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The Catalysts #2
Catalyst
Marcie is spending her summer working on the archeological dig that her mother runs: Angel Mounds, a site of an ancient indigenous civilization. Soon after she arrives, she meet some intriguing individuals, and becomes wrapped up in a supernaturally-charged mission to save the planet from the destruction man has brought upon itself.
Marcie Horton has a sixth sense. Not in the "I see dead people" way, but . . . well, maybe a little. She feels a sort of knowing about certain things that can't be explained-an intuition that goes beyond the normal. Then there was that one summer four years ago, when she connected with a long-departed spirit . . . But nothing that incredible has happened to Marcie since.
This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke. The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.
Marcie Horton has a sixth sense. Not in the "I see dead people" way, but . . . well, maybe a little. She feels a sort of knowing about certain things that can't be explained-an intuition that goes beyond the normal. Then there was that one summer four years ago, when she connected with a long-departed spirit . . . But nothing that incredible has happened to Marcie since.
This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke. The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2020
2 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Richardson
24 books100 followersTracy Richardson lives in Indianapolis and spends her free time reading - almost any genre, cooking, dancing and making things - usually from yarn or fabric.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 7, 2020
Thank you so much to Books Forward for my advanced copy of Catalyst by Tracy Richardson! This is the second book in a series but reads as a standalone with no spoilers, so no worries there.
This book contains a lot of really great messages for young readers, first and foremost the environmental consequences of our actions. Marcie and her team are dealing with an energy company that wants to expand fracking in the area, and there is a great amount of info about that and other environmental disasters.
Marcie has an interesting character arc as well. She knows there is something about the world that she can sense, but isn't sure what it is. With the help of Zeke and Lorraine, two grad students on the dig, Marcie and the other teens learn about the Universal Energy Field and the implications of the fourth, fifth, and dimensions beyond. Leo is the other main character and provides the opposing point of view on fracking, as his father works for the energy industry. Their relationship is interesting because it pretty accurately portrays how teens have trouble with opposing viewpoints, and how to talk around issues and make compromises. I really shipped them.
I'm also Greek and ran cross country and share a name with the alien space ship...so...yeah, there are those things too. I liked Marcie a lot. The book reminds me of The Celestine Prophecies, which I was obsessed with in high school, and I'm really glad that this generation of young readers gets a book like this too.
The book turns from fairly normal, to paranormal, to sci-fi Jesus in a spaceship REAL quick, and I loved it. I thought the context of spiritual leaders made sense, since it would be pretty egocentric to assume that the gods and goddesses and religious leaders are only dedicated to one planet. The sci-fi element is definitely a bit out there in left field but it worked for me.
The book is relatively short at 248 pages. The pacing is pretty even and I'm sad that it took me so long to start because once I did, I read it in two sittings. I was never bored at all. I would totally and fully recommend this for teen readers as an environmentally and self-conscious read that has some great examples of conflict resolution and interpersonal relationships within the team.
The paperback releases on September 22nd, while the Kindle version released on June 2nd.
This book contains a lot of really great messages for young readers, first and foremost the environmental consequences of our actions. Marcie and her team are dealing with an energy company that wants to expand fracking in the area, and there is a great amount of info about that and other environmental disasters.
Marcie has an interesting character arc as well. She knows there is something about the world that she can sense, but isn't sure what it is. With the help of Zeke and Lorraine, two grad students on the dig, Marcie and the other teens learn about the Universal Energy Field and the implications of the fourth, fifth, and dimensions beyond. Leo is the other main character and provides the opposing point of view on fracking, as his father works for the energy industry. Their relationship is interesting because it pretty accurately portrays how teens have trouble with opposing viewpoints, and how to talk around issues and make compromises. I really shipped them.
I'm also Greek and ran cross country and share a name with the alien space ship...so...yeah, there are those things too. I liked Marcie a lot. The book reminds me of The Celestine Prophecies, which I was obsessed with in high school, and I'm really glad that this generation of young readers gets a book like this too.
The book turns from fairly normal, to paranormal, to sci-fi Jesus in a spaceship REAL quick, and I loved it. I thought the context of spiritual leaders made sense, since it would be pretty egocentric to assume that the gods and goddesses and religious leaders are only dedicated to one planet. The sci-fi element is definitely a bit out there in left field but it worked for me.
The book is relatively short at 248 pages. The pacing is pretty even and I'm sad that it took me so long to start because once I did, I read it in two sittings. I was never bored at all. I would totally and fully recommend this for teen readers as an environmentally and self-conscious read that has some great examples of conflict resolution and interpersonal relationships within the team.
The paperback releases on September 22nd, while the Kindle version released on June 2nd.
May 23, 2020
Thank you to for providing me with a copy of this novel for review purposes.
Plot:
This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke.
The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.
Review:
I really enjoyed this book!
First of all I did really like the main story line, I love this overarching plot to save the planet and lead a generation of environmentally conscious people going forward.
I loved Marcie as our protagonist. She was smart and passionate, fair and hopeful. She is open to new idea's and empathetic to her friends. I loved that she and Eric were on this archaeological dig voluntarily with their mother, this was my dream job growing up and I have major regrets not pursuing it!
It was also clear within the story that Richardson did a lot of research into the theories that she developed part of the characters on, as well as being historically accurate on the area and its history, and lastly, with the effects that fracking has on our environment and people on the short and long term.
The story was fast paced and packed with drama and action, it was so fun to read and I have high praise for readability.
My reasons for not giving a higher rating, was that it didn't seem to be written in mind for a new reader, or for a reader who hasn't read the first story in some time. The story dove into the plot immediately, I don't have a full description of the main character Marcie, and I have no idea what happened in the first book, although it is brought up vaguely many times. I felt like I was missing a large piece of the story.
Lessons I should have learnt by now- always start from the first book! However, a quick intro and 'tldr;' of what happened at the lake in Book 1 would have helped a lot.
Because of this I was kind of struggling at the start with how culturally appropriate things were, in regards to Marcie being able communicate or sense Native American spirits. I'm unclear as to whether this is her heritage and ancestry, or is she a while teen? I am not sure how this sits with me, however part of the plot did give me some assurance that there is a specific reasoning behind the 'powers' (sorry, can't say as its a spoiler!).
Overall a great YA Sci-Fi Eco- Lit. I really do love a environmentally conscious plot line with an entertaining main story, and these themes were balanced perfectly!
I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Catalyst. Have you read this? Tell me what you thought!
Feel free to comment below or on my ‘bookstagram’ at @ReadWithWine .
This review was originally posted on ReadWithWine
Plot:
This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke.
The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.
Review:
I really enjoyed this book!
First of all I did really like the main story line, I love this overarching plot to save the planet and lead a generation of environmentally conscious people going forward.
I loved Marcie as our protagonist. She was smart and passionate, fair and hopeful. She is open to new idea's and empathetic to her friends. I loved that she and Eric were on this archaeological dig voluntarily with their mother, this was my dream job growing up and I have major regrets not pursuing it!
It was also clear within the story that Richardson did a lot of research into the theories that she developed part of the characters on, as well as being historically accurate on the area and its history, and lastly, with the effects that fracking has on our environment and people on the short and long term.
The story was fast paced and packed with drama and action, it was so fun to read and I have high praise for readability.
My reasons for not giving a higher rating, was that it didn't seem to be written in mind for a new reader, or for a reader who hasn't read the first story in some time. The story dove into the plot immediately, I don't have a full description of the main character Marcie, and I have no idea what happened in the first book, although it is brought up vaguely many times. I felt like I was missing a large piece of the story.
Lessons I should have learnt by now- always start from the first book! However, a quick intro and 'tldr;' of what happened at the lake in Book 1 would have helped a lot.
Because of this I was kind of struggling at the start with how culturally appropriate things were, in regards to Marcie being able communicate or sense Native American spirits. I'm unclear as to whether this is her heritage and ancestry, or is she a while teen? I am not sure how this sits with me, however part of the plot did give me some assurance that there is a specific reasoning behind the 'powers' (sorry, can't say as its a spoiler!).
Overall a great YA Sci-Fi Eco- Lit. I really do love a environmentally conscious plot line with an entertaining main story, and these themes were balanced perfectly!
I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Catalyst. Have you read this? Tell me what you thought!
Feel free to comment below or on my ‘bookstagram’ at @ReadWithWine .
This review was originally posted on ReadWithWine
May 20, 2020
I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser and author for inviting me to take part in this tour and for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
At first, I wasn't too sure about this book, I was really interested in the archaeological parts of this book and would really loved to have more information about this part, as well as the part about the contact that Marcie had with the Native American girl.
There was quite a bit of science and spiritual elements in this book and sometimes it went over my head because I'm just not scientifically inclined, but it wasn't boring or unenjoyable in any way. I really connected with Marcie though and I thought that she was such a strong-willed, independent young woman who isn't afraid of fighting for what she believes in and I was happy about how she dealt with Leo and the fact that he didn't always agree with her.
I have to agree that there were some unlikely parts to this book, but overall it was really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend to any science fiction fans or anyone who is an advocate for climate change and are against fracking or any other harmful activities to the planet. I gave this book 4 stars because I did connect to the characters and the plot, I was captivated throughout and I couldn't stop reading, but some things just felt either a bit too rushed or not slow enough, and other things just didn't seem likely or plausible, but I did really enjoy the reading experience.
At first, I wasn't too sure about this book, I was really interested in the archaeological parts of this book and would really loved to have more information about this part, as well as the part about the contact that Marcie had with the Native American girl.
There was quite a bit of science and spiritual elements in this book and sometimes it went over my head because I'm just not scientifically inclined, but it wasn't boring or unenjoyable in any way. I really connected with Marcie though and I thought that she was such a strong-willed, independent young woman who isn't afraid of fighting for what she believes in and I was happy about how she dealt with Leo and the fact that he didn't always agree with her.
I have to agree that there were some unlikely parts to this book, but overall it was really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend to any science fiction fans or anyone who is an advocate for climate change and are against fracking or any other harmful activities to the planet. I gave this book 4 stars because I did connect to the characters and the plot, I was captivated throughout and I couldn't stop reading, but some things just felt either a bit too rushed or not slow enough, and other things just didn't seem likely or plausible, but I did really enjoy the reading experience.
May 22, 2020
Originally posted on Papertea & Bookflowers
I really wanted to like Catalyst. I love that more and more books talk about the environment and that we can’t continue the way we do things now. I love that especially YA books take on this theme and I was also really curious about the work at the archaeological dig. I study anthropology so I know a thing or two about digs.
The concept of Catalyst was really good and had so much potential but unfortunately, the book just wasn’t for me.
The beginning was kind off rough. It all happened so fast, Marcie, her brother Eric and his girlfriend Renee just arrived at the dig site when Lorraine and Zeke tell all of them what they can do. That really threw me off and I would have loved some more development there.
Speaking of development: While the first half of the book often felt like a long outline rather than a full-fleshed out novel that improved a lot in the second half! The writing flowed a lot better, the sentence structure was better and the dialogue more natural, too. Although, I still struggled with the dialogue especially.
I already told you that Catalyst has a huge focus on the environment and one storyline is about fracking. I already knew a lot about fracking but I still learnt some new facts which I really appreciate. If you don’t know anything about fracking you’ll get a lot of facts and different argument for or against it.
This storyline was my favourite. I liked how Marcie and her crush Leo had different opinions and the issues that arose from that. Although I would have prefered a deeper and even more nuanced look at this. Again, great potential that wasn’t fully explored in my opinion.
I liked the side characters, Eric, Renee and Leo the most. Renee was in anti-fracking, too but she still had trouble accepting everything Zeke and Lorraine told them and needed time to process which I really liked. Marcie felt a bit like a cardboard advertisement. Like .. look, this is how you should act! I’m really not a fan of books that tell me what the message is. I’d rather read it in between the lines, but I guess, that’s just my personal preference. The sibling dynamic between Marcie and Eric felt very realistic though.
This is definitely a plot-driven and not a character-driven story though.
There were a few scenes that I really liked! For example when Marcie got frustrated by Lorraines’ cryptic answers. Yes, girl!
I also think the book would have benefited from being written in 3rd POV, limited so we could still have focused on Marcie and her views and experiences but it would have flowed better to include all the extra info we needed (like her past experiences, who Mr Clement was etc). In first person (present tense) a lot of her thoughts felt unnatural and stilted (but so did the dialogue a lot of the times …)
All in all, the book had a lot of potential but fell short for me. A lot of the things I mentioned are probably personal preference and I really liked the theme of trying to stop destroying the environment and how each and everyone can help make a change. I think that’s an amazing message to have in a book and I’m glad there are books being written about it. Also the few scenes we got at the Angel Mound dig site were really interesting and I would have loved to read more about that!
The paranormal / science fictions aspects threw me off though, they were a bit too bizarre for me to like (and I had to text my friend every three sentences because I needed someone to talk too) but it was a quick read and certainly makes you think about some things!
I really wanted to like Catalyst. I love that more and more books talk about the environment and that we can’t continue the way we do things now. I love that especially YA books take on this theme and I was also really curious about the work at the archaeological dig. I study anthropology so I know a thing or two about digs.
The concept of Catalyst was really good and had so much potential but unfortunately, the book just wasn’t for me.
The beginning was kind off rough. It all happened so fast, Marcie, her brother Eric and his girlfriend Renee just arrived at the dig site when Lorraine and Zeke tell all of them what they can do. That really threw me off and I would have loved some more development there.
Speaking of development: While the first half of the book often felt like a long outline rather than a full-fleshed out novel that improved a lot in the second half! The writing flowed a lot better, the sentence structure was better and the dialogue more natural, too. Although, I still struggled with the dialogue especially.
I already told you that Catalyst has a huge focus on the environment and one storyline is about fracking. I already knew a lot about fracking but I still learnt some new facts which I really appreciate. If you don’t know anything about fracking you’ll get a lot of facts and different argument for or against it.
This storyline was my favourite. I liked how Marcie and her crush Leo had different opinions and the issues that arose from that. Although I would have prefered a deeper and even more nuanced look at this. Again, great potential that wasn’t fully explored in my opinion.
I liked the side characters, Eric, Renee and Leo the most. Renee was in anti-fracking, too but she still had trouble accepting everything Zeke and Lorraine told them and needed time to process which I really liked. Marcie felt a bit like a cardboard advertisement. Like .. look, this is how you should act! I’m really not a fan of books that tell me what the message is. I’d rather read it in between the lines, but I guess, that’s just my personal preference. The sibling dynamic between Marcie and Eric felt very realistic though.
This is definitely a plot-driven and not a character-driven story though.
There were a few scenes that I really liked! For example when Marcie got frustrated by Lorraines’ cryptic answers. Yes, girl!
I also think the book would have benefited from being written in 3rd POV, limited so we could still have focused on Marcie and her views and experiences but it would have flowed better to include all the extra info we needed (like her past experiences, who Mr Clement was etc). In first person (present tense) a lot of her thoughts felt unnatural and stilted (but so did the dialogue a lot of the times …)
All in all, the book had a lot of potential but fell short for me. A lot of the things I mentioned are probably personal preference and I really liked the theme of trying to stop destroying the environment and how each and everyone can help make a change. I think that’s an amazing message to have in a book and I’m glad there are books being written about it. Also the few scenes we got at the Angel Mound dig site were really interesting and I would have loved to read more about that!
The paranormal / science fictions aspects threw me off though, they were a bit too bizarre for me to like (and I had to text my friend every three sentences because I needed someone to talk too) but it was a quick read and certainly makes you think about some things!
August 22, 2020
This is the second book in this series but can be read on its own. You get to know some of the characters in the first book, The Field, and there are a few references to what Eric was working on, but nothing that would hold you back. I don't remember much about Marcie from the first book but would assume she was introduced since she is Eric's sister and that we learned something about her.
All that aside, this book was quite enjoyable. The pacing was just right, the characters were interesting, and if you care about the environment and our planet, you will enjoy the information provided about fracking and other ways the planet is being harmed. If you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal you will probably also enjoy this book for the concepts of a fifth dimension and extraterrestrials. Some of it was a little out there for me, but I still enjoyed the characters and beings that the author brought into this story. I do think that humans have the potential to do more with their mind but haven't really delved into the topic. This book made me think about the possibilities that are out there. If you are into conspiracy theories, there is that angle in this book as well. This book really does have a little bit for everyone.
This story is also about self discovery and stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something different. It is also about friendships and doing what is right for yourself and the world.
There are two quotes that really stood out to me regarding the environment and humans in general. I feel these are really spot on.
"Earth and her human inhabitants are already going down the path of destruction, all due to the actions of humans."
"Earth can only absorb so much abuse before cataclysmic results occur."
I think I would suggest reading the first book, The Field, before reading this one. While you do not have to, I feel it would give you great insight into the book, the characters, and the aspects of what the mind can do at the right level.
We give this 4 paws up.
All that aside, this book was quite enjoyable. The pacing was just right, the characters were interesting, and if you care about the environment and our planet, you will enjoy the information provided about fracking and other ways the planet is being harmed. If you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal you will probably also enjoy this book for the concepts of a fifth dimension and extraterrestrials. Some of it was a little out there for me, but I still enjoyed the characters and beings that the author brought into this story. I do think that humans have the potential to do more with their mind but haven't really delved into the topic. This book made me think about the possibilities that are out there. If you are into conspiracy theories, there is that angle in this book as well. This book really does have a little bit for everyone.
This story is also about self discovery and stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something different. It is also about friendships and doing what is right for yourself and the world.
There are two quotes that really stood out to me regarding the environment and humans in general. I feel these are really spot on.
"Earth and her human inhabitants are already going down the path of destruction, all due to the actions of humans."
"Earth can only absorb so much abuse before cataclysmic results occur."
I think I would suggest reading the first book, The Field, before reading this one. While you do not have to, I feel it would give you great insight into the book, the characters, and the aspects of what the mind can do at the right level.
We give this 4 paws up.
May 24, 2020
Thank you Dave at The Write Reads for asking me to be part of this blog tour! I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Catalyst takes place at an archeological dig site of an ancient indigenous civilization. The main character, Marcie, is working there this summer with Eric (her brother), Renee (Eric’s girlfriend), and her mother, the lead archeologist for the dig. As soon as Marcie makes eye contact with Lorraine and Zeke, two graduate students working at the dig site, she gets a feeling that there’s something different about them. Soon, Marcie, Eric, Renee, and Leo (another teen working at the dig site) learn that Lorraine and Zeke have powers that allow them to tap into the Universal Energy Field, and they’re tasked with helping to save the earth and being catalysts for change.
Catalyst is probably the most bizarre book I’ve ever read. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it, that being said, I did have some issues with it. I will say that it was a wild ride from start to finish, and once I got into it, I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know where the strange journey was going to go next.
This book has a couple of storylines going on at the same time; some of these storylines are “normal,” and others are “paranormal.” The first “normal” storyline that I want to talk about is the fracking storyline. Fracking is when water and other chemicals are pumped into the subterranean rock to help extract the oil or gases, it’s terrible for the environment, and I’m vehemently against it. In Catalyst, a major energy company is looking to increase its fracking activity in Indiana, and this leads to a lot of discussion about fracking, with most main characters being against it, but one main character being for it. I liked that this book brought attention to fracking because people need to be aware of what it is and how it negatively affects the environment. However, some of the conversations on the topic reminded me of a PSA announcement or a poorly scripted school play about why fracking is bad.
The fracking storyline leads into the overarching storyline that humans are destroying the environment and that if changes aren’t made soon, the damage will be irreparable. This is another thing that I completely agree with, and I like seeing stories about the fact that humans are destroying the planet. What threw me off about this overarching storyline was all of the paranormal things that were going on. The visions, telepathic communication, teleportation, and mind powers started to get weird really quickly, and a lot of the paranormal moments left me completely baffled. There was one paranormal moment that involved a spaceship that left me so baffled that I immediately had to text my best friend to tell her what I just read because it was a lot to take in.
As far as the characters go, I feel indifferent towards them. I thought most of them were quite bland and that they didn’t have much personality. Most of the personality they did have was rooted in their position on environmental issues and the paranormal things that were happening around them. I liked the relationship between Marcie and Eric, and I thought it was a normal sibling relationship. I didn’t really understand the romantic relationship between Marcie and Leo, especially because they were so far apart on major issues. Lorraine and Zeke gave me A Wrinkle in Time vibes, which makes sense because the author’s bio states that it was her favourite book growing up.
One thing that bothered me about this book was the indigenous cultural appropriation. There are a lot of references to indigenous people, especially because the archeology dig was studying an ancient indigenous civilization. I don’t know very much about indigenous culture, but at times some of the references made me feel cringy and uncomfortable. I also don’t think that the depiction of the archeological dig site was accurate, but my knowledge of archeology comes from watching Bones, so what do I know?
Overall, this book really wasn’t my cup of tea. I liked that it talked about environmental issues, especially fracking, but the paranormal aspects threw me off. A lot of weird and bizarre things happen in this book, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around them. However, I did find this book to be entertaining, and once I got into it, I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Catalyst takes place at an archeological dig site of an ancient indigenous civilization. The main character, Marcie, is working there this summer with Eric (her brother), Renee (Eric’s girlfriend), and her mother, the lead archeologist for the dig. As soon as Marcie makes eye contact with Lorraine and Zeke, two graduate students working at the dig site, she gets a feeling that there’s something different about them. Soon, Marcie, Eric, Renee, and Leo (another teen working at the dig site) learn that Lorraine and Zeke have powers that allow them to tap into the Universal Energy Field, and they’re tasked with helping to save the earth and being catalysts for change.
Catalyst is probably the most bizarre book I’ve ever read. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it, that being said, I did have some issues with it. I will say that it was a wild ride from start to finish, and once I got into it, I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know where the strange journey was going to go next.
This book has a couple of storylines going on at the same time; some of these storylines are “normal,” and others are “paranormal.” The first “normal” storyline that I want to talk about is the fracking storyline. Fracking is when water and other chemicals are pumped into the subterranean rock to help extract the oil or gases, it’s terrible for the environment, and I’m vehemently against it. In Catalyst, a major energy company is looking to increase its fracking activity in Indiana, and this leads to a lot of discussion about fracking, with most main characters being against it, but one main character being for it. I liked that this book brought attention to fracking because people need to be aware of what it is and how it negatively affects the environment. However, some of the conversations on the topic reminded me of a PSA announcement or a poorly scripted school play about why fracking is bad.
The fracking storyline leads into the overarching storyline that humans are destroying the environment and that if changes aren’t made soon, the damage will be irreparable. This is another thing that I completely agree with, and I like seeing stories about the fact that humans are destroying the planet. What threw me off about this overarching storyline was all of the paranormal things that were going on. The visions, telepathic communication, teleportation, and mind powers started to get weird really quickly, and a lot of the paranormal moments left me completely baffled. There was one paranormal moment that involved a spaceship that left me so baffled that I immediately had to text my best friend to tell her what I just read because it was a lot to take in.
As far as the characters go, I feel indifferent towards them. I thought most of them were quite bland and that they didn’t have much personality. Most of the personality they did have was rooted in their position on environmental issues and the paranormal things that were happening around them. I liked the relationship between Marcie and Eric, and I thought it was a normal sibling relationship. I didn’t really understand the romantic relationship between Marcie and Leo, especially because they were so far apart on major issues. Lorraine and Zeke gave me A Wrinkle in Time vibes, which makes sense because the author’s bio states that it was her favourite book growing up.
One thing that bothered me about this book was the indigenous cultural appropriation. There are a lot of references to indigenous people, especially because the archeology dig was studying an ancient indigenous civilization. I don’t know very much about indigenous culture, but at times some of the references made me feel cringy and uncomfortable. I also don’t think that the depiction of the archeological dig site was accurate, but my knowledge of archeology comes from watching Bones, so what do I know?
Overall, this book really wasn’t my cup of tea. I liked that it talked about environmental issues, especially fracking, but the paranormal aspects threw me off. A lot of weird and bizarre things happen in this book, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around them. However, I did find this book to be entertaining, and once I got into it, I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
May 24, 2020
Before reading this, I read book 1 of the series, for which the copy was also provided by the author and host of this blog tour. That said, I have an idea of what I’m getting into with Catalyst. Catalyst is a young adult science fiction with a hint of supernaturals. It’s also about saving the world. In short, Catalyst is about the world before total destruction, before dystopia. That, for me, is a very interesting concept. I like it when the main characters are already in action before it’s too late. Sadly, though, I wish the plot was executed better.
Catalyst is in a first person POV, told by Marcie, who has some kind of sixth sense. And the story started with Marcie, her older brother, Eric (protagonist of book 1) and Renee (Eric’s girlfriend, also from book 1) arriving at the archeological dig courtesy of Marcie and Eric’s mother. There, Marcie instantly feel a connection with two of the seniors, Lorraine and Zeke. The mystery surrounding Zeke and Lorraine kept me interested for a while but I don’t really buy their “More will be revealed to you in time.” thing. It’s their answer when Marcie, Eric, Renee and Leo (one of their teammates in the dig) ask about what exactly they can do to save the world. Because saving the world is what Lorraine and Zeke said they will do.
The saving the world thing disappoints me. I was expecting a climactic events in the last part but it didn’t really happen. And the events that lead to the ending are a bit underwhelming. Like I said, the plot could be executed better. Catalyst has lots of elements and I found some of them too much. Like there are levels of dimensions and most people on earth are in third, and fifth is the highest which means whoever are in fifth are considered extraterrestrial beings. That element of the plot is okay for me but then there’s teleportation, chanting, some mention of totems, healing touch, levitating things and the most ridiculous is the meeting of the major supernatural beings known to humanity – like Jesus. Added with that is a conflict about fracking.
Suddenly, I feel like the plot is all over the place. Maybe it makes sense that supernatural beings is included in the plot because humanity believes they’re in charge of earth and maybe the fracking conflict is the author’s way of presenting a humane conflict but I feel like the plot isn’t cohesive enough.
I wasn’t also convinced enough about Marcie and her friends as the first chosen to later teach others how to save the world. Speaking of the characters, they’re just fine. Zeke and Lorraine caught my interest and made me wish the book is more focus on them. Because Marcie is only plain okay. I do like Eric because I liked him in book 1. Renee is okay as well. I found Leo more convincing because his reaction to Lorraine and Zeke is more realistic. I’d be skeptical too when someone tells me I should save the world. Like, it’s just outlandish (character’s term). Speaking of Leo, I don’t like his and Marcie’s excuse for a romance. It’s so insta-attraction and Marcie still running towards him despite their extremely different views about important things is a turn off.
I do like Marcie and Eric’s relationship as siblings. They’re not that close but they talk about important things. That’s one of the things I like in Catalyst. I also like the message the book is trying to convey. It is important and makes you think. There’s a thorough knowledge about fracking and how it affects nature. And more importantly, if archeology interests you, this book has lots of scenes and knowledge about the subject. Even I who’s not interested in archeology, or even farming really – you know getting mud in my nails – was entertained by this aspect of the plot. Don’t judge me with the mud in the nails thing, my parents have a farm and I grew up there but I love nail care more and of course, nail polishes.
I can say, I enjoyed book 1 more.
Catalyst is in a first person POV, told by Marcie, who has some kind of sixth sense. And the story started with Marcie, her older brother, Eric (protagonist of book 1) and Renee (Eric’s girlfriend, also from book 1) arriving at the archeological dig courtesy of Marcie and Eric’s mother. There, Marcie instantly feel a connection with two of the seniors, Lorraine and Zeke. The mystery surrounding Zeke and Lorraine kept me interested for a while but I don’t really buy their “More will be revealed to you in time.” thing. It’s their answer when Marcie, Eric, Renee and Leo (one of their teammates in the dig) ask about what exactly they can do to save the world. Because saving the world is what Lorraine and Zeke said they will do.
The saving the world thing disappoints me. I was expecting a climactic events in the last part but it didn’t really happen. And the events that lead to the ending are a bit underwhelming. Like I said, the plot could be executed better. Catalyst has lots of elements and I found some of them too much. Like there are levels of dimensions and most people on earth are in third, and fifth is the highest which means whoever are in fifth are considered extraterrestrial beings. That element of the plot is okay for me but then there’s teleportation, chanting, some mention of totems, healing touch, levitating things and the most ridiculous is the meeting of the major supernatural beings known to humanity – like Jesus. Added with that is a conflict about fracking.
Suddenly, I feel like the plot is all over the place. Maybe it makes sense that supernatural beings is included in the plot because humanity believes they’re in charge of earth and maybe the fracking conflict is the author’s way of presenting a humane conflict but I feel like the plot isn’t cohesive enough.
I wasn’t also convinced enough about Marcie and her friends as the first chosen to later teach others how to save the world. Speaking of the characters, they’re just fine. Zeke and Lorraine caught my interest and made me wish the book is more focus on them. Because Marcie is only plain okay. I do like Eric because I liked him in book 1. Renee is okay as well. I found Leo more convincing because his reaction to Lorraine and Zeke is more realistic. I’d be skeptical too when someone tells me I should save the world. Like, it’s just outlandish (character’s term). Speaking of Leo, I don’t like his and Marcie’s excuse for a romance. It’s so insta-attraction and Marcie still running towards him despite their extremely different views about important things is a turn off.
I do like Marcie and Eric’s relationship as siblings. They’re not that close but they talk about important things. That’s one of the things I like in Catalyst. I also like the message the book is trying to convey. It is important and makes you think. There’s a thorough knowledge about fracking and how it affects nature. And more importantly, if archeology interests you, this book has lots of scenes and knowledge about the subject. Even I who’s not interested in archeology, or even farming really – you know getting mud in my nails – was entertained by this aspect of the plot. Don’t judge me with the mud in the nails thing, my parents have a farm and I grew up there but I love nail care more and of course, nail polishes.
I can say, I enjoyed book 1 more.
May 27, 2020
I’ve read a lot of science fiction in my time. Like… a lot. So when I found out that this book was a YA sci-fi, I thought I had a vague idea of what I was getting into. This book, however, managed to surprise me!
This is the story of Marcie Horton, a young high school student with strange abilities, is spending her summer working on her mother’s archaeological dig with her brother and his girlfriend. Upon their arrival, they met two graduate students that seem to not only know about Marcie’s abilities to sense supernatural things, but may have some supernatural powers of their own. During the course of the summer, Marcie and her friends will be exposed to strange sights and tasked with a mission that may seem impossible: to help save the world.
When I went into this book, I was all set to read a book about eerie superpowers. I was not expecting to get a lesson about environmentalism, but it was a pleasant surprise! I’m definitely a believer in climate change and consider myself pretty informed, but I still learned a few things right alongside Marcie. It was such an interesting take on a science fiction novel, especially in the YA genre, and I found myself enjoying it. It made me connect with the book on a whole different level!
I will say I was less a fan of the heavy-handed spiritualism. I don’t want to get spoilery in this review, so I won’t go into the details, but it all just became… a little much. I think if we had been introduced to certain concepts gradually, it would have worked better for me. Instead, all this information is dumped on us in one heap after another and it left me reeling. I wasn’t 100% comfortable with the Native American representation, as well. I feel like the author did quite a bit of research while writing this book, but the characterizations still seemed a bit… lacking.
Still, the story itself was very compelling! You jump directly into the intrigue from chapter one and the narrative keeps you in its grip the entire time. There was no point where I felt bored, that’s for sure! It was a fast, fun read that also taught some great lessons about fracking and climate change. I thought the author did a great job at creating her characters, as well. The core group that we’re following were so relatable and clearly well fleshed out. I will say some of the side characters were obviously there just to give us information (looking at you, Scott), but it didn’t take away from the story.
Final thoughts: This was a unique YA sci-fi that was a wild ride on top of being very informational. The characters and story were solid, though the spiritualism aspects were piled a bit thick. If you’re into environmentalism and a gripping tale, you will love this book!
This is the story of Marcie Horton, a young high school student with strange abilities, is spending her summer working on her mother’s archaeological dig with her brother and his girlfriend. Upon their arrival, they met two graduate students that seem to not only know about Marcie’s abilities to sense supernatural things, but may have some supernatural powers of their own. During the course of the summer, Marcie and her friends will be exposed to strange sights and tasked with a mission that may seem impossible: to help save the world.
When I went into this book, I was all set to read a book about eerie superpowers. I was not expecting to get a lesson about environmentalism, but it was a pleasant surprise! I’m definitely a believer in climate change and consider myself pretty informed, but I still learned a few things right alongside Marcie. It was such an interesting take on a science fiction novel, especially in the YA genre, and I found myself enjoying it. It made me connect with the book on a whole different level!
I will say I was less a fan of the heavy-handed spiritualism. I don’t want to get spoilery in this review, so I won’t go into the details, but it all just became… a little much. I think if we had been introduced to certain concepts gradually, it would have worked better for me. Instead, all this information is dumped on us in one heap after another and it left me reeling. I wasn’t 100% comfortable with the Native American representation, as well. I feel like the author did quite a bit of research while writing this book, but the characterizations still seemed a bit… lacking.
Still, the story itself was very compelling! You jump directly into the intrigue from chapter one and the narrative keeps you in its grip the entire time. There was no point where I felt bored, that’s for sure! It was a fast, fun read that also taught some great lessons about fracking and climate change. I thought the author did a great job at creating her characters, as well. The core group that we’re following were so relatable and clearly well fleshed out. I will say some of the side characters were obviously there just to give us information (looking at you, Scott), but it didn’t take away from the story.
Final thoughts: This was a unique YA sci-fi that was a wild ride on top of being very informational. The characters and story were solid, though the spiritualism aspects were piled a bit thick. If you’re into environmentalism and a gripping tale, you will love this book!
June 1, 2020
Richardson writes a likable main character in Marcie. She’s got the makings of being a strong-willed yet kind-hearted protagonist along with other abnormal (not quite paranormal) gifts. The story starts with Marcie, her twin brother Eric and his girlfriend Renee going to a summer dig site headed up by their mom. At the site, they meet up with two graduate students who seem strange to them at first and later, show them their uncanny powers. They claim this power is from Universal Energy Field. I started to get lost in this portion of the story and realized that I was reading Book 2 of a series and that I had missed a huge chunk of what UEF is and why Renee’s Dad works on it alongside Eric. I also didn’t get a full read on Marcie’s ability to talk to a Native American spirit and how that tied to her ability with UEF, which I’m guessing was in the last book. I would have liked to have been brought up to speed a bit before being thrust into the storyline of these two lanes, because the confusion took away from my ability to fully understand and grasp the relationships between the graduate students and Marcie. I felt like Marcie was way too calm to see the weird things she saw and too quick to jump on board and bring friends along (even one that was resistant). I also was quite surprised at how knowledgeable young people in the story were about fracking and other matters. I chalked it up as it being a family interest with the father and mother but found it odd that teenagers wanted to spend their summer digging in dirt and rallying against fracking. But maybe I’m too hard on teenagers!
As the story progressed, we learn more about fracking and its dangers to the environment through discussions and visions. I did not much care for the two graduate students in the story because they seemed like they were brainwashing, rather than inviting any and all to learn more about furthering their sensory depth. All in all, I think this story had tons of information about Universal Energy Fields and environment, which seemed realistic and valid (although I admit, I didn’t check to see if it was real or not) but it seemed real…and sometimes, that’s enough for a good story. Even though I did get lost in the science a few times and might have liked the story better if it wasn’t YA and maybe New Adult, I think the story was successful in creating a thought-povoking message in a unique way.
Raging Book Reviews
As the story progressed, we learn more about fracking and its dangers to the environment through discussions and visions. I did not much care for the two graduate students in the story because they seemed like they were brainwashing, rather than inviting any and all to learn more about furthering their sensory depth. All in all, I think this story had tons of information about Universal Energy Fields and environment, which seemed realistic and valid (although I admit, I didn’t check to see if it was real or not) but it seemed real…and sometimes, that’s enough for a good story. Even though I did get lost in the science a few times and might have liked the story better if it wasn’t YA and maybe New Adult, I think the story was successful in creating a thought-povoking message in a unique way.
Raging Book Reviews
May 28, 2020
Catalyst is an enlightening tale toward a better tomorrow full of magic and mysteries of the universe. The story transported me to another dimension made of beauty, light, and all that is good.
Instead of being plot-focused or character-focused, Catalyst is an issue-focused story that explains to YA readers the importance of changing how things are done as a way to save our planet from imminent destruction. Focusing on fracking, the story provides a list of reasons why it is terrible as well as the passion-filled pleas of determined teens and adults to give a convincing argument against the collection of natural gas.
The use of shaman magic or magic that utilizes the energies of the earth is the best part of the novel. I love it when books explore different types of magic, as there are many out there. And I particularly liked that alien technology is passed over for the magic that exists within our planet. This gives a uniqueness to the story that I enjoyed reading.
The main character and narrator, Marcie Horton, reads like a real teenager. She enjoys the attention of crushes, has not yet learned to temper her passion for fighting injustices, and is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. I could not help but like Marcia even when I did not agree with her. I particularly enjoyed her fearlessness in all situations. She is going to grow up to be someone who changes the world.
The book makes unique connections to Christianity, though I had a hard time finding the relevance in the association. The fifth dimension, which man must aspire to ascend to, is like the Christian description of heaven. Jesus is named as an Ascended Master, and the Galactic Council is reminiscent of angels or celestial beings. The teens' role is explained as Spiritual Warriors and is very much like the prophets of old. Usually, I get excited to analyze religious analogies, but in this context, they make me uncomfortable.
This is an excellent book for environmentally conscious teens as they will rally behind the main characters and have their passion and determination fueled by the message.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Instead of being plot-focused or character-focused, Catalyst is an issue-focused story that explains to YA readers the importance of changing how things are done as a way to save our planet from imminent destruction. Focusing on fracking, the story provides a list of reasons why it is terrible as well as the passion-filled pleas of determined teens and adults to give a convincing argument against the collection of natural gas.
The use of shaman magic or magic that utilizes the energies of the earth is the best part of the novel. I love it when books explore different types of magic, as there are many out there. And I particularly liked that alien technology is passed over for the magic that exists within our planet. This gives a uniqueness to the story that I enjoyed reading.
The main character and narrator, Marcie Horton, reads like a real teenager. She enjoys the attention of crushes, has not yet learned to temper her passion for fighting injustices, and is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. I could not help but like Marcia even when I did not agree with her. I particularly enjoyed her fearlessness in all situations. She is going to grow up to be someone who changes the world.
The book makes unique connections to Christianity, though I had a hard time finding the relevance in the association. The fifth dimension, which man must aspire to ascend to, is like the Christian description of heaven. Jesus is named as an Ascended Master, and the Galactic Council is reminiscent of angels or celestial beings. The teens' role is explained as Spiritual Warriors and is very much like the prophets of old. Usually, I get excited to analyze religious analogies, but in this context, they make me uncomfortable.
This is an excellent book for environmentally conscious teens as they will rally behind the main characters and have their passion and determination fueled by the message.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
Book source ~ Tour
Marcie Horton has connected once before with a spirit when she was thirteen. But that was four years ago and she feels like she’s missing something by not having any further contact with anything…other. She’s hoping a summer working on her mother’s archeological dig will distract her from a feeling of missing out on something big. Joined by her older brother Eric and his girlfriend Renee, they barely get settled in when two graduate students let the three of them and another student, 19-yr-old Leo, in on a secret. There is much more out there than any of them realize. Marcie is about to get her wish - something incredible is about to happen. The real question is: Is she ready for it?
This is a book heavy on how humanity is shitting where we eat. Too graphic? How about how we are killing the very thing that supports us? Too dramatic? Too bad. We are. If you don’t like books that point out this fact, even if it is a fictional book, then you may not enjoy this as much as I have. Now, to the story itself…
Marcie is a pretty level-headed 17-yr-old. She’s had a life-altering encounter with a spirit when she was 13, so maybe that has something to do with it. In any case, the story is told from her POV so it helps she’s not an over-emotional idiot. Side characters are interesting even if Renee makes me want to slap her upside the head occasionally. And don’t get me started on Leo. Marcie is more forgiving than I would be. Oh! Did I not mention there’s a little hotness going on between Marcie and Leo? Ah. Summer love.
Lorraine and Zeke are a bit irritating in their roles, but I get it. And you will, too. I find the idea of a Universal Energy Field fascinating. I want it to be a thing. In fact, my belief is, since we are mostly water and energy then when we die our energy goes back out into the ether and comes back as another being. So, I guess I believe a bit in reincarnation. And that’s why I believe in ghosts. That energy can get stuck and next thing you know, wooohoooo things going bang. Anyway, I enjoyed this journey of Marcie’s and hope she and the others can bring about some change before it’s too late.
Marcie Horton has connected once before with a spirit when she was thirteen. But that was four years ago and she feels like she’s missing something by not having any further contact with anything…other. She’s hoping a summer working on her mother’s archeological dig will distract her from a feeling of missing out on something big. Joined by her older brother Eric and his girlfriend Renee, they barely get settled in when two graduate students let the three of them and another student, 19-yr-old Leo, in on a secret. There is much more out there than any of them realize. Marcie is about to get her wish - something incredible is about to happen. The real question is: Is she ready for it?
This is a book heavy on how humanity is shitting where we eat. Too graphic? How about how we are killing the very thing that supports us? Too dramatic? Too bad. We are. If you don’t like books that point out this fact, even if it is a fictional book, then you may not enjoy this as much as I have. Now, to the story itself…
Marcie is a pretty level-headed 17-yr-old. She’s had a life-altering encounter with a spirit when she was 13, so maybe that has something to do with it. In any case, the story is told from her POV so it helps she’s not an over-emotional idiot. Side characters are interesting even if Renee makes me want to slap her upside the head occasionally. And don’t get me started on Leo. Marcie is more forgiving than I would be. Oh! Did I not mention there’s a little hotness going on between Marcie and Leo? Ah. Summer love.
Lorraine and Zeke are a bit irritating in their roles, but I get it. And you will, too. I find the idea of a Universal Energy Field fascinating. I want it to be a thing. In fact, my belief is, since we are mostly water and energy then when we die our energy goes back out into the ether and comes back as another being. So, I guess I believe a bit in reincarnation. And that’s why I believe in ghosts. That energy can get stuck and next thing you know, wooohoooo things going bang. Anyway, I enjoyed this journey of Marcie’s and hope she and the others can bring about some change before it’s too late.
May 25, 2020
Catalyst is a book with enormous ideas. It takes on fracking, environmental degradation, thoughts, human relationships, religion, archaeology, and familial relationships. Those ideas are a lot to cover in 248 pages. Frankly, if you focused on even one of these ideas, you could cover it, but all is a tall order. But, in general, Catalyst conveys what it sets out to. It is a story about an archeological dig site and how environmental degradation is happening all over the planet.
One of the main focuses of the story is the relationships between the main characters. Mainly, the protagonist of the story is Marcie. Marcie is supported by her brother Eric, girlfriend Renee, and possible love interest Leo. These four characters come together at a dig site to do some summer work. Their advisors are grad students Loraine and Zeke, who also play pivotal roles in Marcie’sMarcie’s development. There is something different about Loraine and Zeke. Something that takes the four main characters by surprise and changes their lives forever. I can’t tell you more than that because.... spoilers. But, know the story does not go where you think it will.
I think some of the difficulties I faced reading this story are the pacing. It felt choppy. I think if it had another two hundred pages of story development, I would have connected with the characters on a deeper level. I enjoyed the environmental aspects of the story. I think a book that takes on fracking is essential. Not many people know the degradation that fracking does to the land, and I am glad that the author took the time to explain why it damages everything so much.
Even though this was not a book for me, I don’t connect with YA as much as some readers do, this story has a lot of good. It is interesting, and I am curious about what the next book will look like. Plus, if you are interested in the metaphysical aspect of the human consciousness that this is an even better book for you as a reader.
All in all, Catalyst did not connect with me, but I think that readers of YA with a metaphysical or environmental theme will love this.
One of the main focuses of the story is the relationships between the main characters. Mainly, the protagonist of the story is Marcie. Marcie is supported by her brother Eric, girlfriend Renee, and possible love interest Leo. These four characters come together at a dig site to do some summer work. Their advisors are grad students Loraine and Zeke, who also play pivotal roles in Marcie’sMarcie’s development. There is something different about Loraine and Zeke. Something that takes the four main characters by surprise and changes their lives forever. I can’t tell you more than that because.... spoilers. But, know the story does not go where you think it will.
I think some of the difficulties I faced reading this story are the pacing. It felt choppy. I think if it had another two hundred pages of story development, I would have connected with the characters on a deeper level. I enjoyed the environmental aspects of the story. I think a book that takes on fracking is essential. Not many people know the degradation that fracking does to the land, and I am glad that the author took the time to explain why it damages everything so much.
Even though this was not a book for me, I don’t connect with YA as much as some readers do, this story has a lot of good. It is interesting, and I am curious about what the next book will look like. Plus, if you are interested in the metaphysical aspect of the human consciousness that this is an even better book for you as a reader.
All in all, Catalyst did not connect with me, but I think that readers of YA with a metaphysical or environmental theme will love this.
May 24, 2020
Catalyst is an enlightening YA story that is not very focused on plot but more on characters, the issues at hand and what’s between the lines. It makes you think about what is being said, and about everything that’s left unsaid, and I think that’s part of what makes it so powerful.
I really liked that Catalyst contains a lot of information on things you probably don’t hear about in your daily life (at least that was the case for me). Instead of being preachy or coming across like a school book though, the author managed to wrap it up into a story nicely and thereby teaches the reader about fracking by making her characters speak up against the collection of natural gas.
I really liked the unique magic that is connected to the Earth’s energy that is part of the story. Reading between the lines, Richardson shows how important the Earth is, and that we only have this one planet. It’s not an easy topic, but the novel brings this theme across. I found it great to see Marcie learn more about her sixth sense and delevop this innate natural power she has.
While I appreciated the knowledge I gained from the novel, I did wish it was less information-heavy and more ‘fun’ and easy at times. However, I understand that the author had a different purpose with this novel and can therefore accept how it has been carried out. While it manages to stay on your mind for a long time, it is probably not one I would pick up again very soon for recreational reading.
If you want to read my full reviel on Catalyst, please head on over to my blog:
https://theartsyreader.com/thewritere...
I really liked that Catalyst contains a lot of information on things you probably don’t hear about in your daily life (at least that was the case for me). Instead of being preachy or coming across like a school book though, the author managed to wrap it up into a story nicely and thereby teaches the reader about fracking by making her characters speak up against the collection of natural gas.
I really liked the unique magic that is connected to the Earth’s energy that is part of the story. Reading between the lines, Richardson shows how important the Earth is, and that we only have this one planet. It’s not an easy topic, but the novel brings this theme across. I found it great to see Marcie learn more about her sixth sense and delevop this innate natural power she has.
While I appreciated the knowledge I gained from the novel, I did wish it was less information-heavy and more ‘fun’ and easy at times. However, I understand that the author had a different purpose with this novel and can therefore accept how it has been carried out. While it manages to stay on your mind for a long time, it is probably not one I would pick up again very soon for recreational reading.
If you want to read my full reviel on Catalyst, please head on over to my blog:
https://theartsyreader.com/thewritere...
May 23, 2020
Catalyst is a young adult novel that helps send out the message of saving earth. The book ended up not really being for me. The message with this book is to kind of help teach others about the world dying and how some don't really care or believe. I guess since this isn't really a premise that I'm inspired and interested in I ended up losing interest in the book. Don't get me wrong though. I do feel like the book is well written and the characters are very likeable. It just wasn't for me.
May 27, 2020
2.5 stars
This may not be an especially long book, but it is packed throughout with a continual stream of abstract and outlandish ideas. It contains a very strong overarching message and it was clear what kind of story the author was trying to tell, however I felt there were flaws that lay in the execution of some of these concepts, which made it less of an enjoyable read.
The main plot strands focus primarily on conveying an elaborate science fiction premise, along with exploring an environmentally friendly theme where the subject of fracking is covered in extensive detail. It occasionally made for powerful reading, but the story does not always do an effective job of balancing the two. There is also some romance involved, though the characters barely leave much of an impression.
Marcie is a teenage girl with an unusual sixth sense, who once connected with a departed spirit. Now, she is on an archaeological dig that is being led by her mother at an old Iron Age site, where she meets two mysterious postgraduates. Along with her brother Eric, his girlfriend Renee, and a group of other students, she discovers that Lorraine and Zeke have unearthly abilities.
Meanwhile, it is announced that fracking is due to take place at a nearby site and Marcie attends a meeting of the local community, where arguments from both sides are presented. Lorraine and Zeke share Marcie's mission to prevent the fracking and inform her that she must help to save Mother Earth, before they reveal their true identities.
I liked how fracking was used as an important part of the plot, and initially the book was quite easy to follow. It is around the halfway mark where the science fiction element really begins to take hold and it all becomes a whole lot more complex. There were some unusual and imaginative ideas at this point, but they all came at me so quickly that it felt like a bit of an information overload. It was literally one thing after the next.
There was nothing that really made this book gripping. In spite of the interesting topics that arise, there are no surprising twists or revelations, while most of the characters are uninspiring. Once we learn all about Lorraine and Zeke in the second half of the book and travel through different dimensions, if anything I became less engaged.
I am reliably informed that the first book in this series is told from Eric's point of view, but here everything happens from Marcie's perspective. Narrated in the first person present, the writing was engaging and thoughtful, placing considerable emphasis on the anti-fracking message. As a character, that is where Marcie is at her most compelling.
Otherwise, I thought she was badly underdeveloped. She lacks a bit of personality and despite her 'sixth sense', rarely seemed surprised or overwhelmed by any of the events that took place during the book. I found Renee's reaction a great deal more believable.
On the plus side, Marcie is quite likeable and I thought her romance with Leo approached a very important question: Can you love someone if their views on an issue that matters to you differ completely from yours? I thought this was handled well and really brought something extra to the storytelling. Of all the characters, Leo had the most interesting arc.
The main setting of the book is Angel Mound, the site of the archaeological dig. Having been on digs myself, I was impressed by the level of accuracy in relation to the techniques and processes that are used. What did make me roll my eyes was how quickly all the students seemed to develop feelings for one another. Marcie and Leo was one thing, but I felt with Scott and Lainey it was taking that a bit too far!
I liked how eloquently the anti-fracking message was communicated, although at times it meant the dialogue was hit and miss. It seemed to lack a little authenticity due to the number of technical terms that were used. That often made it feel more like rhetoric than actual dialogue. Having said that, it still acts as a good way of educating the reader about the dangers posed by fracking.
Overall, this book contains some very strong ideas and themes, but does not totally succeed in terms of its execution. I found the second half fairly difficult to engage with and I thought the characters lacked any real development. The environmental message is strong, but the story itself did not capture my attention in the way that I hoped.
This may not be an especially long book, but it is packed throughout with a continual stream of abstract and outlandish ideas. It contains a very strong overarching message and it was clear what kind of story the author was trying to tell, however I felt there were flaws that lay in the execution of some of these concepts, which made it less of an enjoyable read.
The main plot strands focus primarily on conveying an elaborate science fiction premise, along with exploring an environmentally friendly theme where the subject of fracking is covered in extensive detail. It occasionally made for powerful reading, but the story does not always do an effective job of balancing the two. There is also some romance involved, though the characters barely leave much of an impression.
Marcie is a teenage girl with an unusual sixth sense, who once connected with a departed spirit. Now, she is on an archaeological dig that is being led by her mother at an old Iron Age site, where she meets two mysterious postgraduates. Along with her brother Eric, his girlfriend Renee, and a group of other students, she discovers that Lorraine and Zeke have unearthly abilities.
Meanwhile, it is announced that fracking is due to take place at a nearby site and Marcie attends a meeting of the local community, where arguments from both sides are presented. Lorraine and Zeke share Marcie's mission to prevent the fracking and inform her that she must help to save Mother Earth, before they reveal their true identities.
I liked how fracking was used as an important part of the plot, and initially the book was quite easy to follow. It is around the halfway mark where the science fiction element really begins to take hold and it all becomes a whole lot more complex. There were some unusual and imaginative ideas at this point, but they all came at me so quickly that it felt like a bit of an information overload. It was literally one thing after the next.
There was nothing that really made this book gripping. In spite of the interesting topics that arise, there are no surprising twists or revelations, while most of the characters are uninspiring. Once we learn all about Lorraine and Zeke in the second half of the book and travel through different dimensions, if anything I became less engaged.
I am reliably informed that the first book in this series is told from Eric's point of view, but here everything happens from Marcie's perspective. Narrated in the first person present, the writing was engaging and thoughtful, placing considerable emphasis on the anti-fracking message. As a character, that is where Marcie is at her most compelling.
Otherwise, I thought she was badly underdeveloped. She lacks a bit of personality and despite her 'sixth sense', rarely seemed surprised or overwhelmed by any of the events that took place during the book. I found Renee's reaction a great deal more believable.
On the plus side, Marcie is quite likeable and I thought her romance with Leo approached a very important question: Can you love someone if their views on an issue that matters to you differ completely from yours? I thought this was handled well and really brought something extra to the storytelling. Of all the characters, Leo had the most interesting arc.
The main setting of the book is Angel Mound, the site of the archaeological dig. Having been on digs myself, I was impressed by the level of accuracy in relation to the techniques and processes that are used. What did make me roll my eyes was how quickly all the students seemed to develop feelings for one another. Marcie and Leo was one thing, but I felt with Scott and Lainey it was taking that a bit too far!
I liked how eloquently the anti-fracking message was communicated, although at times it meant the dialogue was hit and miss. It seemed to lack a little authenticity due to the number of technical terms that were used. That often made it feel more like rhetoric than actual dialogue. Having said that, it still acts as a good way of educating the reader about the dangers posed by fracking.
Overall, this book contains some very strong ideas and themes, but does not totally succeed in terms of its execution. I found the second half fairly difficult to engage with and I thought the characters lacked any real development. The environmental message is strong, but the story itself did not capture my attention in the way that I hoped.
May 30, 2020
I was on a blog tour for this book and so got the book for free. That has not affected my review in any way.
I liked this one!
I won’t say I LOVED this one, but yes I liked it.
Catalyst is a book with a strong message and big ideas. It is well written and goes in depth on fracking, environmental catastrophes, love and friendships, religion, spirituality… and the list goes on and on. I almost feel like the author tackles a few too many topics for such a relatively short book. To me it feels like the book should have been twice the length, just to be able to give proper time and care to some topics and develop them a bit more. In fact there is so much to cover that I feel character development is perhaps skipped or if not skipped exactly, just given short shrift.
There is just so much going on in this book, we have several storylines which all converge and diverge and converge again, however really the story is about a young woman called Marcie Horton. While on an archaeological dig with some friends she begins to discover she has powers. And in fairly standard form for this sort of book as things go along she learns more about them, gets better at using them and has some big important reasons for why she needs them. (The above mentioned environmental issues). I wish I had connected to some of the other characters a bit more strongly, but really I found myself not caring about the others as much as I would have liked.
It is clear that the author has powerful beliefs about the world, the environment and mankind’s destructive impact upon it. My biggest negative is that I think the author gets perhaps a little too focused on getting this message and information across to the reader rather than developing characters a bit more, at times I was inclined to just skip forward a little due to this, its just a bit ‘info dumpy’ at times and preaching a bit too much to be a 5 star read for me. Having said that these are fairly minor gripes and as a general thing I found the book an enjoyable and really, quite unusual YA read.
The review probably sounds a bit harsher than I actually feel. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to people looking for a YA supernatural adventure with a strong environmental message.
I think 3.5 to 4 stars is a fair rating for it. I’m rounding up to 4.
I liked this one!
I won’t say I LOVED this one, but yes I liked it.
Catalyst is a book with a strong message and big ideas. It is well written and goes in depth on fracking, environmental catastrophes, love and friendships, religion, spirituality… and the list goes on and on. I almost feel like the author tackles a few too many topics for such a relatively short book. To me it feels like the book should have been twice the length, just to be able to give proper time and care to some topics and develop them a bit more. In fact there is so much to cover that I feel character development is perhaps skipped or if not skipped exactly, just given short shrift.
There is just so much going on in this book, we have several storylines which all converge and diverge and converge again, however really the story is about a young woman called Marcie Horton. While on an archaeological dig with some friends she begins to discover she has powers. And in fairly standard form for this sort of book as things go along she learns more about them, gets better at using them and has some big important reasons for why she needs them. (The above mentioned environmental issues). I wish I had connected to some of the other characters a bit more strongly, but really I found myself not caring about the others as much as I would have liked.
It is clear that the author has powerful beliefs about the world, the environment and mankind’s destructive impact upon it. My biggest negative is that I think the author gets perhaps a little too focused on getting this message and information across to the reader rather than developing characters a bit more, at times I was inclined to just skip forward a little due to this, its just a bit ‘info dumpy’ at times and preaching a bit too much to be a 5 star read for me. Having said that these are fairly minor gripes and as a general thing I found the book an enjoyable and really, quite unusual YA read.
The review probably sounds a bit harsher than I actually feel. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to people looking for a YA supernatural adventure with a strong environmental message.
I think 3.5 to 4 stars is a fair rating for it. I’m rounding up to 4.
May 29, 2020
“I feel a little like I’m stepping off a cliff into the unknown, but if I don’t move forward, I know I’ll regret it.”
Marcie wants to believe that she has had contact with spirits, but doesn’t know who she can talk to about her experience. However, as soon as she arrives on her mother’s archeological dig for the summer, she immediately senses something different about her team leaders. Lorraine and Zeke say they are graduate students, but when they take Marcie, her brother, his girlfriend and Leo to a hilltop where they move a giant rock with their thoughts, it proves what Marcie sensed. They are given a vision of a destroyed Earth and are told they will learn to tap into energy fields to help heal the Earth.
I joined The Write Reads blog tour for Catalyst. I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I’ve never read any of Richardson’s books and while I don’t normally read much fantasy, the plot seemed interesting.
Marcie and her brother are on board, his girlfriend is fearful and Leo is very skeptical. Besides being attracted to Marcie, they don’t have much in common. It’s not just the energy field they don’t see eye to eye on, but also on fracking, which is about to start happening nearby.
Catalyst is a book about a lot of things – energy fields, fracking, climate change, aliens and other dimensions. It also deals with relationships on several different levels – romantic, sibling and parent/child. I enjoyed the storyline and how it built the relationships with the characters. However, I was a bit overloaded with all the topics discussed in the book. I think it would have been improved by either making it longer to delve more into the topics or by focusing on fewer topics. Readers middle school age or older who enjoy fantasy books will enjoy Catalyst.
Read more here: https://sarahannecarter.com/catalyst-...
Marcie wants to believe that she has had contact with spirits, but doesn’t know who she can talk to about her experience. However, as soon as she arrives on her mother’s archeological dig for the summer, she immediately senses something different about her team leaders. Lorraine and Zeke say they are graduate students, but when they take Marcie, her brother, his girlfriend and Leo to a hilltop where they move a giant rock with their thoughts, it proves what Marcie sensed. They are given a vision of a destroyed Earth and are told they will learn to tap into energy fields to help heal the Earth.
I joined The Write Reads blog tour for Catalyst. I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I’ve never read any of Richardson’s books and while I don’t normally read much fantasy, the plot seemed interesting.
Marcie and her brother are on board, his girlfriend is fearful and Leo is very skeptical. Besides being attracted to Marcie, they don’t have much in common. It’s not just the energy field they don’t see eye to eye on, but also on fracking, which is about to start happening nearby.
Catalyst is a book about a lot of things – energy fields, fracking, climate change, aliens and other dimensions. It also deals with relationships on several different levels – romantic, sibling and parent/child. I enjoyed the storyline and how it built the relationships with the characters. However, I was a bit overloaded with all the topics discussed in the book. I think it would have been improved by either making it longer to delve more into the topics or by focusing on fewer topics. Readers middle school age or older who enjoy fantasy books will enjoy Catalyst.
Read more here: https://sarahannecarter.com/catalyst-...
May 31, 2020
3.5 stars!
The synopsis was the first thing that drew me to this book. I have read a lot of reviews for this book and I heard some really great things as well as some ok things and I was intrigued to see what I would think of it? Even though a lot of information is dumped on you all at once the opening chapters still had me so hooked. Everyone was being so mysterious. We get introduced to Marcies powers straight away as well as a lot of the characters who are equally mysterious and I just had to know more.
This world was very interesting and probably my favourite part of the book. Learning about the abilities that the characters have, the archaeology and the scientific elements were what kept me interested throughout.
I loved seeing Marcie figure out her abilities or sixth sense as she calls it, she was such an interesting character, smart and independent, but I also felt sorry for her when she was trying to figure out what was going on and why people where hiding things from her. Lorraine and Zeke where interesting characters. We are introduced to them in the first chapter and there mysteriousness was what made that first chapter for me, it gripped me and I wanted to know more.
This book was really well done and well written. You can tell how much research went into every aspect of this book, there are so many things going on from science to environment to religion and more. Would I read it again? I honestly don’t know but I enjoyed myself whilst I was reading it and there are some things I learned in this book that I will always remember.
The synopsis was the first thing that drew me to this book. I have read a lot of reviews for this book and I heard some really great things as well as some ok things and I was intrigued to see what I would think of it? Even though a lot of information is dumped on you all at once the opening chapters still had me so hooked. Everyone was being so mysterious. We get introduced to Marcies powers straight away as well as a lot of the characters who are equally mysterious and I just had to know more.
This world was very interesting and probably my favourite part of the book. Learning about the abilities that the characters have, the archaeology and the scientific elements were what kept me interested throughout.
I loved seeing Marcie figure out her abilities or sixth sense as she calls it, she was such an interesting character, smart and independent, but I also felt sorry for her when she was trying to figure out what was going on and why people where hiding things from her. Lorraine and Zeke where interesting characters. We are introduced to them in the first chapter and there mysteriousness was what made that first chapter for me, it gripped me and I wanted to know more.
This book was really well done and well written. You can tell how much research went into every aspect of this book, there are so many things going on from science to environment to religion and more. Would I read it again? I honestly don’t know but I enjoyed myself whilst I was reading it and there are some things I learned in this book that I will always remember.
July 4, 2020
I enjoyed spending time with the Horton family again. I recently finished The Field (The Catalysts, #1). As a teenage boy, I may have related more to Eric (the main character of The Field) than his sister Marcie, the main character in this second book. However, I enjoyed this second book and appreciated that both siblings have understanding/powers outside of what we currently know.
Marcie and her brother Eric, along with his girlfriend Renee, are helping out with a dig that their mom, an archaeologist, is involved in. The site is called Angel Mounds and the mission is to study native Americans, called Mississippians, who lived in the area around 1000 to 1450 AD.
But things are complicated by Marcie's ability to communicate without words and sometimes, even outside of time. She is forced to reexamine this gift thanks to two mysterious graduate students, Zeke and Lorraine.
I like the relationships between all of the characters and the romantic tension between Marcie and Leo. And the book's exploration of environmental issues is very well-done. I would strongly recommend this book to high school students interested in environmental issues, archaeology, and things beyond traditional science.
Marcie and her brother Eric, along with his girlfriend Renee, are helping out with a dig that their mom, an archaeologist, is involved in. The site is called Angel Mounds and the mission is to study native Americans, called Mississippians, who lived in the area around 1000 to 1450 AD.
But things are complicated by Marcie's ability to communicate without words and sometimes, even outside of time. She is forced to reexamine this gift thanks to two mysterious graduate students, Zeke and Lorraine.
I like the relationships between all of the characters and the romantic tension between Marcie and Leo. And the book's exploration of environmental issues is very well-done. I would strongly recommend this book to high school students interested in environmental issues, archaeology, and things beyond traditional science.
April 12, 2020
Marcie Horton has a sixth sense. Not in the “I see dead people” way, but . . . well, maybe a little. She feels a sort of knowing about certain things that can’t be explained—an intuition that goes beyond the normal. Then there was that one summer four years ago, when she connected with a long-departed spirit . . . But nothing that incredible has happened to Marcie since. This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke. The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds—something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.
May 22, 2020
I got this book as part of a blog tour.
While I have to say I really liked this one the first thing I will say about this book is its not going to be for everybody. It is in a word … ok well two words OUT THERE. I feel that a lot will love it and a lot will hate it.
For the longest time I was unsure which side of that argument I would end up on. There were certainly elements which I feel needed more work, but for me at least the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. I loved the archaeological aspects, the environmental urgency. But the main thing that kept me reading was Marcie herself. A great character, strong willed, intelligent, a good moral compass and just the right amount of weird!
I’d recommend it to fans of science fiction, YA or anybody really who is interested in stories that involve the damage we are causing to the environment.
While I have to say I really liked this one the first thing I will say about this book is its not going to be for everybody. It is in a word … ok well two words OUT THERE. I feel that a lot will love it and a lot will hate it.
For the longest time I was unsure which side of that argument I would end up on. There were certainly elements which I feel needed more work, but for me at least the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. I loved the archaeological aspects, the environmental urgency. But the main thing that kept me reading was Marcie herself. A great character, strong willed, intelligent, a good moral compass and just the right amount of weird!
I’d recommend it to fans of science fiction, YA or anybody really who is interested in stories that involve the damage we are causing to the environment.
May 26, 2020
First thing first I absolutely liked the theme of this book, archaeological dig and environmental protection against fracking. this thing fracking is new to me you need to read this book to understand the concept of what is a problem relating to this.
i really liked concept of archaeological dig and sixtieth sense but I dint like writing style. There are a lot of scientific description going on which is a bit too much for me. The plot really had potential to be a superb book. But it get hard to get into a story I stopped reading this book two time .
Sometime I dnt understand what is its genre there is religious stiff, romance, paranormal, sci-fi, a lot is going on. I would love if there is more of an archaeological dig and mystery type of story.
This book is second in series but you can read it in standalone. overall I enjoyed reading this book it’s okay. I would like to know your thoughts about it .
i really liked concept of archaeological dig and sixtieth sense but I dint like writing style. There are a lot of scientific description going on which is a bit too much for me. The plot really had potential to be a superb book. But it get hard to get into a story I stopped reading this book two time .
Sometime I dnt understand what is its genre there is religious stiff, romance, paranormal, sci-fi, a lot is going on. I would love if there is more of an archaeological dig and mystery type of story.
This book is second in series but you can read it in standalone. overall I enjoyed reading this book it’s okay. I would like to know your thoughts about it .
June 29, 2020
This was a wonderful book even for someone that isn't a young adult i would suggest they read it. Its truly an amazing novel, full of mystery, sci-fi, love, and environmental worries that plague us today.
I really root for Marcie and Leo, they are such a cute couple but throughout the story Leo is turning more and more into this horrible guy proving he isn't as great as you think in the beginning. But you will have to read the book to find out what happens.
There are so many crazy things that happen in this book I want to tell you about to entice you but i also dont want to ruin the book and spoil it for you. Its just a must read!!!!
I really root for Marcie and Leo, they are such a cute couple but throughout the story Leo is turning more and more into this horrible guy proving he isn't as great as you think in the beginning. But you will have to read the book to find out what happens.
There are so many crazy things that happen in this book I want to tell you about to entice you but i also dont want to ruin the book and spoil it for you. Its just a must read!!!!
May 12, 2020
This was a very enjoyable book and a rare YA with a thoughtful message. I really liked the characters and the premise of a young girl and her friends using their extrasensory abilities to try to save our earth and its resources. It's very well written, and the author tells the story without shoving the message down the reader's throat. Its compelling and thought provoking though, and I hope more young people read this!
I was sent an arc by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent an arc by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2020
Catalyst is a difficult book to categorise, yes it’s YA, and it deals with environmental issues such as fracking, and the deeper meaning of human consciousness. Is there more to this world than that we see?. It’s also about relationships between the characters and how they interact.
It has science, archaeology, telepathy and spirituality in a complex mix. The thought provoking plot makes this a intriguing and interesting read.
Thank you to The Write Reads for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and a ecopy of Catalyst. This is my honest and unbiased review.
It has science, archaeology, telepathy and spirituality in a complex mix. The thought provoking plot makes this a intriguing and interesting read.
Thank you to The Write Reads for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and a ecopy of Catalyst. This is my honest and unbiased review.
March 10, 2020
Another cool concept book by Author of The Field, Tracy Richardson.
This story brings real life issues of sustaining clean water while harvesting oil to the fore as the main characters encounter High Beings that shape their future. Great for young readers and adults!
This story brings real life issues of sustaining clean water while harvesting oil to the fore as the main characters encounter High Beings that shape their future. Great for young readers and adults!
March 11, 2020
I loved this book. It really made me think. Both the supernatural/science fiction aspects and the focus on environmental issues. It's YA but really for anyone who wants to expand their thinking. Highly recommended!
June 19, 2020
I was sent an ARC from Books Forward to review.
When I started the book I was intrigued, but not wowed. I wasn't sure if I was going to love it as much as I did.
After reading the first few chapters, I was hooked.
The book is centered around Marcie Horton. She experienced an incident where a young native spirit came to her for help. This time she is on an archeological dig, that her mother is heading. Her teams leads, Zeke and Lorraine, give off an aura. They are not what they seem.
They choose Marcie, her brother Eric, his girlfriend Renne, and Leo to teach them how to harness their thought energy to save the world.
But who are these grad students?
The book talks a lot about the dangers of fracking and needing to move away from natural gas and oil for pur energy needs. I absolutely loved that aspect of the book!
When I started the book I was intrigued, but not wowed. I wasn't sure if I was going to love it as much as I did.
After reading the first few chapters, I was hooked.
The book is centered around Marcie Horton. She experienced an incident where a young native spirit came to her for help. This time she is on an archeological dig, that her mother is heading. Her teams leads, Zeke and Lorraine, give off an aura. They are not what they seem.
They choose Marcie, her brother Eric, his girlfriend Renne, and Leo to teach them how to harness their thought energy to save the world.
But who are these grad students?
The book talks a lot about the dangers of fracking and needing to move away from natural gas and oil for pur energy needs. I absolutely loved that aspect of the book!
April 7, 2021
Underscoring the reality that the future is in their hands Ms. Richardson effectively relates her poignant message to those who will bear the brunt of the effort to save our planet and the human race , our children and grandchildren. She emphases the fundamental role that spirituality plays in the process of transformative change. Realizing we are part of something bigger than ourselves directs us to strive for something better than what we have lived. I applaud Ms. Richardson's creative approach in conveying her timely message. For me , it was a quick, enjoyable and reflective read. I am hoping for a sequel describing how Marcie and the others actually implement their spiritual-based campaign of healing and connecting people and the planet.
January 22, 2020
Excellent book!!
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