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Mirage (Above World #2)

by Jenn Reese (Goodreads Author)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 46 ratings · 10 reviews

A thrilling sequel from an exciting new voice in middle-grade sci-fi tracks two ocean-born children braving the dangers of the Above World.

The desert is no place for ocean-dwelling Kampii like Aluna and Hoku, especially now that Aluna has secretly started growing her tail. But the maniacal Karl Strand is out to conquer the Above World, and the horselike Equians are next on...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published March 12th 2013 by Candlewick Press

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Feb 04, 2013 Greg Eekhout rated it 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: Jenn Reese is a friend and colleague. I read this book pre-publication.

It's rare that a novel successfully balances the epic and the intimate, but MIRAGE nails it. As with ABOVE WORLD, the first book in this middle-grade series, MIRAGE treats us to a large-scale adventure, with a primitive, fallen world teeming with imaginative techno-creatures inspired by mythology: mermaids, centaurs, harpies, and more. The pace is fast, the battles are big, and the stakes are large.

But MIRAGE ne...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Pam Torres rated it 5 of 5 stars

After the Harry Potter series, I wondered who could build another world with such detail and then there was The Hunger Games. Each time I thought, "How could anyone create a world as believable, expansive or as unique. Last year, I read another original world building novel, Above World and I again, believed that this could be the new series to love. Now after reading Mirage, my hope has been satisfied that another series has picked up the gauntlet. What I love about Mirage is Reese's use of sci...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Dan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Middle books of trilogies have a tarnished reputation, but Mirage really shines: it's both a strong continuation to the arc that began in Above World and an engaging episode in itself.

In the first book, Jenn Reese introduced us to the distant descendants of humans who changed their bodies to survive in all niches of an overcrowded world. (Spoilers for Above World:)(view spoiler)...more Middle books of trilogies have a tarnished reputation, but Mirage really shines: it's both a strong continuation to the arc that began in Above World and an engaging episode in itself.

In the first book, Jenn Reese introduced us to the distant descendants of humans who changed their bodies to survive in all niches of an overcrowded world. (Spoilers for Above World:)(view spoiler)

In this second act of the series, Aluna, Hoku, Calli, and Dash have set out into the desert to warn Dash's centaur-like Equian relations about Strand, only to find that Strand's agent has beaten them there and wants them dead. In order to survive, they must navigate both the hostile environment of the desert and the intricacies of tradition and honor among the people who live there. It's an immersive read, full of action and invention. In the way that Above World is in part about breaking out of the sheltered innocence of childhood, Mirage evokes adolescent learning about friendship, trust, and responsibility.

Reese writes a world that can be appreciated at any age. Mirage is listed at a reading level of 10 and up -- and my friends in that age group who've read Above World can't wait to get the sequel! The writing and plot are all very natural and cleanly done, but nothing really disturbed my expectations as a genre-savvy adult. What does keep me thinking about Reese's world, though, is how her world holds a twisted mirror to our own. Our sympathies from the first book are very clearly aligned with the Tek-created peoples and against Upgraders, and I've had an enjoyable time thinking about how Reese both creates and complicates echoes between this sympathy and ideas of racial purity. In Mirage, it was a pleasure to read the characters gaining some complication in their view of the world as well.
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Feb 07, 2013 Ny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-release

Check out more reviews at http://msbookqueen.com

Received as an ARC
This is an exciting second novel in this series, that continues to weave a fresh dystopian story. Aluna and her friends are back, still trying to save the world from Karl Strand and his clones. I admired Aluna's strength in this novel, despite hiding the fact that she is growing a tail from her friends. Dash is still as intriguing as ever, and we get to learn so much more about his past and exactly what happened to cause his exile...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Brandy Painter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, middle-grade, favorites, galleys

Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

Sequels are scary things. This is why I approached reading Mirage by Jenn Reese with equal parts excitement and trepidation. I LOVED Above World (my thoughts) so much. I wanted to love this one. I needed to love it because I haven't loved many books yet this year. It fulfilled all of that yearning plus some.

Aluna, Hoku, Dash, and Calli-they all have pieces of my heart. These are some truly wonderful characters and Reese took them and grew them...more Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

Sequels are scary things. This is why I approached reading Mirage by Jenn Reese with equal parts excitement and trepidation. I LOVED Above World (my thoughts) so much. I wanted to love this one. I needed to love it because I haven't loved many books yet this year. It fulfilled all of that yearning plus some.

Aluna, Hoku, Dash, and Calli-they all have pieces of my heart. These are some truly wonderful characters and Reese took them and grew them in this second volume. Aluna learned so much from her first journey and it is wonderful to see her apply those lessons in this book. She proceeds with more caution and listens more carefully. She still makes some mistakes, but I love that her character has not stagnated and is moving with the story. We learn about Dash and his past in this book and what I discovered only made me love him more. His nobility, honor, and loyalty are great attributes and his charming ways only add to that. It was interesting to watch Calli-still torn between what she knows she must become and what she wants to do. She's so caring and diplomatic, and yet there are times when I'm not as sure of her as I am of the others. Not unsure of her loyalty, but what she'll choose to do with it. It keeps her from being too perfect. And Hoku. GAH! His quiet heroism in this book catapulted him past Dash as my favorite I think. I love how he refuses to back down from his ideals and tries to figure out ways to make them work in the world he lives in. It also has me very afraid for his continued safety. I always say I love it when authors aren't afraid to hurt even their main characters and Reese certainly isn't. It doesn't stop me from not wanting her to.

The friendship these four share is my favorite element of this trilogy. They met and began it in the first book. This book sees it challenged and grow in amazing ways. It is clear too that they are all learning from each other and becoming better people because of each other. There are scenes that actually had me tearing up-and that is not an easy thing to make me do. One particular scene between Dash and Aluna had me actually shed a tear. I love how Reese uses their friendship and interactions to reveal more of their characters too.

In addition to our four intrepid heroes there are a host of new and amazing characters added here. I loved Tal, Rollin, and Nathif especially.

The world building continues to be impressive. In this volume the setting switches to the desert. Here two different types of people dwell-Dash's Equians and the Serpenti (half snake people-and let me say that whole concept is just awesome by itself). The history of these groups is fraught and rich with detail and these were wonderfully incorporated into the fast moving plot. While Karl Strand and his evil plans shadow this book, the story here is less about confronting a nemesis than it is about learning to grow and change. The story focuses on the desert peoples and the workings of their traditions and politics. There is again a lot of food for thought here on honoring tradition and history while not clinging to it to your own detriment. This fits well with the themes of hope, unity, and strength in community that continue into this story from the first. The way Reese is able to do all of this in a plot that never once drags or even slows down is impressive. I also appreciate how she knows how to end a book. Yes, there is more and they are not done with their struggles, but this book ends with a sense of completion. I still really want the next volume while at the same time don't have cliffhanger rage.

Mirage gave me an adrenaline rush and book hangover like I haven't had in quite some time. I love books that can do that to me and am eagerly awaiting the third and final installment of the trilogy.

I received this most joyfully and gratefully from Candlewick via NetGalley. Mirage is available for purchase today, March 12. (I have an 8 year old eagerly awaiting our copy's arrival. She is quite annoyed I already got to read it.)

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Mar 12, 2013 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is my very favorite MG series right now, and MIRAGE (Book 2) is even better than Book 1 - which is saying a LOT! The emotional stakes are raised, things are getting harder and harder for co-heroes Aluna and Hoku (for one thing, Aluna is trapped in a desert as she grows her Kampii mermaid tail!), and oh, is the world-building amazing! There is such an incredible sense of wonder to this book, and especially by the end, there's such a feeling of real, mythic grandeur. This is adventure on a ge...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Benji Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished this book and I have three international students who just finished Above World fighting over it. It should tell you how good this series is that this books doesn't have an Accelerated Reader test yet, but they don't care! They are fighting tooth and nail with each other for AR points, and they won't get any credit for reading this one right now, but they want in anyways.

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May 21, 2013 Corben rated it 5 of 5 stars

Also AMAZING!

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Apr 28, 2013 Brandee Terry rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a surprisingly good second book in the series.

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May 02, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another great adventure!

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About Jenn Reese

I write science fiction and fantasy adventure stories for readers of all ages. ABOVE WORLD is the first in my middle grade series from Candlewick. The second book, MIRAGE, is out in March 2013. My first novel, JADE TIGER, is a kung fu action adventure romance for older teens and adults.

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Mirage (Above World #2)

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