The Shimmers in the Night

The Dissenters #2

by Lydia Millet

Cara's mother is still missing. When her brother Jax texts her from "smart kid's boot camp" in Boston, Cara and her two best friends go to the rescue. But the camp is a front for Cara's mother's organization who are fighting against a force who wants to make the planet over in its own image, which will leave no space for anything else, animal, insect, or human.


A Junior Library Guild Selection.


Lydia Millet is the author of Love in Infant Monkeys and Ghost Lights. She works at an endangered-species protection group. The Shimmers in the Night is the second book in the Dissenters series.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 17, 2012

About the author

Lydia Millet has written twelve works of fiction. She has won awards from PEN Center USA and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and her books have been longlisted for the National Book Award, shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and named as New York Times Notable Books. Her story collection Love in Infant Monkeys was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. She lives outside Tucson, Arizona.

Reviews

[Aryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, considering when I read this, I didn't realize it was book 2 in a series, it was pretty good. Also, Goodreads giveaways sent me this novel. I really wish I'd realized it was book 2! I might not have entered the giveaway!

[Claire :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I'm being completely honest, this book felt a little bit like a waste of time. Again, the concept was super interesting, but somehow the execution seemed lacking something. It could be because these books are meant for younger teenagers, but it didn't keep my attention like I thought it should, knowing it was a sci-fi/fantasy book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cara's mother is missing and her little brother is at "smart kid boot camp" and he texts Cara to rescue him. She and her friends set off to find him. The boot camp is a front for Cara's mother's organization that is fighting against the elementals. Cara's brother is kidnapped and put into a pod. Only their mother can help him. All in all, a strange story.

[Lydia Kass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cara's mother is still missing, but she is able to sort of communicate with her through her nadar ring that was given to her by her mother. This novel's element is Fire. There are Burners and sleepers and a windleaf tunnel - book that is a portal.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will the Elementals take over the world? Have they already? Do those committed to saving Earth and our environment have a chance? It's hard to tell. The Shimmers in the Night, centers on Jax and Cara as the new school year begins. Jax has gone off to a institute for brilliant, unusual kids. He is going to be working through some challenges and test with other children like him to find out what his full capabilities are. He may stay there. He may come home depending on what they discover. Just as Hayley has put up with Cara's unusual habits and tastes, Cara is trying to do the same for her. That's what friends are about after all. They join the swim team, which means weekend meets, travel and overnight stays. Hayley can go as long as her mom chaperones and that means she and Cara will have some very close supervision. (Hayley's mom doesn't trust anyone very much.) Another friend, Jaye is on the team along with Max's girlfriend, Zee - she different but okay in Cara's book. She nice to her and doesn't treat her like a little kid and that's cool.

Once the swim team get set in the hotel and learn the order of the races, Cara gets a text from Jax begging her to come and get him. He says things in the institute are not right. Everything is strange and he is uncomfortable and afraid. Cara enlists the help of her friends to cover for her and she goes off to find Jax and bring him back. Right from the start everything goes wrong. Fire is the element called to destroy Earth this time and Cara is confronted with Burners who create intense heat and fire. They consume souls and hollow out their victims in their attempt to altered Earth's environment so their live will be supported, but all other life will be consumed. Through visions, shape-shifting and the incredible power of friendship Cara, Hayley, and Jaye are able to find Cara's mom for a time and foil another part of plan to limit life on Earth. Cara remains convinced that a world that is open to and healthy for all life is worth fighting for.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cara’s brother, Jax, is at “smart kid” camp and her mother has gone missing. Cara is unsettled about the camp for gifted children so when she receives an emergency texted message from her brother she collects her 2 best friends (Hayley and Jaye) and they head off to rescue Jax. It does seem that Cara’s feelings were correct and the camp is using the children for their own purposes and is also a front for her mother’s organization.

The Shimmers in the Night is an enjoyable, young, children’s story that can even be enjoyed by adults. It does seem that Lydia Millet has an anti-development message and its effects on the environment, but she goes about sharing her views in a such an imaginative and articulate way it did make this a very good story. The Shimmers int he Night was definitely written with the younger reader in mind.


This copy of The Shimmers in the Night was given to me by Goodreads First Reads and Small Beer Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good summer/adventure read. It was aimed more at teens but I won it and it turned out to be a good book to read on my vacation.

[Marisa]

Omg I read the 1st one but I couldn't find the second book ANYWHERE!!!

[Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

intriguing, albeit somewhat preachy and 'already decided'