What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sun Jumpers
Ten thousand years ago, two teenage lovers set out to save their clan. But what they didn't expect is to end up in the 21st century...
Along with two loyal friends, Ty and Sita embark on a daring vision quest, searching a deadly prehistoric forest for a tribe to save their cave-dwelling clan. But when the blood of a beast and Sita's shamanic potions combine to scramble their psyches, the dark-skinned seekers find themselves thrust from their familiar cave-land world into the technology-driven modern-day city of Los Angeles.
Darren, a young filmmaker shooting a carpet commercial on a mountaintop, mistakes the Stone Age kids for a rap group and brings them to his home, where the teens discover the wonders of Star Wars, pizza, sunglasses, and skateboarding. Ty's courage and Sita's shamanic wisdom eventually force the pompous filmmaker to face his destiny, and disbelief slowly becomes trust. Still, Ty must find a way to travel back ten millennia with a miracle that will save his starving clan. But how? Or will Sita's potions hurl them into another, unrecognizable, even malevolent future?
The Sun Jumpers is a witty yet moving tale of teenage love, the power of friendship, and how bravery and a willing heart can save an entire people.
"Luber has constructed a lighthearted romp that's permeated by humor regarding adolescent antics, 20-something angst, and a wealth of inevitable culture-clash misunderstandings. But it also deals with some serious issues, including modern-day bigotry (the Kishoki are a dark-skinned people), the sometimes-troubled relationships between parents and offspring, and the need to find and follow one's own truth..." -Kirkus Reviews
Along with two loyal friends, Ty and Sita embark on a daring vision quest, searching a deadly prehistoric forest for a tribe to save their cave-dwelling clan. But when the blood of a beast and Sita's shamanic potions combine to scramble their psyches, the dark-skinned seekers find themselves thrust from their familiar cave-land world into the technology-driven modern-day city of Los Angeles.
Darren, a young filmmaker shooting a carpet commercial on a mountaintop, mistakes the Stone Age kids for a rap group and brings them to his home, where the teens discover the wonders of Star Wars, pizza, sunglasses, and skateboarding. Ty's courage and Sita's shamanic wisdom eventually force the pompous filmmaker to face his destiny, and disbelief slowly becomes trust. Still, Ty must find a way to travel back ten millennia with a miracle that will save his starving clan. But how? Or will Sita's potions hurl them into another, unrecognizable, even malevolent future?
The Sun Jumpers is a witty yet moving tale of teenage love, the power of friendship, and how bravery and a willing heart can save an entire people.
"Luber has constructed a lighthearted romp that's permeated by humor regarding adolescent antics, 20-something angst, and a wealth of inevitable culture-clash misunderstandings. But it also deals with some serious issues, including modern-day bigotry (the Kishoki are a dark-skinned people), the sometimes-troubled relationships between parents and offspring, and the need to find and follow one's own truth..." -Kirkus Reviews
296 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2016
15 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 10, 2018
Originally posted on The Common Shelf.
“Words are in time! Time is made up of words!”
This book is about a group of teenagers from 10,000 years ago who are determined to save their clan. However, they haven’t seen a single person outside their clan and they plan to go looking for them. Thus they embark on their journey which leads them to California in the 21st century!
Interesting Start
I started to like this book from the beginning. The world build up was fascinating and I loved the fact that it wasn’t dragged. The plot had a clever mix of fantasy with YA. Luber has done a great job at writing this book; it is filled with beautiful thoughts of life and cave culture.
Journey to another the world
The best part of the whole concept of time travelling in this book was that it didn’t go on and on. Soon enough, the characters find themselves in the modern day America and it was fun to read characters exploring the new world; at the same time trying to explain theirs to their ‘friend of the 21st century’, Darren. It made me feel that I did not cherish enough to be born in this era.
Dealt with important issues
The author brilliantly included various issues of racism, the problem of troubled relationships and the idea to believe in yourself. This book was full of love, compassion and friendships and there was not a single dull moment. I absolutely adored the fact that there was no religion specific ideologies in this book. Along with modern day American culture, India was mentioned at various instances along with river Gan (hinting at river Ganga maybe?) and the main characters name to be Sita, I loved the diversity of it all.
The book was full of humor and sarcastic dialogues and hinted at various issues which still persist in our society.
“My mother and father will never believe this. He said I could be the next shaman. I can’t tell them. No Kishoki woman has ever been a shaman!”
Final Thoughts
It was a fun and gripping read. Throughout the book, I had a feeling of being with the characters. It made me cherish all the things in life and fall in love with the style of story telling of the author. A definite recommendation to the fans of YA-fantasy.
“Words are in time! Time is made up of words!”
This book is about a group of teenagers from 10,000 years ago who are determined to save their clan. However, they haven’t seen a single person outside their clan and they plan to go looking for them. Thus they embark on their journey which leads them to California in the 21st century!
Interesting Start
I started to like this book from the beginning. The world build up was fascinating and I loved the fact that it wasn’t dragged. The plot had a clever mix of fantasy with YA. Luber has done a great job at writing this book; it is filled with beautiful thoughts of life and cave culture.
Journey to another the world
The best part of the whole concept of time travelling in this book was that it didn’t go on and on. Soon enough, the characters find themselves in the modern day America and it was fun to read characters exploring the new world; at the same time trying to explain theirs to their ‘friend of the 21st century’, Darren. It made me feel that I did not cherish enough to be born in this era.
Dealt with important issues
The author brilliantly included various issues of racism, the problem of troubled relationships and the idea to believe in yourself. This book was full of love, compassion and friendships and there was not a single dull moment. I absolutely adored the fact that there was no religion specific ideologies in this book. Along with modern day American culture, India was mentioned at various instances along with river Gan (hinting at river Ganga maybe?) and the main characters name to be Sita, I loved the diversity of it all.
The book was full of humor and sarcastic dialogues and hinted at various issues which still persist in our society.
“My mother and father will never believe this. He said I could be the next shaman. I can’t tell them. No Kishoki woman has ever been a shaman!”
Final Thoughts
It was a fun and gripping read. Throughout the book, I had a feeling of being with the characters. It made me cherish all the things in life and fall in love with the style of story telling of the author. A definite recommendation to the fans of YA-fantasy.
Read
February 22, 2017I enjoyed the premise of this story--ancient civilization meets modern day society in Los Angeles. Easy to read and fast paced, Luber's book features humor, engaging characters, plenty of life lessons for young people to consider, and a happy ending.
February 21, 2017
I loved the story behind this book and can imagine this playing out well in a movie. It is a fun, very positive/happy read following the adventures of a group of teenagers who end up 10,000 years in the future. Most of the book follows their adventures in trying to get to grips with the modern world and is a story of deep friendship, love and acceptance in a sometimes difficult world. The book has a slight philosophical edge that makes you stop and think, but definitely doesn't get bogged down in details as could easily happen with a story of this kind; Luber is skilled at making you stop and think without things becoming too deep or ruining the light-hearted, playful theme.
March 20, 2017
Fun, light-hearted, escapist fiction is what I was in the mood for, and this novel fills the bill. The four “Paleo” teens are wacky, funny, but always true to each other despite any misgivings they might have about a team member. When transplanted into 21st Century Los Angeles, they are quick to adapt to the language (thanks to a magical golden sea shell), and quick to adapt to TV, fast food, shopping malls, household appliances, and of course, roller coaster and theme park rides.
They are uncannily wise, because in their world, the life span is much shorter--their age 14 is smarter than our present day 30 and up.
Lots of quotable quotes and memorable scenes. I enjoyed seeing skin-heads put in their place while the dark-skinned teens show their mettle. The domineering father, the son who wants to do more than inherit his dad's carpet business, and a selfish diva of a girlfriend may come across as cliches, but they keep tension and conflict going, and readers turning pages.
I also enjoy the lovely prose and the eloquent insights of Sita in particular. Even Ty has his occasional moving speeches with quotable quotes.
I enjoy the lovely prose and the eloquent insights of Sita in particular. Even Ty has his occasional moving speeches with quotable quotes.
Nobody is killed off (you'd be surprised how many YA novels do this, nowadays, to my horror and refusal to read more of that sort of thing); the kids make it back home, in the end (you knew they would!); and the lives they touched in modern L.A. are better because of them.
In all, it’s a story 21st Century YA readers are sure to enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
They are uncannily wise, because in their world, the life span is much shorter--their age 14 is smarter than our present day 30 and up.
Lots of quotable quotes and memorable scenes. I enjoyed seeing skin-heads put in their place while the dark-skinned teens show their mettle. The domineering father, the son who wants to do more than inherit his dad's carpet business, and a selfish diva of a girlfriend may come across as cliches, but they keep tension and conflict going, and readers turning pages.
I also enjoy the lovely prose and the eloquent insights of Sita in particular. Even Ty has his occasional moving speeches with quotable quotes.
I enjoy the lovely prose and the eloquent insights of Sita in particular. Even Ty has his occasional moving speeches with quotable quotes.
Nobody is killed off (you'd be surprised how many YA novels do this, nowadays, to my horror and refusal to read more of that sort of thing); the kids make it back home, in the end (you knew they would!); and the lives they touched in modern L.A. are better because of them.
In all, it’s a story 21st Century YA readers are sure to enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews