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The Sixteen: Soul Jumpers Series - Book Two
There are people out there who don't die with their bodies. Their souls live on in the bodies of others. Some good, some bad-they are soul jumpers. Nothing in Iris Brave's world make sense anymore. Her father, Micah, is still alive-his soul survives in the body of a teenage boy. It is up to Iris and a group of soul jumpers called the Sixteen to save Micah. To do so Iris must take on the unscrupulous leaders of the Council. Can she save her father? Will she survive?
- GenresParanormal
206 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2014
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 21, 2014
The Sixteen is the second book in the Soul Jumpers Series by Ali B., and though I'm always hesitant to start a book series out of order, this book definitely stands on its own. It's also suitable for Young Adults and Tweens. At some points I would have liked to have read the first book, but only because of the background of the story, so I could have known more as to what led up to the current events.
Iris is a Soul Jumper, as is her father. Her father's been kidnapped, and it becomes up to Iris to save him along with a few new friends that get caught up in the Council's evil crusade. I won't be giving any spoilers, but I will say that this book had me hooked from the first paragraph.
Ali B. did such a wonderful job building her world and her characters. It was easy to get to know them even without reading the first book, and with so many twists and turns, I literally couldn't put this book down. Her descriptions were very vivid and I could easily visualize the scenes as if I was right there in the story with the characters.
Still thinking about this book days after being finished reading it, I am anxiously awaiting Book 3 to see what happens next, and will be purchasing Book One to get the full scope of the characters. I love the tension she builds in her writing and I never guessed the ending - it was shocking.
All I can say is that if you love YA and Tween reads, this is one series you will definitely want to get your hands on.
Iris is a Soul Jumper, as is her father. Her father's been kidnapped, and it becomes up to Iris to save him along with a few new friends that get caught up in the Council's evil crusade. I won't be giving any spoilers, but I will say that this book had me hooked from the first paragraph.
Ali B. did such a wonderful job building her world and her characters. It was easy to get to know them even without reading the first book, and with so many twists and turns, I literally couldn't put this book down. Her descriptions were very vivid and I could easily visualize the scenes as if I was right there in the story with the characters.
Still thinking about this book days after being finished reading it, I am anxiously awaiting Book 3 to see what happens next, and will be purchasing Book One to get the full scope of the characters. I love the tension she builds in her writing and I never guessed the ending - it was shocking.
All I can say is that if you love YA and Tween reads, this is one series you will definitely want to get your hands on.
October 13, 2014
Excellent! A fine follow-up to "Iris Brave". A non-stop adrenaline rush from beginning to end. I had a few problems with the first book but those can be attributed to author's first-book-syndrome as they have been cleared up in this sequel. Iris is a fine character and one I've grown to care about. She is no longer so impulsive, yet still courageous, making her a much more believable, real character. I love the unique plot and while book one was mainly a set up, "The Sixteen" was action, through and through. We meet a great quirky bunch of supporting characters here and the ending brings a surprise twist. I also like that even though the book ends with rising action as Iris starts out on the next part of her journey, the plot here has a definitive climax and the reader finishes with a sense of satisfaction. A great second book and I'm highly looking forward to continuing this series. Bravo!
September 30, 2014
Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'The Sixteen: Book Two of the Soul Jumpers' by Ali B.
Souls and reincarnation are subjects of controversy and beliefs. Each side of the controversy believes they have the right answer, but does anyone truly know?
In The Sixteen: Book Two of the Soul Jumpers by Ali B., we are taken into the world of those who truly believe in souls and transmutations. When Iris Brave is introduced to a group of soul jumpers she is as skeptical as any young person would be. Having lost her father, she is even more upset to find that this group has knowledge that he is actually still alive, at least his soul is. It is now bound to another body, and there are those who are willing to kill to keep the secrets of this possibility from coming to light.
The Council is the main group and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their secret safe. Even family members are not to know, but there are sixteen among the group who feel differently. Micah, Iris’s dad is the first of the group to make contact. There is a strong belief that family and friends have a need to know when a soul has continued on in another body. Because he is now the leader of the rebels the council has kidnapped him in an effort to reach Iris, the only outsider to know of these changes. Can she help to rescue her dad, and stay out of the clutches of the Council? Can she really believe the stories, and are the sixteen all above reproach, or are there traitors in their midst as well.
Ali B. has given us a fun filled work of fiction, with paranormal scope and mystery. The action and adventure is sure to please, and the characters are warm and inviting. Iris is a sweet character, full of bravado, and just a bit of nerve. She comes to love many of the sixteen yet finds that there are a few that raise her hackles. Something about them rings false.
As you dig in and get involved in the story you begin trying to decipher the red herrings throughout, who is the traitor, is there one, and is soul jumping even possible. The age and abilities of each character Is questionable, as the souls could be of any age, and may not resemble the body they are housed in. It is an amazing array of skillsets and personalities that make this a fun read.
You will find yourself enamored of the characters, whether you love them or hate them––you feel, and that is part of what reading is all about.
If you are looking for that one special read for your young adult, you will find this to be a good one. If either you or your youngster enjoys fantasy and suspense, this will keep them reading. As part of a series it still reads well as a single, and yet if your child is like many who love to read you will find yourself looking for the rest of the series.
Souls and reincarnation are subjects of controversy and beliefs. Each side of the controversy believes they have the right answer, but does anyone truly know?
In The Sixteen: Book Two of the Soul Jumpers by Ali B., we are taken into the world of those who truly believe in souls and transmutations. When Iris Brave is introduced to a group of soul jumpers she is as skeptical as any young person would be. Having lost her father, she is even more upset to find that this group has knowledge that he is actually still alive, at least his soul is. It is now bound to another body, and there are those who are willing to kill to keep the secrets of this possibility from coming to light.
The Council is the main group and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their secret safe. Even family members are not to know, but there are sixteen among the group who feel differently. Micah, Iris’s dad is the first of the group to make contact. There is a strong belief that family and friends have a need to know when a soul has continued on in another body. Because he is now the leader of the rebels the council has kidnapped him in an effort to reach Iris, the only outsider to know of these changes. Can she help to rescue her dad, and stay out of the clutches of the Council? Can she really believe the stories, and are the sixteen all above reproach, or are there traitors in their midst as well.
Ali B. has given us a fun filled work of fiction, with paranormal scope and mystery. The action and adventure is sure to please, and the characters are warm and inviting. Iris is a sweet character, full of bravado, and just a bit of nerve. She comes to love many of the sixteen yet finds that there are a few that raise her hackles. Something about them rings false.
As you dig in and get involved in the story you begin trying to decipher the red herrings throughout, who is the traitor, is there one, and is soul jumping even possible. The age and abilities of each character Is questionable, as the souls could be of any age, and may not resemble the body they are housed in. It is an amazing array of skillsets and personalities that make this a fun read.
You will find yourself enamored of the characters, whether you love them or hate them––you feel, and that is part of what reading is all about.
If you are looking for that one special read for your young adult, you will find this to be a good one. If either you or your youngster enjoys fantasy and suspense, this will keep them reading. As part of a series it still reads well as a single, and yet if your child is like many who love to read you will find yourself looking for the rest of the series.
November 26, 2014
Twelve-year-old Iris Brave has left home and family behind as the Sixteen begins. The novel tells the second part of Ali B.’s Soul Jumpers story, continuing on from a first book where the middle-grader discovered her father’s not dead; his soul has just moved to the body of teenager Kyle. Readers might want to start with book one, but with Iris’s dad a prisoner of the Council, and Iris hiding out among sixteen rebels, the story’s easy to pick up and ready to start at breakneck speed as the Sixteen begins.
A plot is hatched to rescue Iris’s father, the Iris finds herself, like many middle-graders, kept in the dark, never told the whole of any plan. Her tale is given in first person, and Iris’s frustrations and rebellions feel very real; she makes a very convincing 12-year-old, and she asks all the right questions to help readers both follow and catch up, even if they missed book one. School memories include references to classics – Emily Dickinson, Stephen Covey, and more – giving a feel of depth and intelligence to character and tale, and there’s a convincingly thoughtful contemporary feel to it all.
The action’s fast and furious. The character is convincingly middle-grade. The mysteries of soul jumping are nicely portrayed (and nothing nearly so simple as reincarnation). But Lewis, with his “big silly grin,” steals the show for me. He is truly delightful, adding humor and food for thought; I’m eager to see how his tale will progress.
The story ends with one wave of action over and another yet to start. Readers who like series will love it. Readers who record all their episodes off the TV to watch in one go might prefer to wait. But Soul Jumpers has plenty going for it and I’d certainly like to read more, even if some of the details do stretch my all-too-grown-up credulity.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy when I hosted the author on my blog, and I offer my honest review.
A plot is hatched to rescue Iris’s father, the Iris finds herself, like many middle-graders, kept in the dark, never told the whole of any plan. Her tale is given in first person, and Iris’s frustrations and rebellions feel very real; she makes a very convincing 12-year-old, and she asks all the right questions to help readers both follow and catch up, even if they missed book one. School memories include references to classics – Emily Dickinson, Stephen Covey, and more – giving a feel of depth and intelligence to character and tale, and there’s a convincingly thoughtful contemporary feel to it all.
The action’s fast and furious. The character is convincingly middle-grade. The mysteries of soul jumping are nicely portrayed (and nothing nearly so simple as reincarnation). But Lewis, with his “big silly grin,” steals the show for me. He is truly delightful, adding humor and food for thought; I’m eager to see how his tale will progress.
The story ends with one wave of action over and another yet to start. Readers who like series will love it. Readers who record all their episodes off the TV to watch in one go might prefer to wait. But Soul Jumpers has plenty going for it and I’d certainly like to read more, even if some of the details do stretch my all-too-grown-up credulity.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy when I hosted the author on my blog, and I offer my honest review.
September 25, 2014
Wow. I absolutely love this series! The Sixteen is the second book in the Soul Jumpers Series. I highly recommend reading them in order. The Sixteen definitely picks up the pace and the action. We learn more of what Soul Jumpers are and discover something surprising about Iris. We meet new characters as the fight between good and evil continues. The author continues to stress the love and loyalty of family and expands family to those we choose as well as those we are born to. The Soul Jumpers are a family that Iris is now a part of. I love how the author has the soul age differ from the physical age and was very happy to read why that is. It was something I thought a lot about after reading Iris Brave. Be prepared...this book ends with another cliffhanger. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
The Soul Jumpers Series is written for middle graders but I am greatly enjoying it. I believe this is a wonderful series to read with your children, either aloud or just everybody on their own with family book discussions. Actually, since the author is a teacher, I think it would be awesome to see a discussion guide come out for the series. This author really is in tune with what children enjoy reading. I think a discussion guide would be a bonus for busy parents as well as something librarians could use for a middle grade book club. I would recommend this book/series to all who enjoy sci-fi fantasy.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my honest thoughts after reading it.
The Soul Jumpers Series is written for middle graders but I am greatly enjoying it. I believe this is a wonderful series to read with your children, either aloud or just everybody on their own with family book discussions. Actually, since the author is a teacher, I think it would be awesome to see a discussion guide come out for the series. This author really is in tune with what children enjoy reading. I think a discussion guide would be a bonus for busy parents as well as something librarians could use for a middle grade book club. I would recommend this book/series to all who enjoy sci-fi fantasy.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my honest thoughts after reading it.
October 13, 2014
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, which is unfortunate in so far that I started this series with book 2. Although there is some background information, without reading the first book in the series, it takes a while to understand what is going on. But I do recommend starting this series because it is worth it!
The biggest problem I had getting into this story was understanding the entire concept of soul jumpers (which would have been explained in book 1). The concept is a bit complex but a great basis for tension, adventure, and mystery. As soon as I got a handle on who the characters were and what their mission is, I was caught up in the pages and read the book in one sitting. With only 195 pages, it was easy to do--a perfect length for the intended audience.
The plot is packed with unexpected twists and turns, and the characters as well as the dialogue are well done. I had no trouble fevering for Iris as her situation grew more and more hopeless. The scenes are vivid and tense. This book does not talk down to the readers (which I love) but pulls them into a dangerous adventure that even adults would enjoy. Here, I have to warn parents that there are a few aggressive scenes, nothing overly graphic, but a few characters do get shot.
My only complaint is that the books in the series are not stand-alones. They end with cliff-hangers and need to be read from book 1 on. But I do recommend this to kids who love adventure. They'll be reading these books underneath their blankets with a flashlight until the wee-hours of morning.
September 19, 2014
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
The Sixteen is the second book in a science fiction series for young readers called Soul Jumpers. It is essential to read the first book in the series, Iris Brave, before attempting to read this one. I had a hard time soul jumping into the concept and identifying with the characters.
Iris Brave is a soul jumper as is her father. She takes on the mission of finding her father, who is being held captive. She is slightly uncertain who her father is, exactly, because he is a soul jumper, and Iris is finding out that she is a soul jumper, too. What is a soul jumper, you ask? Well, luckily for the reader, an explanation is given early in The Sixteen.
Here's what we know:
a soul jumper is a person whose soul leaves its body and enters the body of a dead person.
a soul jumps because it still has something it needs to do on earth.
The soul jumper's family doesn't know they're still alive.
The Council makes all the decisions for the soul jumpers.
The council is evil.
There is a group called the Sixteen who rebelled against the Council.
The Sixteen want to tell the world about soul jumpers.
The Sixteen is an appealing science fiction book for middle grade readers—my guess would be fifth graders. I received it from the publicist. The author is a teacher and has a good sense of what children like to read. It is self-published and available online at Amazon.
The Sixteen is the second book in a science fiction series for young readers called Soul Jumpers. It is essential to read the first book in the series, Iris Brave, before attempting to read this one. I had a hard time soul jumping into the concept and identifying with the characters.
Iris Brave is a soul jumper as is her father. She takes on the mission of finding her father, who is being held captive. She is slightly uncertain who her father is, exactly, because he is a soul jumper, and Iris is finding out that she is a soul jumper, too. What is a soul jumper, you ask? Well, luckily for the reader, an explanation is given early in The Sixteen.
Here's what we know:
a soul jumper is a person whose soul leaves its body and enters the body of a dead person.
a soul jumps because it still has something it needs to do on earth.
The soul jumper's family doesn't know they're still alive.
The Council makes all the decisions for the soul jumpers.
The council is evil.
There is a group called the Sixteen who rebelled against the Council.
The Sixteen want to tell the world about soul jumpers.
The Sixteen is an appealing science fiction book for middle grade readers—my guess would be fifth graders. I received it from the publicist. The author is a teacher and has a good sense of what children like to read. It is self-published and available online at Amazon.
September 30, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Soul Jumpers Series, and so far my favorite of the two that are out. While I have commented before on how short these books are, overall I have enjoyed them. Iris is a fairly likable character, and The Sixteen does answer a lot of questions from the first book. If you're not a cliffhanger person, I would recommend maybe waiting until a few of these are out so you don't have to sit in suspense for so long, but I think there is a lot of potential here.
In this story, we get to see a bit more of the inner workings of the Sixteen and the Council. Plot twists didn't feel too predictable, which is always nice, and Iris felt her age, yet did seem to develop a little as the book went on. I liked some of the new characters, like Lewis, and found the story easy to read in one sitting. While these books are aimed at a younger market, I think it was a nice series to pick up if you're older but just looking for some lighter reading material.
While I can't comment much more on the story without getting into spoiler territory, I will probably keep this series on my radar. It's unique, engaging, and entertaining. The only real flaw is the books are all so short! Oh well, can't win them all.
This is the second book in the Soul Jumpers Series, and so far my favorite of the two that are out. While I have commented before on how short these books are, overall I have enjoyed them. Iris is a fairly likable character, and The Sixteen does answer a lot of questions from the first book. If you're not a cliffhanger person, I would recommend maybe waiting until a few of these are out so you don't have to sit in suspense for so long, but I think there is a lot of potential here.
In this story, we get to see a bit more of the inner workings of the Sixteen and the Council. Plot twists didn't feel too predictable, which is always nice, and Iris felt her age, yet did seem to develop a little as the book went on. I liked some of the new characters, like Lewis, and found the story easy to read in one sitting. While these books are aimed at a younger market, I think it was a nice series to pick up if you're older but just looking for some lighter reading material.
While I can't comment much more on the story without getting into spoiler territory, I will probably keep this series on my radar. It's unique, engaging, and entertaining. The only real flaw is the books are all so short! Oh well, can't win them all.
October 21, 2014
This young adult novel is full of the paranormal and thrilling suspense. Once you enter into the story you find yourself, along with the main character, Iris Brave, trying to figure out who are the courageous heroes and who are the evil villains.
Iris is a young, brave, skeptical girl whose father Micah is a soul jumper. What is that you may ask? A soul jumper is someone who does not die with their bodies but lives on in the bodies of others. Iris makes the startling discovery that her dad is still alive, living in a teen age boy's body, and that he has been kidnapped by the villainous Council. He needs her help to rescue him. She, along with sixteen other soul jumpers, carefully create a plan to do just that. Iris is about to have her reality turned upside down as she agrees to partake in an adventure that literally will change her life forever. Along the way as this plan is implemented, she must discern who is on her side and who are her enemies. She is in constant danger and the cruelty and abuse that she suffers by the hands of The Council only makes her more determined to defeat and eradicate them.
Young adults readers will be enthralled and totally enjoy the fantasy and mystery that the author has woven throughout this novel from the very beginning to the very end. I, myself, as an adult (I think I am) enjoyed the book a lot.
Iris is a young, brave, skeptical girl whose father Micah is a soul jumper. What is that you may ask? A soul jumper is someone who does not die with their bodies but lives on in the bodies of others. Iris makes the startling discovery that her dad is still alive, living in a teen age boy's body, and that he has been kidnapped by the villainous Council. He needs her help to rescue him. She, along with sixteen other soul jumpers, carefully create a plan to do just that. Iris is about to have her reality turned upside down as she agrees to partake in an adventure that literally will change her life forever. Along the way as this plan is implemented, she must discern who is on her side and who are her enemies. She is in constant danger and the cruelty and abuse that she suffers by the hands of The Council only makes her more determined to defeat and eradicate them.
Young adults readers will be enthralled and totally enjoy the fantasy and mystery that the author has woven throughout this novel from the very beginning to the very end. I, myself, as an adult (I think I am) enjoyed the book a lot.
November 23, 2014
This young adult supernatural fantasy is an interesting read and challenges our sense of identity.
A girl found in the first book that her father had not died after all but his soul jumped into the body of another person when his body died. He has been keeping watch over her but was unable to communicate until recently.
Now she is horribly confused and upset, finding that a little girl has the soul of a grandmother, a young man is hosting another soul and so on. The story has become a conspiracy theory tale as a powerful group called the Council which controls these soul jumpers wants to crush any rebellion and stop anyone sharing the secret of their existence. Sixteen self-confessed rebels are meeting in secret, but bounty hunters will be sent out after them, especially if it's true that one of them is a spy.
The detail is occasionally good and there is plenty of running, travelling and hiding. I'm unhappy that so many current YA books are dark, depressing and distrusting, showing only a bad side of people even when they are not set in a dystopian world. That's probably why I'm not giving more stars. If you read the first book you will want to continue the adventure.
A girl found in the first book that her father had not died after all but his soul jumped into the body of another person when his body died. He has been keeping watch over her but was unable to communicate until recently.
Now she is horribly confused and upset, finding that a little girl has the soul of a grandmother, a young man is hosting another soul and so on. The story has become a conspiracy theory tale as a powerful group called the Council which controls these soul jumpers wants to crush any rebellion and stop anyone sharing the secret of their existence. Sixteen self-confessed rebels are meeting in secret, but bounty hunters will be sent out after them, especially if it's true that one of them is a spy.
The detail is occasionally good and there is plenty of running, travelling and hiding. I'm unhappy that so many current YA books are dark, depressing and distrusting, showing only a bad side of people even when they are not set in a dystopian world. That's probably why I'm not giving more stars. If you read the first book you will want to continue the adventure.
October 12, 2014
The Sixteen by Ali B. is the second book in The Soul Jumper Series. It is for ages 8-12 but I think that it can be read by older children and adults. I don't usually read middle grade books so I was not sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised though as the story moved right along at a good pace and kept me interested. At times though I felt that Iris Brave seemed older than what she really was or rather she was very mature for her age.
Iris is trying to find her father Micah, who is a soul jumper. While she is taken prisoner by The Sixteen, a group of soul jumpers, she does find her father where she is held. Now she needs to figure out how to rescue him and get them both out of their prison. Can she succeed?
The story was told in the first person, Iris Brave, and a very imaginative speculation of people jumping into other people's bodys to prolong their life. I don't know as I would care to do that though, especially for instance if you were to jump into the body of a very young person or I suppose the very old. Still all in all an interesting concept. Iris is a very brave girl and she undertakes a journey that could be the end of all she holds dear.
Iris is trying to find her father Micah, who is a soul jumper. While she is taken prisoner by The Sixteen, a group of soul jumpers, she does find her father where she is held. Now she needs to figure out how to rescue him and get them both out of their prison. Can she succeed?
The story was told in the first person, Iris Brave, and a very imaginative speculation of people jumping into other people's bodys to prolong their life. I don't know as I would care to do that though, especially for instance if you were to jump into the body of a very young person or I suppose the very old. Still all in all an interesting concept. Iris is a very brave girl and she undertakes a journey that could be the end of all she holds dear.
November 9, 2014
The first book in this series really captured my attention, especially with the really interesting way it ended, so I was really happy to get to read the second book. It was a fast read, with all kinds of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Iris is a really sweet character and I enjoyed the insight into her world and perspective on things. I do think that this works better for older readers--particularly with some happenings toward the end of the book--and I often found myself imagining Iris as at least a teen, as opposed to a tween, but it wasn't enough to distract from the book. The author's created a really unique and interesting take on things, particularly with the Council and their methods, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Iris's story!
August 25, 2014
A fast-moving tale aimed at middle school and preteen readers, THE SIXTEEN is the second entry in author Ali B.'s SOUL JUMPERS series, with plenty of action, metaphysics, and philosophy to keep adults turning pages too and anticipating the next installment. Poor Iris Brave: her father dies, he's held culpable, and her mother goes broke trying to pay the damages. But: Iris' s dad Micah Isn't really deceased, and he was not at fault: he was framed. He isn't "dead" because he's a soul jumper, and he took over an adolescent boy's body. And much to her surprise, Iris discovers she is a soul jumper too.
October 30, 2014
See my full review @ bookbevy.wordpress.com.
February 8, 2017
Great second book to the series!! I can't wait for the next book!
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