Above

by Roland Smith

Overview

What dangers lurk above?

Pat O'Toole and his brother, Coop, are on the run from an enemy that specializes in hiding in plain sight. Along with their new companion, Kate, they've narrowly escaped a cultlike community situated beneath the streets of New York City. Kate has lived underground since birth, and the world above thrills her, but it's treacherous as well. With the cult's leader -- Kate’s grandfather -- hatching a new scheme of global consequence, the three runaways may be the only ones who can stop him. Will they face him head-on, or will they spend the rest of their lives as fugitives? The adventure that started Beneath concludes Above in this action-packed middle-grade thriller by Roland Smith!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545564915
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/17/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	341
Sales rank:	821,890
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Following their adventures that started Beneath, two runaway brothers race to save the world from evil in this action-packed middle-grade thriller.

Pat O’Toole and his brother, Coop, are on the run from an enemy that specializes in hiding in plain sight. Along with their new companion, Kate, they’ve narrowly escaped a cult like community situated beneath the streets of New York City. Kate has lived underground since birth, and the world above thrills her, but it’s treacherous as well. With the cult's leader—Kate’s grandfather—hatching a new scheme of global consequence, the three runaways may be the only ones who can stop him. Will they face him head-on, or will they spend the rest of their lives as fugitives?

Praise for Above

“Smith keeps suspense thumping and pages turning . . . Compulsive reading all the way to the end.” —Kirkus Reviews

Read an Excerpt

The bright snow on the ground hurt my eyes. I reached for my shades, then changed my mind. I was above now. This is where I lived. I needed to act like a normal person. I needed to get used to the light.After a couple of blocks I started to relax. I passed the bus station, tensing a little as I walked by the people at the curb waiting for rides, or getting dropped off. No one looked familiar. No one paid attention to me. I was just a person with a backpack. A fellow traveler on a wintry day. My eyes stopped watering. I began to smile. Everything would be okay, and that's when he stepped out in front of me."You!" I shouted."Good to see you, Kate. We need to talk."

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Above:"Smith keeps suspense thumping and pages turning... Compulsive reading all the way to the end." — Kirkus ReviewsPraise for Beneath:"A tightly plotted mystery that incorporates themes of nonconformity and social rebellion... Humor, a perilous setting, [and] intense relationships... give the story emotion and grit." — Publishers Weekly"A fast-paced, compelling read. Fans of Smith will not be disappointed." — Booklist"Avid lovers of adventure fiction will enjoy this quick read." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2016-06-28
In this follow-up companion to Beneath (2015), three white teens who have escaped a cult that lives underground (literally) try to elude recapture and learn what the cult’s brilliant and tyrannical leader might be planning.Born into the People of the Deep, Kate lived a privileged life until she defied Larry, the cult leader, and escaped in New York City. Trained to be a skilled Shadow, an expert at observation and trailing, Kate spots tails in Oregon. She splits up from Pat and his brother, Coop, and allows herself to be captured in order to spy on the group. Indeed, the cult members are aboveground and on the move, heading south in motor homes. Pat and Coop do their best to follow, teaming up with Alex, the Pod’s former Librarian, now traitor to the cult. For much of the book, the trio works to keep Kate and her captors in sight as they also try to evade the notice of the savvy cult members. Pat tries to keep the FBI informed, but Larry has plans that may defy all the might of the world. His scheme, when revealed, looks unstoppable and will devastate the modern world. Smith keeps suspense thumping and pages turning as he concocts his chase tale, slowly revealing the extent of Larry’s power, intellect, and evil intent. He writes alternating chapters from the points of view of Kate and Pat, dovetailing the story details nicely. Though the publisher recommends a middle-grade audience, this seems better suited for young teens. Compulsive reading all the way to the end. (Adventure. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews