Luminary

by Krista McGee Narrated by Amanda Sanfilippo

Overview

Thalli thought escaping to the surface would mean freedom. But is she any less of an anomaly aboveground?

After escaping an underground annihilation chamber, Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John find themselves fleeing across the former United States, aboveground for the first time. As the defectors cross the for gotten landscape, the three youths see things the y had only read about on screens: horses, rain, real books-and a colony of unsanctioned survivors living the ancient way in a town called New Hope.

When the citizens of New Hope reveal the truth of what happened years ago, Thalli is left unsettled and skeptical of everything she's ever been told. Can she trust anything from the State, including her own feelings for Berk? When she volunteers for a peace mission to New Hope's violent neighbor, Athens, her confusion mounts as the supposedly ruthless Prince Ale x turns out to be kind and charming. Although everyone in New Hope warned her not to, she can't help but fall for him.

Meanwhile, John's unwavering faith in the goodness of the Designer begins to make its mark on Thalli's heart. But can Thalli really come to trust in a generous, protective Designer who rules over all things? Would that not be setting herself up for another betrayal?

The time for her to decide is now . . . because the State is closing in.

“McGee once again blends a Christian message within a horrific science fiction plot . . . death, torture, and confusing love triangles.” -Booklist

“McGee blends the determination of faith, the malevolence of those who extol power over decency, and the assertion of individual integrity in a humane glimpse at youthful courage.” -Publisher's Weekly

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

12/02/2013
Following the events of Anomaly, Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John flee the underground State where Scientists breed and control people in an attempt to create a perfect humanity. Finding refuge in New Hope, one of a few settlements that survived worldwide nuclear war 40 years before, the four find tough moral challenges in the town's conflict with predatory neighbor Athens. McGee adeptly balances 17-year-old Thalli's emerging jealousy over Rhen's apparent rivalry for Berk's affections. She also incorporates provocative issues such as how nonviolence can survive in a world of hostility, and how mutually suspicious neighbors can overcome deliberately cultivated hatred and misunderstanding. The counsel of wise mentor John sometimes tilts toward saccharine moralizing, but Thalli's insight that the imperfect beauty of freedom is preferable to static perfection emerges through her experience rather than as a pat sentiment. McGee blends the determination of faith, the malevolence of those who extol power over decency, and the assertion of individual integrity in a humane glimpse at youthful courage. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jenni Burke, D.C. Jacobson & Associates. (Jan.)

School Library Journal

01/01/2014
Gr 8 Up—This second book in the series suffers from multiple problems. Seventeen-year-old Thalli and her teen mates Berk and Rhen have escaped the oppression of the underground State with nonagenarian John. They travel to the settlement of New Hope where they learn that the Scientists who lead the State are responsible for the War that destroyed most of the life on Earth. The closest city, Athens, is ruled by a violent king who raids New Hope to steal the people's crops without regard to their injuries and suffering. Thalli decides that she must travel to Athens to learn more of the Athenians' intentions, buoyed by John's words of the Designer, notably the 23rd Psalm, as well as the phrase "the truth will set you free" from John 8:32. This sole verse drawn from the New Testament is used as a simple injunction against lying rather than an invitation to the Truth as contained in Christ's teachings. Without a strong connection to the Gospels, the Christian message is rather tepid. Thalli's narration is choppy and this, along with her naïveté, gives the impression that she isn't the brightest individual. There are logical flaws as well, such as the fact that the Scientists who defected to Athens specialized in pharmaceuticals but were instrumental in updating electricity and infrastructure technologies. There are many strong heroines with moral fiber in dystopias these days. Readers may prefer one of the better-written alternatives.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids

Kirkus Reviews

2013-12-01
This simplistic dystopia delivers formulaic romance and a large dose of religious faith. In the second installment of the Anomaly Trilogy, naïve musician Thalli and her friends, newly escaped from the evil Scientists and the underground State (Anomaly, 2003), arrive at New Hope, a small agricultural community that survived the Nuclear War 40 years ago. But alas, New Hope finds itself constantly threatened by Athens, a whole city that survived the War largely by developing never-described, constantly mentioned "pharmaceuticals." Thalli goes to Athens to convince evil King Jason not to attack and meets his son, Alex, who seems like a nice guy. Sadly, Alex turns on a dime into a threatening character. Thalli feels certain that she can escape if she relies on the Designer (apparently the future name for God). McGee appears to have two goals here: to write an entertaining dystopian novel and to promote religious faith. She mostly meets her first goal, although frequent sudden storyline reversals, such as Alex's transformation, can cause whiplash. She relies, clearly intentionally, on frequent deus ex machina plot turns to promote the second goal. The roughly third-grade-level prose, dialogue that mostly avoids contractions, avoidance of necessary description and cardboard-cutout characterizations seem to pitch the book toward an expected audience of poor readers. The faithful may enjoy it. (Dystopian romance. 10-14)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176930962
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Series:	Anomaly , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged

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