themselves in an alternate universe that is both familiar and seriously strange. As Zak unravels the mystery behind the voice, he faces decisions that may mean the end of their world at home--if they can even get home!
In his most propulsive and heartfelt book yet, acclaimed author Barry Lyga explores the depths of friendship, the bonds of family, and the nature of the universe itself.
Twelve-year-old Zak Killian is hearing a voice. Could it be a guardian angel? A ghost? No, that's crazy. But sometimes the voice is so real. . . . It warns him of danger.
One day Zak is standing on the subway platform when the tunnel starts to fill with water. He sees it before anyone else. The voice warns him to run. His friends Moira and Khalid believe this is more than a premonition, and soon all three find themselves in an alternate universe that is both familiar and seriously strange. As Zak unravels the mystery behind the voice, he faces decisions that may mean the end of their world at home--if they can even get home!
In his most propulsive and heartfelt book yet, acclaimed author Barry Lyga explores the depths of friendship, the bonds of family, and the nature of the universe itself.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2016
23 people are currently reading
910 people want to read
About the author
Barry Lyga
71 books2,194 followersBarry Lyga is a recovering comic book geek. According to Kirkus, he's also a "YA rebel-author." Somehow, the two just don't seem to go together to him.
When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn't you?
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl is his first novel. Unsoul'd is his latest. There are a whole bunch in between, featuring everything from the aftermath of child abuse to pre-teens with superpowers to serial killers. He clearly does not know how to stick to one subject.
When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn't you?
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl is his first novel. Unsoul'd is his latest. There are a whole bunch in between, featuring everything from the aftermath of child abuse to pre-teens with superpowers to serial killers. He clearly does not know how to stick to one subject.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 1, 2016
Really weak effort by Lyga, following his excellent trilogy. Lyga stiches together a news item about the discovery of an old ship at Ground Zero with a real medical condition, TTTS (twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome) to come up with a YA novel about three friends in Brooklyn, who manage to wander into an alternate universe where things are very different, especially for women. Occasionally interesting, but mostly preposterous and too much unexplained. Don't bother.
July 31, 2016
Contrived, cliched, tedious, and preachy. And those might be its good points. The checklist-style diversity that I abhor was everywhere, the plot made no sense, the scientific gobbledygook was annoying, and it's really bad when you can't stand the main characters. It annoyed me that they constantly succeeded: there was no drama because there was no chance of them losing. This was a protagonist-driven book--nothing was at stake because the plot relied on them being preternaturally successful. It was annoyingly one-sided. I also felt the World Trade Center was exploited--it felt like readers were having their emotions toyed with. I also feel like this book has no audience--like I wouldn't know who to recommend it to if I wanted to. I appreciated the feminist message, but that's where my "preachy" comment applies: it was incredibly beat-you-about-the-head with the feminism. It could have been managed to greater effect with more subtlety. But, then again, middle grade audience--maybe the preachiness was needed?
I was mostly upset though because "I Hunt Killers" is one of my favorite series of all time. I know what Lyga is capable of. He should steer clear of middle grade books and stick with teen--he's a freaking beast at writing teen books.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc.
I was mostly upset though because "I Hunt Killers" is one of my favorite series of all time. I know what Lyga is capable of. He should steer clear of middle grade books and stick with teen--he's a freaking beast at writing teen books.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc.
June 18, 2017
For someone like me who has loved YA fiction for a long time, I've kind of stagnated on reading in this genre for a while. But The Secret Sea solves a lot of the problems I've noticed trending in YA fiction lately. How?
1) It has a diverse set of main characters. Two of the main trio are people of color--one is Hispanic and another has Middle Eastern heritage (I can't remember if his family is from Iran or Iraq so please excuse me for that) and regularly mutters to himself in Farsi.
2) It does not contain the romantic plot of "everything changes when she meets such and such boy" or vice versa (seriously I cannot emphasize how tired I am of these plots pervading the genre).
3) It continuously points out societal issues without making them seem boring or overly complicated. The problems they point out are shown in ways that are similar to our own history and in my case at least, make the emotional connection to these issues in the book even stronger. And characters end up checking their own privileges multiple times, usually without prompting from anyone else.
4) Its main protagonist has a realistic medical condition. While I've been seeing more and more of other kinds of diversity in recent years, it's still hard to find books where a person with a disability is the main protagonist. What makes this even better is that it does not fall to ableist tropes that we see all too much with differently abled characters.
That being said, the plot is also breathtaking in itself. I could hardly bring myself to put this book down. I was always coming up with new questions as certain details were revealed. The world-building is something I'll probably admire for a long time, from the language changes, societal issues, technology, architecture, and even the clothing.
1) It has a diverse set of main characters. Two of the main trio are people of color--one is Hispanic and another has Middle Eastern heritage (I can't remember if his family is from Iran or Iraq so please excuse me for that) and regularly mutters to himself in Farsi.
2) It does not contain the romantic plot of "everything changes when she meets such and such boy" or vice versa (seriously I cannot emphasize how tired I am of these plots pervading the genre).
3) It continuously points out societal issues without making them seem boring or overly complicated. The problems they point out are shown in ways that are similar to our own history and in my case at least, make the emotional connection to these issues in the book even stronger. And characters end up checking their own privileges multiple times, usually without prompting from anyone else.
4) Its main protagonist has a realistic medical condition. While I've been seeing more and more of other kinds of diversity in recent years, it's still hard to find books where a person with a disability is the main protagonist. What makes this even better is that it does not fall to ableist tropes that we see all too much with differently abled characters.
That being said, the plot is also breathtaking in itself. I could hardly bring myself to put this book down. I was always coming up with new questions as certain details were revealed. The world-building is something I'll probably admire for a long time, from the language changes, societal issues, technology, architecture, and even the clothing.
didn-t-finish
January 30, 2019My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
DNF at page 89. It just didn't work for me. Not a bad book, but too much suspension of disbelief for me. It didn't grab me. It does have some interesting information about an old ship that was discovered under where the Twin Towers were after the 9/11 attack in NYC. So nice weaving of fact into the fiction. It just wasn't enough to sustain my interest.
No star rating, because I didn't hate it enough to rate it poorly and I didn't enjoy it enough to rate it on the higher side.
Not every book is for every reader. This one wasn't for me, but it might be for you.
DNF at page 89. It just didn't work for me. Not a bad book, but too much suspension of disbelief for me. It didn't grab me. It does have some interesting information about an old ship that was discovered under where the Twin Towers were after the 9/11 attack in NYC. So nice weaving of fact into the fiction. It just wasn't enough to sustain my interest.
No star rating, because I didn't hate it enough to rate it poorly and I didn't enjoy it enough to rate it on the higher side.
Not every book is for every reader. This one wasn't for me, but it might be for you.
January 19, 2018
It gets slow in the middle, but do not give up. This book is such a great read! It has a different twist than your usual books.
June 26, 2016
This is that rare beast, the Middle Grade novel that has middle school-aged protagonists and is aimed at a middle-school audience. Lyga neither keeps his characters immature in order to appeal to a 9-to 11-year-old readership nor has them acting like high schoolers in order to satisfy some aspirational middle school fantasy. Zak, Moira, and Khalid are very firmly and clearly twelve or thirteen and their actions and decisions reflect that. Yes, they manage to get themselves out of tricky situations in really clever ways, but those escapes are never implausible given what we know of the characters of these characters. They also make a lot of mistakes and poor decisions because they let their emotions and impulses rule. This is especially true of Zak who almost makes a catastrophic mistake in pursuit of something he wants to be true.
Lyga also creates an alternate world which is both appealing and terrifying—it is technologically advanced (and has magic!), but is The Handmaid's Tale-level oppressive to women,. Lyga is clearly a feminist with a feminist agenda and gods bless him for it. While he never beats the reader over the head with the idea of equality, it is very clear and examined in ways that will, it is to be hoped, make kids take stock of their own attitudes and prejudices and maybe make some adjustments.
Several characters mention how they would be willing to give up the technology of this alternate world to live in a world where women weren't treated as property, but there was another question that was never addressed, and it's one that may be even more important and more difficult to answer. In the alternate Manhattan, the United States had abolished slavery more than a century before it happened here and there is true racial equality and harmony. So, if Dr. Bookman, for example, had to make a choice between his world with its racial harmony and advanced technology (and magic!) or our world with its striving for equality for all, but its large pockets of prejudice and intolerance, which would he choose?
Overall, this is a big, smart middle grade adventure novel that manages to thoroughly entertain its readers while also challenging them to think about bigger issues.
Lyga also creates an alternate world which is both appealing and terrifying—it is technologically advanced (and has magic!), but is The Handmaid's Tale-level oppressive to women,. Lyga is clearly a feminist with a feminist agenda and gods bless him for it. While he never beats the reader over the head with the idea of equality, it is very clear and examined in ways that will, it is to be hoped, make kids take stock of their own attitudes and prejudices and maybe make some adjustments.
Several characters mention how they would be willing to give up the technology of this alternate world to live in a world where women weren't treated as property, but there was another question that was never addressed, and it's one that may be even more important and more difficult to answer. In the alternate Manhattan, the United States had abolished slavery more than a century before it happened here and there is true racial equality and harmony. So, if Dr. Bookman, for example, had to make a choice between his world with its racial harmony and advanced technology (and magic!) or our world with its striving for equality for all, but its large pockets of prejudice and intolerance, which would he choose?
Overall, this is a big, smart middle grade adventure novel that manages to thoroughly entertain its readers while also challenging them to think about bigger issues.
May 7, 2017
Around The Year in 52 Books: Week 26 read. An Adventure Book
I didn't really like this at all. I was annoyed by two of the main characters. Zak was kind of a spoiled brat who needed to check himself, and Moira was just a know-it-all who got on my nerves. I feel like they didn't think things through, I hate when characters don't think things through.
I hated the hit-you-over-the-head feminism message. Unpopular opinion time, but if something places a heavy emphasis on feminism, I'm going to skip it. I know it's a popular subject right now, but I'm not into it. And Moira became such a man-hater so quickly, and that became annoying.
I didn't really enjoy the world that much.
I had suspicions right from page one that proved themselves true. If I can see through a character that quickly, why can't the main characters in the story? Are they stupid?
The only character who was cool was Khalid. Moira and Zak should have listened to Khalid soooo much more than they did.
One other semi-neat thing was that it featured a main character with a heart disorder, which is something I've never read before.
But in the grand scheme of things. I didn't like this book. I felt like it was a mess.
I didn't really like this at all. I was annoyed by two of the main characters. Zak was kind of a spoiled brat who needed to check himself, and Moira was just a know-it-all who got on my nerves. I feel like they didn't think things through, I hate when characters don't think things through.
I hated the hit-you-over-the-head feminism message. Unpopular opinion time, but if something places a heavy emphasis on feminism, I'm going to skip it. I know it's a popular subject right now, but I'm not into it. And Moira became such a man-hater so quickly, and that became annoying.
I didn't really enjoy the world that much.
I had suspicions right from page one that proved themselves true. If I can see through a character that quickly, why can't the main characters in the story? Are they stupid?
The only character who was cool was Khalid. Moira and Zak should have listened to Khalid soooo much more than they did.
One other semi-neat thing was that it featured a main character with a heart disorder, which is something I've never read before.
But in the grand scheme of things. I didn't like this book. I felt like it was a mess.
June 15, 2017
Lyga, Barry The Secret Sea, 430 pgs. Feiwel and Friends, 2016. $16.99. Language: PG (6 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
Zak Killian is hearing voices, which he thinks may be his guardian angel. After he runs to save himself from a flooding subway station that isn’t really flooding, his estranged parents worry not only about his strange behavior, but a heart condition Zak was born with. As the voices intensify, Zach and his two friends, Moira and Kahlid go on the run to find the source of the visions, literally plunging into an alternative universe. Zak faces danger in this new universe and has to decide which voices to trust because lives in both universes could be at risk through his actions.
The premise is interesting, and I liked the author’s note at the back of the book explaining how he got his ideas. Zak and his friends seem a little too willing to go against their families and break laws just because of Zak’s voices. Zak’s feelings of grief, loss, and betrayal seem a bit over the top considering how little he knew of the source, and the book lagged in spots.
MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Michelle in the Middle
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Zak Killian is hearing voices, which he thinks may be his guardian angel. After he runs to save himself from a flooding subway station that isn’t really flooding, his estranged parents worry not only about his strange behavior, but a heart condition Zak was born with. As the voices intensify, Zach and his two friends, Moira and Kahlid go on the run to find the source of the visions, literally plunging into an alternative universe. Zak faces danger in this new universe and has to decide which voices to trust because lives in both universes could be at risk through his actions.
The premise is interesting, and I liked the author’s note at the back of the book explaining how he got his ideas. Zak and his friends seem a little too willing to go against their families and break laws just because of Zak’s voices. Zak’s feelings of grief, loss, and betrayal seem a bit over the top considering how little he knew of the source, and the book lagged in spots.
MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Michelle in the Middle
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
March 16, 2017
Was trying my best to finish this before 2017, but I was sudden;y invited to a NYE party and couldn't.
But regardless of when I finished this, Barry Lyga won me over with his Jasper Dent Trilogy. It went against the grain of Young Adult with all the romance/love triangles, angst, and other cliches and gave us a genuine thriller. This one, even though it didn't match up to Jasper Dent, still had that mysterious tone that made me like Lyga in the first place.
I will say that my only gripe with this book is that the ending was slightly drawn out, then suddenly "The End". Also, if you are unfamiliar with the elementary theories of Multiverses or Alternate Universes, or metaphysics, this book will have you lost, to a degree, but it will explain things as the story goes along.
But regardless of when I finished this, Barry Lyga won me over with his Jasper Dent Trilogy. It went against the grain of Young Adult with all the romance/love triangles, angst, and other cliches and gave us a genuine thriller. This one, even though it didn't match up to Jasper Dent, still had that mysterious tone that made me like Lyga in the first place.
I will say that my only gripe with this book is that the ending was slightly drawn out, then suddenly "The End". Also, if you are unfamiliar with the elementary theories of Multiverses or Alternate Universes, or metaphysics, this book will have you lost, to a degree, but it will explain things as the story goes along.
January 10, 2017
Book was really good but at same time wasn't the greatest it had parts that I couldn't set the book down and pulled me in but also had parts that made me barley wanna turn the page. All in all though it was a good book. I think my only real problem with the book was that they were younger than the average character of Barry lyga instead of being 18 or so they were about 13-14 which made it harder to relate
June 18, 2018
Hmm. After reading Lyga's "I Hunt Killers" trilogy, I was surprised to read this one by him. I was expecting another thriller aimed at the YA audience, but THE SECRET SEA is actually a middle-grade novel with a 12-year-old protagonist. Plus, at 446 pages, it's extremely long for a middle-grade novel. However, if I'd gone into it with the correct mindset, that would have helped me, because it's certainly a great adventure.
July 3, 2016
Couldn't get into the whole alternate history setting, which is a shame because I love Barry Lyga. The protagonist is younger, so the whole novel is a great leap from what he usually writes.
November 18, 2017
I finished Lyga's Bang couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it but,
No,No,NO,NOoo
this can't be one of Lyga's , the writing is way weak and annoying, and not to mention repetitive paragraph syndrome.
the novel was going up and down, in some chapters I would be truly interested and enjoying it, when it become more harsher and not intended for kids, and then it flickers and dulls as if they remembered to make it PG again and Viola!!! it becomes weak again, I don't know what is going on, I almost read every thing by Lyga and loved all of it (Jasper Dent's is on my top 10 trilogy)
the idea of the plot was not bad, but the narrating was annoying, and Zak the main protagonist was the least fav. of mine him being a whiny ,childish and under the spot light of being sick did't win my hear. Moira and the frau idea was very intimidating but making repeating how smart she was through out the novel made her look dum especially when she was proven wrong.
as I said it has REALLY good parts, and I think if it was written to meet a little older audience like in the rest of his novels it would be waaay better.
I was never so happy to see the last page saying author's note.
No,No,NO,NOoo
this can't be one of Lyga's , the writing is way weak and annoying, and not to mention repetitive paragraph syndrome.
the novel was going up and down, in some chapters I would be truly interested and enjoying it, when it become more harsher and not intended for kids, and then it flickers and dulls as if they remembered to make it PG again and Viola!!! it becomes weak again, I don't know what is going on, I almost read every thing by Lyga and loved all of it (Jasper Dent's is on my top 10 trilogy)
the idea of the plot was not bad, but the narrating was annoying, and Zak the main protagonist was the least fav. of mine him being a whiny ,childish and under the spot light of being sick did't win my hear. Moira and the frau idea was very intimidating but making repeating how smart she was through out the novel made her look dum especially when she was proven wrong.
as I said it has REALLY good parts, and I think if it was written to meet a little older audience like in the rest of his novels it would be waaay better.
I was never so happy to see the last page saying author's note.
September 18, 2018
Well, I wanted to like this a lot. I liked it....ok. I'm always willing to suspend realistic solutions for a fantasy novel, but the group seemed to always find solutions without trying overly hard or being that creative.
They're in an alternate universe, with no way of communicating, and of course they get separated over and over, but somehow seem to just keep finding each other in "Manhattan", the alternate-NYC. It's still a massive city with a dense population and towering skyscrapers. So, how is it possible that they keep running into each other randomly but in the nick of time?
I did like the alternate universe thought, and why they got pulled into it....especially based on the real story of finding a boat buried deep down!
They're in an alternate universe, with no way of communicating, and of course they get separated over and over, but somehow seem to just keep finding each other in "Manhattan", the alternate-NYC. It's still a massive city with a dense population and towering skyscrapers. So, how is it possible that they keep running into each other randomly but in the nick of time?
I did like the alternate universe thought, and why they got pulled into it....especially based on the real story of finding a boat buried deep down!
December 14, 2020
Barry Lyga is a great author and for that reason I wanted to read this book. The Secret Sea is interesting and full of adventure. It just didn’t keep my attention as much as his other books had. It could be just the wrong timing for me to read it.
That aside, The Secret Sea was full of adventure, some mystery, and Barry Lyga created a fascinating new world. There were moments I got lost (some of the science explanations and switching of POV). I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans and adventure readers.
That aside, The Secret Sea was full of adventure, some mystery, and Barry Lyga created a fascinating new world. There were moments I got lost (some of the science explanations and switching of POV). I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans and adventure readers.
October 31, 2016
This is a good book about a kid named Zack who hears voices in his head. The voices tell him of danger and sometimes Zack does dangerous things without knowing it. The voices then warn him of something that didn't happen and he gets in trouble because of it. He then learns that the voices in his head are two people. One is good and one is bad. He has to find out which is the good one before they make him do something that can kill everyone. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it.
August 22, 2017
It was intriguing following the three young people has they entered an alternative universe, similar to our world with some major changes. In the other world, there is a higher level technology and science and no racism. However, the dark side of that world is that girls and women are treated as second-class citizens. The women folk don't have the freedom that our world has.
June 21, 2018
The basic storyline for the Secret Sea had a lot of potential, but that potential was not realized, in my opinion. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions and motivations were not very believable. If it had not been a very quick read I would have put it down without finishing it.
October 1, 2018
The Secret Sea surprised me! It went so far beyond a boy discovering a ship hidden beneath where the World Trade Center towers used to be. There was an alternate universe, wild science (magic!), ghosts and more! I love the way the author tied in so many different topics into one amazing story.
October 29, 2017
I'm not usually into sci to, but this was enthralling. Good twists, loved the kids and their adventure, the science geekiness of it. It was an interesting mystery as well.
October 14, 2020
Very interesting story. Not what I expected. More of a then anything.
November 24, 2020
Barry Lyga is the writer I wish I'd grown up to be.
May 12, 2022
honestly this is one of my favorite books of all time
Read
July 12, 2022This is not the worst YA novel; Nor is it the best. It's like ordering from a fast food place. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it reeks.
January 25, 2025
I like the vibe of the book even tho I don't really understand what's going on.
June 9, 2025
A fun read and interesting theories combined with reality. If you like alternate universe fiction and an easy read, this book is for you
November 16, 2022
I've slowly been broadening my horizons into the science fiction genre and so far I consider it to have top marks. Barry Lyga did a great job explain where his idea came from and I'm excited to learn more about the boat found under the World Trade Center. I loved his world building. He obviously had a clear idea as to what he wanted the alternate universe U.S. to look like. While the characters adventure through the world, I had a complete understanding about what was happening and where they were at. That bares cause to mention just how much thought he must have put into his character's thoughts and ideas. It is clear that they each have a unique personal take on the events surrounding them based on their own experiences and morals.
I'd like to take a second to mention that the science fiction aspects, like the twin that died with TTTS and his vengeful spirit "friend" fighting over the substance of electroleum. Whenever anything within these areas was mentioned the author did an amazing job explaining it, so I never felt confused.
I'd like to take a second to mention that the science fiction aspects, like the twin that died with TTTS and his vengeful spirit "friend" fighting over the substance of electroleum. Whenever anything within these areas was mentioned the author did an amazing job explaining it, so I never felt confused.
March 4, 2017
I enjoyed The Secret Sea. Zak is a twin who doesn't know he's a twin. He hears voices and has the sensation of being on a boat when he rides the subway. He has a heart condition which makes him dependent on his medication. His life is endangered when he unintentionally slips into an alternate universe, accompanied by his friends Moira and Khalid. They are dunked in seawater and canal water, chased by police and punks. The new universe has advanced technology but is misogynistic, which makes it very difficult for super smart Moira to be of active help. Add to the tension a pair of ghosts both claiming to be Zak's long lost twin, and yelling at him to take opposing actions, putting the population of New York at risk. Not to mention a 9/11 subplot. This is a great read! My favorite part is the forgiveness finale. So wise. Favorite quote: page 240 "Everything that has happened or will happen is happening the same moment. It's just that we lack the ability to perceive it thus. Time is fold onto itself."
November 27, 2016
Although this book is nothing like the author's earlier titles, the Jasper Dent series or Boy Toy, for that matter, I was impressed that he took a risk and ventured into new territory. While some of the plot devices and the science might be questioned, I still ended up enjoying this one, based as it is on quantum physics. It's action-packed and moves quickly, and many middle graders will enjoy it because of the age of the protagonists, twelve and thirteen, and the possibilities of alternative universes that it imagines. It all starts when New Yorker Zak Killian begins hearing a voice and seeing visions of a subway tunnel filling up with water. Needless to say, his parents are concerned and hustle him off to talk to a therapist. But Zak becomes convinced that the voice is someone very close to him, and he enlists the help of his two best friends, Khalid and Moira, in figuring out what's going on. Because they consider themselves "the three Basketeers," they loyally support him. What they find as they begin their exploration is a very different reality. The NYC they know and love is a very different Manhattan, one with transportation tubes in the sky and a repressive attitude toward women, which causes Moira no end of troubles. Readers will quickly realize that this can't end well even as Zak works hard to reconnect with the link that is missing in his life, but they will also see that sometimes love and forgiveness, if they are strong enough, can save us and help us save the world. While I flinched at some of the mistakes these teens were making and how they deliberately ignored various warning signs to risk their lives for each other, those actions, decisions, and misguided loyalty are typical of this age group. While this one won't find its place among my favorite Lyga titles, I still enjoyed it very much for all of its twists, turns, and possibilities. The fact that he based the story on some inspiration from actual historical events, including the finding of a ship beneath the World Trade Towers is a pretty neat reminder to readers that stories get started from all sorts of interesting places. While I wouldn't say that this was the book Lyga was born to write, I am glad to have read it and to have had my mind expanded to the point where it was almost blown.
September 23, 2016
I enjoyed this, but not as much as I expected to. Normally I like alternative universe stories, but I just felt like the device was a bit thin this time and a bit cliched. Still, the kids were likable and authentic and it's well paced which will keep kids reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews