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Bounders #5
Fractured Futures
Jasper and his friends must find a way to make peace between Earth and the Youli aliens before the Youli destroy the human race in this finale of the Bounders series, which Shannon Messenger calls “richly detailed, highly imaginative.”
Jasper doesn’t know how his life got so messed up. Was it when Mira decided to leave him for the Youli aliens? Was it discovering his former pod now divided in a war between Earth Force and the Resistance? Or was it when the Youli gave Earth an ultimatum: Join the Intragalactic Council or be destroyed?
Now the Youli have invited Jasper’s pod to visit their world. For Jasper, this means a chance to get his friends back on the same team. It also means seeing Mira again, and hopefully convincing her to come home.
But once on the Youli planet, Jasper realizes there’s something off about Mira. She’s hiding a secret, and the more he pushes her, the more she avoids him. Meanwhile, the Intragalactic Summit approaches, a meeting that will decide the fate of Earth. But Jasper has a nagging feeling that Earth Force will sabotage the Summit—and then suffer the Youli’s wrath. And how can Jasper convince Earth to unite if he can’t even unite his friends?
With humanity’s future on the brink of destruction, Jasper and his friends must learn that they’re stronger together if they have any shot at saving Earth.
Jasper doesn’t know how his life got so messed up. Was it when Mira decided to leave him for the Youli aliens? Was it discovering his former pod now divided in a war between Earth Force and the Resistance? Or was it when the Youli gave Earth an ultimatum: Join the Intragalactic Council or be destroyed?
Now the Youli have invited Jasper’s pod to visit their world. For Jasper, this means a chance to get his friends back on the same team. It also means seeing Mira again, and hopefully convincing her to come home.
But once on the Youli planet, Jasper realizes there’s something off about Mira. She’s hiding a secret, and the more he pushes her, the more she avoids him. Meanwhile, the Intragalactic Summit approaches, a meeting that will decide the fate of Earth. But Jasper has a nagging feeling that Earth Force will sabotage the Summit—and then suffer the Youli’s wrath. And how can Jasper convince Earth to unite if he can’t even unite his friends?
With humanity’s future on the brink of destruction, Jasper and his friends must learn that they’re stronger together if they have any shot at saving Earth.
Unknown Binding
First published December 17, 2019
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128 people want to read
About the author
Monica Tesler
8 books85 followersMonica Tesler lives south of Boston with her family. She can often be found hiking or biking with her boys, writing on the commuter boat, or trying to catch a quiet moment for meditation. She is the author of the BOUNDERS series, a middle grade science fiction adventure series from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 23, 2020
Such a fantastic series! Ender's Game was a favorite of mine in Junior High, so when someone recommended this series, I dove in and am so glad I did. I tore through these. Middle grade science fiction at its finest. Lots of mystery and plot twists. Plenty of middle grade drama with friend dynamics and first crushes. What I love most, though, is that this series does what all great science fiction does- shows the dangers of where our society might be headed unless we learn to make better choices. It is bittersweet to finish such a great series, but I am excited to have something to recommend to students looking to try out science fiction. I would hand this series to students in fourth grade through middle school.
December 31, 2019
So, overall, I enjoyed the series. It was a well paced sci-fi adventure with some interesting hooks thrown in, and some cool twists along the way. The last two books didn't quite live up to the beginning of the series for me though.
I'm just going to jump right into it - one of the problems that I had with the last book, and one that was a bigger problem in this book - was the concept of time travel and lost time. Both can be effective narrative tools, but they have to be used right. Stories involving time travel can be really complex and hard to pull off - though it also depends on the kind of story being told. For me, the big problem with the final book is that the twist about Mira coming from the future to warn the rest of the pod of what she and the future Jasper lived feels unearned. It lacks impact, it comes too late, and it resolves too quickly afterwards. The fact that Jasper was there but we didn't get to experience it ourselves is the biggest reason why. Mira is the one that ends up traveling back to prevent the timeline where Earth is destroyed from occurring. Therefore, Jasper never gets to experience any of it. And as a result, Mira is now a traveler and has to live apart from others unless she is needed again (more on why I didn't like that later.)
For me, to have this be impactful, it would've been better off experiencing it first hand with Jasper. Imagine having a book end on the cliffhangar of Earth being destroyed by the Youli - we'd get to see firsthand what they're up against and what they want to prevent. Jasper would see and experience it firsthand, and it'd be real for him, and more real for the readers. It would give the story a greater sense of urgency.
Instead, we only get glimpses of this future via Mira, and it's brief and they accept it immediately and then the situation is largely resolved.
And that's kind of a running theme just beyond the time travel shenanigans. Denver shoots Eames towards the end of the story, but that's just kind of brushed aside - he's sad, but more or less seems to be doing alright, despite just how messed up he should probably be, given that he's now years in the future and had to shoot the woman he loved. Lucy goes on to keep being a TV personality, even though I was kinda hoping she'd evolve a bit beyond the on air personality that felt weird even in the book before this one. I was also hoping for a bit more from Cole - who I thought was actually going to refuse to come along but was needed because reasons, and was convinced by the visions of the future. Was that really all it took for him to turn against what he felt so strongly in? What he had been pushing away his friends for?
And then there's decisions involving the overall themes of the story that just left a bad taste in my mouth. Like Ridders taking over and saying they were just following orders. Because that's always such a great excuse. Or how the Youli are supposedly this super advanced race and want peace with Earth but because Eames attacks them they decide to kill billions of people as a result - which means that the kids with the help of Mira the time traveler instead kill Eames and remove that potential. And the fact that Jasper himself points out numerous times that it's important they get this peace because otherwise the Youli will annihilate them outright, insinuating that the only reason they want peace is because otherwise that will happen. So it's not that they learned that warfare was bad or that colonization is maybe not something that should be strived for, but because the guys with the bigger guns will blow them up if they don't do those things. That's not exactly personal growth - it's capitulating to the bigger bully. That's kind of the big one that threw me off - was that really the intended message there?
And then there's the simple fact that it ends with Mira kissing Jasper, even though apparently she'll have to go away for an unknown amount of time, and that I guess she won't age anymore because of what happened. So there's no resolution there, despite literally everyone telling Jasper to tell her how he feels. And while I was hoping they'd get together, this just feels too unresolved. I'm guessing it means that they can't ever be together - he'll go on aging and she won't and she'll have to remain in recluse most of the time. Even if she breaks that rule, there's that whole "he ages, she won't" thing that would make a continued relationship really really gross.
So, for a conclusion to the ongoing story, this just didn't really do it for me. Things were resolved too quickly. Characters were brushed under the rug. Relationships just sort of fell apart, sometimes off screen (what the heck happened with Marco and Addy? That whole thing at the end just came out of nowhere.) The time travel twist lacked resonance because it was too little, too late. The conclusion wasn't satisfying. Big moments like Eames being shot were kind of done in the span of a couple of pages.
Like I said - I liked the series overall. Monica Tesler is a talented author and brought the characters to life. But I just didn't care for how the series ended overall.
I'm just going to jump right into it - one of the problems that I had with the last book, and one that was a bigger problem in this book - was the concept of time travel and lost time. Both can be effective narrative tools, but they have to be used right. Stories involving time travel can be really complex and hard to pull off - though it also depends on the kind of story being told. For me, the big problem with the final book is that the twist about Mira coming from the future to warn the rest of the pod of what she and the future Jasper lived feels unearned. It lacks impact, it comes too late, and it resolves too quickly afterwards. The fact that Jasper was there but we didn't get to experience it ourselves is the biggest reason why. Mira is the one that ends up traveling back to prevent the timeline where Earth is destroyed from occurring. Therefore, Jasper never gets to experience any of it. And as a result, Mira is now a traveler and has to live apart from others unless she is needed again (more on why I didn't like that later.)
For me, to have this be impactful, it would've been better off experiencing it first hand with Jasper. Imagine having a book end on the cliffhangar of Earth being destroyed by the Youli - we'd get to see firsthand what they're up against and what they want to prevent. Jasper would see and experience it firsthand, and it'd be real for him, and more real for the readers. It would give the story a greater sense of urgency.
Instead, we only get glimpses of this future via Mira, and it's brief and they accept it immediately and then the situation is largely resolved.
And that's kind of a running theme just beyond the time travel shenanigans. Denver shoots Eames towards the end of the story, but that's just kind of brushed aside - he's sad, but more or less seems to be doing alright, despite just how messed up he should probably be, given that he's now years in the future and had to shoot the woman he loved. Lucy goes on to keep being a TV personality, even though I was kinda hoping she'd evolve a bit beyond the on air personality that felt weird even in the book before this one. I was also hoping for a bit more from Cole - who I thought was actually going to refuse to come along but was needed because reasons, and was convinced by the visions of the future. Was that really all it took for him to turn against what he felt so strongly in? What he had been pushing away his friends for?
And then there's decisions involving the overall themes of the story that just left a bad taste in my mouth. Like Ridders taking over and saying they were just following orders. Because that's always such a great excuse. Or how the Youli are supposedly this super advanced race and want peace with Earth but because Eames attacks them they decide to kill billions of people as a result - which means that the kids with the help of Mira the time traveler instead kill Eames and remove that potential. And the fact that Jasper himself points out numerous times that it's important they get this peace because otherwise the Youli will annihilate them outright, insinuating that the only reason they want peace is because otherwise that will happen. So it's not that they learned that warfare was bad or that colonization is maybe not something that should be strived for, but because the guys with the bigger guns will blow them up if they don't do those things. That's not exactly personal growth - it's capitulating to the bigger bully. That's kind of the big one that threw me off - was that really the intended message there?
And then there's the simple fact that it ends with Mira kissing Jasper, even though apparently she'll have to go away for an unknown amount of time, and that I guess she won't age anymore because of what happened. So there's no resolution there, despite literally everyone telling Jasper to tell her how he feels. And while I was hoping they'd get together, this just feels too unresolved. I'm guessing it means that they can't ever be together - he'll go on aging and she won't and she'll have to remain in recluse most of the time. Even if she breaks that rule, there's that whole "he ages, she won't" thing that would make a continued relationship really really gross.
So, for a conclusion to the ongoing story, this just didn't really do it for me. Things were resolved too quickly. Characters were brushed under the rug. Relationships just sort of fell apart, sometimes off screen (what the heck happened with Marco and Addy? That whole thing at the end just came out of nowhere.) The time travel twist lacked resonance because it was too little, too late. The conclusion wasn't satisfying. Big moments like Eames being shot were kind of done in the span of a couple of pages.
Like I said - I liked the series overall. Monica Tesler is a talented author and brought the characters to life. But I just didn't care for how the series ended overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2020
This is the fifth and final book in the series and I am very sad to be done with it. But so excited to continue to get this series into the hands of readers. They have five amazing books to look forward to reading.
This final book was an amazing conclusion to the series. It really brought everything together and is a great reminder that science fiction can be amazing to read. It's so exciting and suspenseful.
If you have not started this series, do yourself a favor and find it today!
This final book was an amazing conclusion to the series. It really brought everything together and is a great reminder that science fiction can be amazing to read. It's so exciting and suspenseful.
If you have not started this series, do yourself a favor and find it today!
June 8, 2020
Wrapped up the story well, but still lets you figure out what comes next. Sad to see the series go, but glad it ended well.
February 28, 2020
This series is an amazing standout for JF/YA. I can't recommend it enough. It's the closest thing to a Scifi Harry Potter you'll ever find. The characters are grounded, real, and delightful. I wish I could re-read these for the first time again. I'll have to settle for going back to them again. I sincerely hope they come out in a set at some point. Genuinely a classic of scifi for younger readers.
December 25, 2021
And finally, the Bounders Jasper, Marco, Lucy, Cole, and Jasper's sister Addy all get to go to Youli with Mira and learn how to really use their Bounder abilities and the gloves to defeat the admiral and join the Intragalactic Council.
Basically, Mira's been fighting for a new timeline wtih the Youli Travelers, since Jasper's few hours in the time rift, and there's only a very slim chance anything will turn out differently. And it all rests on Jasper's shoulders.
I honestly can't say a word more. If I do, it'll ruin it. But it involves time travel, which normally makes my head hurt, but this I felt was done exceptionally well.
Read, enjoy this wonderful conclusion to the Bounders' tale. It's a great series and will keep upper middle grade readers entranced for a couple of days, at least. Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Basically, Mira's been fighting for a new timeline wtih the Youli Travelers, since Jasper's few hours in the time rift, and there's only a very slim chance anything will turn out differently. And it all rests on Jasper's shoulders.
I honestly can't say a word more. If I do, it'll ruin it. But it involves time travel, which normally makes my head hurt, but this I felt was done exceptionally well.
Read, enjoy this wonderful conclusion to the Bounders' tale. It's a great series and will keep upper middle grade readers entranced for a couple of days, at least. Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
September 8, 2023
The end of the Bounder’s series was heart breaking for me. It was a interesting because of how kids from all around the world were only born with a certain purpose, just actually change the world. I also liked how little kids went against a government entity and change the world’s destiny. Jack and Mira (two characters in the story) have incredible mental powers letting them contact with each other. The Bounders had to deal with 2 opposing planets at war with different perspectives about the future earth should go. I felt that the kids having so much things to worry about, also helped increase the lore of the story and made it more interesting. I actually read the whole series in only 2 days because I could not put down the book mainly because of its interesting story. I feel that the purpose of this story was to combine sci if plus stress
November 5, 2020
I need more!
Nicely done. Nice completion of character arcs and conflicts. Nice twists! Only one of wich was slightly foreshadowed, so they were not really expected to be as important as they were.
Be sure not to read these out of order.
From this series I get the obvious hints of familiar themes from "Enders Game", "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel", and the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books.
There was enough to keep me hooked, and once i got them all on hand, I read them all in a week.
Im sure to recommend them to my daughter and her friends.
I think they're likely to be enjoyed by anyone into scifi, from Tween-agers on up.
Nicely done. Nice completion of character arcs and conflicts. Nice twists! Only one of wich was slightly foreshadowed, so they were not really expected to be as important as they were.
Be sure not to read these out of order.
From this series I get the obvious hints of familiar themes from "Enders Game", "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel", and the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books.
There was enough to keep me hooked, and once i got them all on hand, I read them all in a week.
Im sure to recommend them to my daughter and her friends.
I think they're likely to be enjoyed by anyone into scifi, from Tween-agers on up.
September 25, 2020
This book was really good with all the twists and turn in it.
November 29, 2021
The first and second were amazing! The third was okay. The fourth was horrible. This one is pretty good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2024
It was a good book could understand most of it eve. Though I have not read the rest of the series.
October 25, 2025
This felt a bit tired, to be honest, trying to wrap up all the story threads to bring the 5 book series to a close.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews