Scorpion Shards

The Star Shards Chronicles #1

by Neal Shusterman

Six teenagers are horrified to discover that an evil force has taken control of them. A force that feeds on them hungrily and finds its only outlet in the blind desire to destroy. The force must be destroyed. But how? What follows is the ultimate battle for supremacy between the forces of good and evil.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fiction, Paranormal, Teen, Urban Fantasy

190 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.

In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.

As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.

Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.

Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”

Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.

Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.

Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."

And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.

Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!

Reviews

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not a perfect novel, this had some really interesting elements! As you guys know, I love Neal's stories for the life messages that they provide the reader and this one is no exception. At first I wasn't quite sure what it was going for, but it turned out very well-done once I realized what was happening. The six children are so diverse, it was awesome. The struggles that they are going through is an extreme case for each, but everyone could relate to each character in different ways, I think. Very excited to continue.

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

J’ai eu beaucoup de mal à rentrer dans l’histoire... j’ai trouvé que c’était très spécial, autant au niveau de l’intrigue que des personnages et je n’ai pas accroché. En revanche, c’est original comme principe !

[D.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 stars**

Scorpion Shards is a compelling, fast paced story. It chronicles the journey of 6 teens that suffer through the ultimate teenage nightmares, multiplied by a thousand. The whole book deals with the question…do you control your inner monster or let it wreak havoc in the world?

This is not the usual Young Adult book about a beautiful, lonely girl who catches the attention of the bad boy. Dillon, Deanna, Winston, Lourdes, Michael and Tori suffer from anomalies that either transform their bodies in grotesque ways or compel them to hurt others: morbid obesity, gruesome pustules, uncontrollable lust, reverse growth, crippling fear, and furious destruction. They are outcasts, caught in the middle of Teenage Hell and like every adolescent in the history of humankind, they are in pain, feeling isolated and misunderstood.They are living horrible lives when the glare of a supernova changes everything. They must find each other if they hope for salvation.

This book made me think of adolescence in a way that I’ve never thought before. It made me realize how this is one of the most important turning points in a person’s life. Do you let your anger destroy you (and others) or do you channel your feelings productively? I think most people manage to do the latter but for a portion of the population, whatever happens in these years will leave indelible marks that will follow them for a lifetime.

In a sense, this isn’t a easy book to read because the Shards seem like normal teens with big weaknesses. At times, I felt transported back to my own teenage years and I remembered what some of these things felt like. As the book progressed and I realized that they also held great powers, I couldn’t help but think that they were the villains of the story. Lots of people suffer in this book because of the Shards’ actions and it’s not pretty. At the end, there is some reckoning but it carries a great price.

"He tried to deny all the things he had done – tried to deny that he had chosen this path, but even among shades of gray, the truth was there in black and white; it had been his choice to destroy."

To be sure, Scorpion Shards has some weaknesses. The whole supernova thing was a bit convoluted and there’s a scene with Tarot cards that came completely out of left field. The constant changes in POV – necessary because there are 6 main characters – could have been handled a bit smoother.

This book was originally released in 1995 with a cover so bad, it was scary. This May, the whole series will be re-released, with a very needed makeover. I’m not sure if this will appeal to the usual YA readers but it’s a very thought-provoking read. If I had teenage children, I would want them to read it because it’s a great warning of can happen when we give in to our desire for destruction.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing a review copy of this book!

Check out this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Neal Shusterman authors a trilogy, he never goes halfway. It wasn't until the 2000s that he catapulted to fame as one of his era's most revered YA authors with Unwind and the Skinjacker trilogy, but in the 1990s Neal Shusterman was already producing masterful literary works, as book one of the Star Shards Chronicles, Scorpion Shards, would attest. Life is an endless loop of remorse for fifteen-year-old Dillon Cole, who lives in San Francisco, California. A charismatic redhead, he is a genius at recognizing patterns in the world around him, a talent that comes at devastating cost to those who get in his way. His "wrecking-hunger" is a fire from within that drives him to take advantage of his prodigious recognition of patterns to cause chaos and violence. Dillon resists hurting people, and the serial property damage he inflicts is enough to suppress the hunger...temporarily. The cycle of creating havoc and then feeling crippled by guilt gets worse as Dillon's stunts elevate in intensity, until one day an unforeseen fluctuation in the pattern puts fifteen-year-old Deanna Chang in the path of a rampaging motor vehicle. Has Dillon killed her? No, Deanna survived...and when Dillon sneaks into her hospital room he's amazed to find a soul like his, only the polar opposite. Irrational, debilitating fear is the core aspect of Deanna's life, but somehow Dillon's acts of violence ease those feelings...temporarily. The two teens aren't sure what twist of fate brought them together, but there's no denying the connection between their souls. They need each other.

In Alabama, fifteen-year-old Winston Pell is scared of the future. His family is impoverished, his mother's legs are paralyzed, and he is growing backward, looking less like an adolescent these days than a young kid. What hope is there for a teen who gets smaller and weaker every day, and who physically paralyzes everything he touches? The question gains perspective when Tory Smythe, a girl Winston's age riddled by ghastly, pus-filled sores all over her face, shows up at his house in the middle of the night. Winston and Tory get in a fight, but soon see the spiritual link between them. Finding each other was no coincidence, but what do they do now? Together can they restore order to the mess that is their lives?

Meanwhile, in Long Island, New York, fifteen-year-old Lourdes Hidalgo-Ruiz has her own problem. She's morbidly obese, but unnaturally so; no amount of self-control or dieting makes a dent in the readout on her bathroom scale. She gets fatter by the day, and when she touches people it's as though they cave in on themselves, like she's stealing their life force. Lourdes can handle the jeers and insults from other kids, but what about the health problems, and the loneliness? The storm comes to a head one day when Lourdes lashes out at the school principal, but in the aftermath of the event, Lourdes isn't the only one in trouble. Michael Lipranski, a boy from her class, gets caught in a makeout session with one of the teachers. Michael is pale, stringy, and oily, not a handsome boy, but ever since puberty he has been irresistible to any girl—or woman—who crosses his path. They're drawn to him against their will, held captive by a dark, hidden energy. For his part, Michael is consumed by lust; it gnaws at him every moment, preventing him from doing anything but trying to feed the beast, but that never works for long. As Lourdes and Michael head toward catastrophe, they realize they are an antidote to each other's problems. Michael feels no attraction to Lourdes—a blessed relief after all these years—and Lourdes doesn't feel self-conscious about her weight, because she isn't attracted to him either.

"There are whole universes of life hiding in the dark places where no one dares to explore. They thrive in the hidden expanses we take for granted...between the very cells of our body...between the walls we call our world."

—Scorpion Shards, P. 116

All the pieces of the mystery don't come together for Lourdes and Michael until a stargazing class science trip with their teacher, Mr. Knapp. The star Mentarsus-H has gone supernova; in fact, it blew up almost sixteen years ago, but only now is the light from the distant star visible on earth. The truth hits Lourdes and Michael as a revelation: they are the offspring of Metatarsus-H, brought to life when that massive ball of fusion first blew to smithereens. Now, witnessing the faraway supernova triggers a shared memory among Lourdes, Michael, Dillon, Deanna, Winston, and Tory. Instantly they understand there are six of them in total, and they badly need each other. The "Others", as they call themselves, obey their instinct and travel toward each other across the U.S., rejecting all other responsibilities in favor of reuniting with their cosmic siblings. The Others must come together if they are to completely discover who they are.

But what if not all of them are interested in the reunion? Dillon refuses to follow the pull toward The Others, and convinces Deanna to do the same. He has fought his wrecking-hunger for years, agonizing over every act of chaos he causes, but no more. With Deanna at his side, reassuring him he's not a bad person for indulging his appetite for destruction, Dillon cuts his own course across the country, finding creative ways to unleash his personal demon on people he meets. His pattern-oriented attacks are stunning in their severity and brutality; in essence, his talent allows him to see the future, to steer people toward trouble they would have avoided if not for him. The casual suggestion of simple, seemingly innocent actions destroys lives, ruptures families, and snaps the minds of the weak. Dillon loves it, and his acts of mayhem sop up Deanna's previously unmanageable fear like a paper towel wiping up a wet mess. She fears the cost of enabling Dillon as his malevolence grows bigger and more damaging, tearing the lives of strangers to shreds, but what can she do? Dillon is stronger than The Others, a more forceful leader, and Deanna needs him. She never wants to go back to her old life of perpetual terror.

When Winston, Tory, Lourdes, and Michael reunite and realize the remaining two Others aren't planning to join the party, the scope of the coming tragedy dawns on them. The absent Others are the most powerful among them, capable of destroying the world. Tracking them down won't be easy, though: whatever parasitic influence is causing Winston's "growing down", Tory's grotesque acne, Lourdes's constant weight gain, and Michael's insane lust is getting worse in the aftermath of the supernova. The four teens are wasting away, dying like the star that birthed them; soon they'll be gone. As personal demons consume Winston, Tory, Lourdes, and Michael, and the body count rises at Dillon's hand, The Others reach a crisis point. Will their legacy be a blight upon earth, or the saving grace for a human race that desperately needs a group of heroes?

Do the most talented people suffer the worst demons? It often seems that way. Extraordinary ability is coupled with a parasite of temperament that eats away at the person, a curse that won't quit as it burrows in and makes a home where it initially isn't wanted. Resistance to the parasite lessens as it becomes more a part of you; what if killing it kills you too, or leaves you an unfeeling husk with no interest in life? This is Dillon's fear throughout Scorpion Shards. "What would I be without the wrecking-hunger? he thought. The hunger answered like a rumbling from his stomach: he would be nothing. Sometimes he felt as if the hunger were a living thing; a weed that had coiled around his soul and he couldn't tell where it ended and where he began." Later, Michael has similar thoughts in an encounter with his own inner beast. "You can't imagine the pleasure I could give you, he felt it say. All the Joys you could imagine...if only you stop resisting...if only you feed me... Michael could feel the intensity of its passion mingling with his own." His demon is begging to be invited back in, like a former lover with plenty of excitement left to offer. "Invite you in? thought Michael. Is that how it had happened in the first place? Did it have to be invited in?" Parasites of immoral behavior promise more pleasure, engagement, enlightenment, and excitement than we could possibly generate otherwise, but one look at the lives of Dillon, Michael, and the rest of The Others exposes the lie. Their desires aren't a pathway to freedom, but enslavement; these teens yearn to control their own lives, to do good instead of evil, but they're powerless as long as they are in the grip of monsters that rule them from within. Without exception, our demons cause misery, not joy, and we must break the illusion in order to be free. A life of healthy relationships and ultimate purpose is waiting for us if we choose it.

Judging by its electric narrative and philosophical profundity, Scorpion Shards is a clear forerunner to Neal Shusterman's accomplishments a decade and more later as he continued refining his talent to become arguably one of the finest YA novelists ever. Scorpion Shards is evergreen; read it in the 1990s, 2020s, or a hundred or five hundred years later and it will still be relevant to any human on an intensely personal level. I rate this book three and a half stars and seriously considered rounding to four; it leads beautifully into the next volume of the trilogy, and I can hardly wait to get into it. From my view right here, between books one and two, the Star Shards Chronicles has masterpiece written all over it.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Let me start by saying I absolutely love Neal Shusterman and his books. This book, however, was less than stellar for me. The concept was interesting, the characters were fun and all…my problem was with the writing. It just felt more elementary, and the themes were very obvious to me. I guess I expect more from Neal because I started off reading Unwind and the Scythe arc first, so now I’m reading his older stuff where he didn’t have as much experience in writing. I’d still recommend the book though—I’m gonna read the rest of the series!!

[Choco Con Churros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cortísimo. Casi parece un relato largo.
Tiene cosas que me recuerdan al mejor Shusterman... sin llegar a serlo. Una especie de proto-Shusterman donde casi se le puede ver, pero le faltan aún las huellas digitales o la definición de los rasgos.
No sé por qué creí que la cosa iría de superpoderes. Y así es, aunque la cosa no se manifiesta hasta el final y el grueso del libro es más bien de anti-poderes... y de lo más deprimente. La diferencia entre mis expectativas y lo que me encontré tal vez me haga ser algo injusta con él. GL (Neal Shusterman)

[Strawberry Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pour tout vous dire, je l'ai abandonné. Je suis passée complètement à côté.. Les personnages ne sont pas attachants et l'histoire est vraiment trop chelou pour moi 😅

[Holly L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kind of disappointed me, knowing what Neal Shusterman's other books are like. To be fair, this is one of his earlier books, and his writing has definitely improved in his more recent books. I expected to be addicted and in love with the plot and the characters. The characters seemed pretty one-dimensional. Though the plot had potential to be interesting, it was kind of gross and strange, and what was supposed to be the climax didn't have enough build-up or excitement. First-time Shusterman readers would probably either enjoy this or be disgusted by it, but Everlost and Unwind gave me higher expectations.

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd

Short and Simple Review
Neal Shusterman is one of my favorite authors, so I decided to pick up this backlist book. This book has a unique concept, featuring teens with extraordinary abilities, that give them unusual and debilitating conditions. This comes from a star that went supernova at their time of birth. Many of the sci-fi elements in the book were intriguing and well-thought. But, the events in this book happened too quickly. This book is roughly 225 pages, and it felt like not enough time was given to develop everything. For instance, there’s a major scene where the characters are sucked into a lost world, but not much is described in this world. I thought the world sounded really interesting and wanted to know more (maybe it returns in further books, or maybe it serves as the eventual inspiration for Everlost). The writing was great. Even though the pacing is fast, we do really get to know the characters because Shusterman does a really great job of getting into characters' heads. The writing isn’t like his newer work, but that was to be expected. I don’t know if I will continue the series. Like I said, so much happens in this book, and it felt like so much story was crammed in, that I really don’t know what the other books will focus on. Maybe if I see the other books at a book sale I'll pick them up, but otherwise, I might just pass on continuing the series.

[Julie ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si j'étais dubitative sur la première moitié (je n'arrivais pas à aimer les personnages que je trouvais pour certains énervant et vraiment malsains), j'ai davantage apprécié la seconde moitié ! Les personnages sont déconstruits pour être reconstruits. Ils ont des doutes, des peurs, des envies et c'est ce qui les rend humains (mais pas nécessairement attachants). On sent que c'est un livre qui a été écrit avant aujourd'hui et notre monde hyper connecté, donc il faut en être conscient lorsqu'on lit ce roman. L'intrigue est pas mal, suffisante pour que j'ai envie de lire le tome 2.
Note : 3,5

[Camille · Rating 1 out of 5]

Très déçue.
Alors que "La faucheuse" était une vraie surprise, ce roman est plutôt insipide.

L'histoire est cousue de fils blancs, les personnages sont peut-être les seuls points intéressants et encore je les trouve assez plats.
Dommage.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un SF sans prétentions mais sans vraiment d'accroches....


Ici nous commençons avec Dillion, qui ne sais pas vraiment ce qu'il se passe avec son corps.
En effet, il a un appétit qui lui demande de faire beaucoup de dégâts autour de lui ce qui le
pousse par exemple à faire détourner un bus qui par un évènement circonstanciel va faire
percuter Deanna par une voiture. Deanna qui a peur de la mort et qui, sans le vouloir ni
comprendre, transmet ses peurs aux personnes qui l'entourent.
Quand les deux se rencontrent, ils comprennent qu'ils ont besoin l'un de l'autre pour avancer.
Aux quatre coins des États-Unis, 4 autres personnes ont une vision lors de l'éclatement d'une
supernova. Ils comprennent qu'ils doivent se retrouver ensemble pour se sentir bien.
Oui sauf que l'appétit destructeur de Dillion les amène à douter de leur retrouvailles.
Mais que se passe t'il vraiment dans leurs corps pour qu'ils ressentent autant.
Et surtout qui a pris le contrôle de Dillion et surtout arriveront ils à temps.


J'avoue que le fait que ce roman soit court à joué en sa faveur car sinon je me serai vite
lassée. Heureusement ici il n'y a pas longueur, au contraire tout va très vite.
D'un chapitre à un autre, on se retrouve à l'autre bout des États-Unis.
Pourtant le résumé me tentait beaucoup avec son concept plutôt bien ficelé, enfin au premier
abord. Certes la plume de l'auteur est assez fluide et facile à lire mais le récit reste avant
tout un YA.
Au début tout est assez brouillon, et surtout les "pouvoirs" de nos héros sont assez tirés
par les cheveux. En effet, entre les pustules de l'un , l'appétit sexuel d'un autre, un qui
au lieu de grandir rapetisse et l'autre qui grossit à vue d'œil je dois dire que tout cela
n'attire pas du tout.
Je ne me suis pas du tout attachée aux personnages, je me suis même mise à en détester
certains tellement rien n'est crédible. Ensuite j'aurai aimé qu'on creuse un peu du côté de
la Supernova, c'est un sujet qui me paraît intéressant malheureusement on commence à en parler
et tout redescend comme un soufflet.
Ensuite la fin est complètement hallucinante et je me demande ce que l'auteur peut apporter
de plus dans le second tome.
C'était mon premier Shusterman et je dois dire que je suis un peu refroidie, pourtant je ne
vois que de bons avis pour ces autres romans, du coup je me tâte un peu à le découvrir sous
un autre jour.


En bref, vous l'aurez compris je n'ai pas été emballée par ma lecture qui se laisse tout de
même lire assez facilement.

[VibrationLitteraire · Rating 2 out of 5]

☆ Dans ce roman, nous découvrons 6 adolescents, 3 filles, 3 garçons, qui se retrouvent étrangement liés par le destin d'une étoile... ⁠
⁠
♡ J'aime énormément Neal Shusterman, même si je n'ai pas encore découvert La faucheuse. J'ai apprécié ses autres one-shot et j'avais hâte de découvrir cette histoire !⁠
Malheureusement, ça ne l'a pas vraiment fait avec moi. Au départ, j'ai trouvé qu'on allait vraiment très, très vite dans l'établissement des relations et la présentation des personnages. On a 6 adolescents à intégrer et même s'ils sont bien différents les uns des autres, il était tout de même compliqué de s'y attacher à cause de la vitesse de description. Chacun a une tare particulière et j'ai trouvé que certains propos étaient un peu limite. Le coup de la nana très grosse "prête à exploser" dont tout le monde se moque m'a un peu agacé car on tombe dans le "quand ça va mieux ça se voit car elle maigrit". Bref. Certains messages sont intéressants, comme toujours avec Neal Shusterman, on retrouve une certaine finesse dans les propos. Cependant, j'ai trouvé l'histoire est rapide et globalement creuse. Je ne me suis pas attachée aux personnages présentés et l'intrigue ne m'a pas tenue en haleine. On sent vraiment que ce roman est paru pour la première fois en 1995 en VO... Neal Shusterman s'est considérablement amélioré ces dernières années sur bien des aspects et je n'aurais surement pas du lire ce roman en sachant qu'il était sorti il y a 25 ans !⁠
⁠
☆ En bref, je n'ai pas vraiment apprécié ma lecture. Je ne l'ai pas abandonnée pour autant, mais la fin ne m'a pas surprise. Même quelque chose censé être choquant et touchant ne m'a pas du tout atteint car on passe beaucoup trop vite dessus.⁠
Je ne lirai plus de romans trop anciens de cet auteur et ne lirai d'ailleurs pas la suite de cette saga. Par contre, je lirai La Faucheuse et son dernier roman sorti cette année en VO Game changer.

[Solace Winter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm glad this isn't the first book I read by Shusterman, I might not have given him another try. This book epitomizes by biggest issue with Shusterman novels, and it's the male protagonist. He's always the reluctant hero, which wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't just a RELUCANT hero but the hero who spits in the face of following the fate that's fallen on him, but only following through for this love of the female protagonist.

The concept is brilliant, but I disliked Dillon so viscerally I don't know if I'll continue the series.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is brilliant, although fictional, it can apply to your life... a feeling that you invited in a moment of weakness can end up consuming your very own body and eventually your soul.

It was good but thought it could have been executed better. Still, it was worth the read. One thing I'm wondering is: How is this a trilogy? The whole story seems to have wrapped up in this book, so I'm curious about the next books.

[Lulai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce premier tome est pas mal, assez jeunesse mais il permet de bien introduire le monde et potentiel pour la suite.

[Laurence Theriault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bien écrit. Une histoire qui nous fais comprendre qu'il y a du bon dans chacun de nous.

[Corbin · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors, but I was really unimpressed with this one. Not much really happens and what little does happen is never truly explained. Nothing like the other books where everything builds up to the grand reveal.

[Ryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Shusterman's ideas. I feel like his writing could have been cleaned up a bit (i.e. to be more focused, entertaining, and involving much deeper characterizations of Dillon, Tori, Deanna, Winston, Lourdes, and Michael), but I'm more than willing to excuse that for the subject matter. The low rating makes me sad though, because this could have been a spectacular novel if it had just delved a bit deeper.

This was a worse than what I remembered of Unwind, but it was still pretty fascinating. I was a bit conflicted with the way the teens all met up and set off on their Rising Action; I was at once pleased it was brief and didn't focus on unnecessary angst and tripe, and frustrated it all seemed to fall into place so perfectly.

"Oh, you've had this weird power too? Jolly stroke of luck, that. I say, do you feel a pull East/West? Oh, good. Stars you say? How absolutely corking!"

I mean, it wasn't quite as insipid as I'm making it out to be, but the general mood hinted that the teens were ready to go and that leaving homes and families and heading off alone wasn't that hard or unreasonable. The romance, especially, seemed of the true-blue YA breed: fast and yet *unfathomably* deep and precious. But thankfully it wasn't the focus of the novel, nor was the 'lead' heroine a vapid remora who couldn't exist apart from her man.

The saving grace was in (what I saw as) the theological implications of the book - specifically Christian. I enjoyed the idea that the 'powers' were almost vices, that 'sin' is a parasite, and that it comes in different-but-equally-overwhelming forms that become stronger with prolonged familiarity. I was also impressed by Shusterman's development of their 'powers' (sins) and the physical toll it took on each of the teens. The way they fed off one another was an interesting point to be noted as well. My favourite part was Dillon's adherence to a code of guilt and punishment that I'd thought he'd long lost - to suffer the weight was indeed a hard thing. The end wasn't a cliffhanger, precisely, but I am waiting to see what the next step in each of their journeys is, and I count that a victory.

(Mostly because I've read the second book as well and have the third in my To Read pile. I feel like I've finally got one over my library system which usually makes me wait until I've forgotten forget the first book in any given series before condescending to grant me the second. Muaha.)

[Donte McNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scorpion Shards begins with Dillon, our teenaged ball of destruction and then transitions to Deanna, our walking, talking bag of fears. We see where they are in their lives. We see how they're struggling with the powers they have, how these powers affect not only them but those around them as well. Early on, you can see that these kids have suffered due to the powers that they hold, and the picture Shusterman paints is a stark one. That's exactly why the meeting between Dillon and Deanna is such a great one. It's a dynamic moment between two haunted characters, bogged down by oppressive and somewhat debilitating powers.

This is followed by the introduction of Tory and Winston. They suffer from a contagious and painful skin condition and regressive growth condition and paralysis powers respectively. Next we meet Lourdes, an obese girl who has been the subject of horrible ridicule for as long as she could remember, coming from both peer and adult alike. Then there's Michael, a guy who's presence causes others to lose their sense of self-control.

Once we get to meet everyone, we get to see their journeys, inexplicably drawn to one another. I found myself forgetting that these kids were teenagers seeing all the things they had to go through, and my heart broke on more than occasion for them throughout the book. You would think was a teen Shusterman himself with how easily he was able to put himself in the mindset of a teenager struggling with the powers and decisions these characters struggle with. He crafted a rich and immersive world with real and memorable characters, whose actions have lasting consequences.

You want to root for these young people to overcome their fears and shortcomings, just as much as you want them to beat the "big bad" of the story, but even the "big bad" has you feeling sympathetic towards them. There really is no clear cut bad guy, at least in my eyes, in this book and those are my favorite types of stories. I don't know how I haven't heard of this author before! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

[A. Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this book. I've been working on that since I started it...

The concept is interesting and fresh (although a little heavy on metaphor, especially with Dillon and Deanana), so the story had real potential to grab me and not let go. I expected that but I didn't really get it.

There was something about this book that felt... thick to me. Like I was having trouble getting into it, even as I was liking characters and cheering for them, I could have set it down at any point and been okay with that. I guess I never really got sucked in.

There were interesting things done with characters that I didn't expect and the final twists were wonderful but... I think part of me just wants to be able to cheer for the first character that I met (Dillon) but that's taken away when he turns out to be the big bad guy (so to speak) of the book! I might be mildly bummed about that.

Like I said, I'm obviously unsure how to feel about this one. It wasn't a bad book and it was well-written. Maybe further books in the series would be a better fit for me, I'm just not sure I'm going to be reading them.

So, pick it up, read the back and if it intrigues you, give it a shot. It might just be me.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

JULY 2014:
BOOKTUBEATHON - DAY 7 - BOOK 7
**3.5 STARS**
I loved this!!! However I felt like this book could have been executed a lot better, this is why I rated it 4 stars. This may be because it is one of Neal's earlier books and I was expecting it to be as good as Unwind, one of my favourite series, which is one of his later pieces.
I loved the concept and the supernatural powers, they were superb! I also loved the characters, Neal always creates the best characters!
Overall I loved this book but wished the plot was more captivating, but I CANNOT WAIT for the next book in the trilogy, as I hear they only get better!:)

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't rated a book 5 stars in a long time! This one was just great! Action-packed with a lot of twists and turns. This one reminded me a lot of his other series', Everlost and Unwind.
Once again his writing style and description was spectacular. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of this series!
My favourite character was Tory because she's determined and always tells the truth.
One thing that surprised me about this book was that Deanna actually left Dillon when she said she was going to. I thought she'd be too attracted to him to be able to let go, but she did, which I loved.
I recommend this book to everyone!

[Rose]

Whoo-hoo! Received this from Edelweiss as well, and I think it's all three books of the Star Shards Chronicles. I'm glad I have 60 days for this because it's over 1000 pages - I'll have to prioritize it over some of my other reads depending on time. I'll be writing individual reviews of each book on my blog and here on GR though.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.50
It's not that I hated this book, just more of I didn't feel compelled to keep reading it once I started it. I did finish it though but damn was skimming a thing for me and this book. I also don't see how this is a trilogy, it really read like a stand alone.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this fucking book!! I just couldn't put it down. I loved it.

[lauras_garden_of_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wieder ein toller Shusterman - ich liebe seine Geschichten einfach!

[Neil Franz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

   It has been many years since I last read Scorpion Shards. I remember reading it for the first time, most likely checked out from the library, and loving it. Then I set out to find myself a copy of it with that same cover I knew from my first read. I found it, and read it again. Then it sat on my shelf for 10+ years at least, probably closer to over 15, before picking it up again. After all, Neal Shusterman himself was doing a book signing in the area, and what better time to start re-reading it than while waiting in line to see him in person after the Q&A session he did?
   I jumped right in, and it was so very much like traveling in time. I remembered some small-big details, and had forgotten some big-small details, until reaching them again. And when I did, my memory sprang forth with the carefully crafted visual from my reads all those years ago. The story held up very well from then to now, with only a few references to date it (not including technology, for obvious reasons).
   It also surprised me - I'll just touch on a couple ways here. First, how young adult leaning this is - this was published in the mid-90s, well before the young adult genre solidified into its own entity (I think), and with me reading it as a middle grade reader. It's accessible to middle graders in language, though topic skews a little higher, to high school age (notably: Michael's affliction; some of the dark/violent visuals). Second, it also features at least two characters with an on-page relationship with God, or a god-fearing religion, where the religion is not portrayed as evil or bad. Dillon in particular is obvious, as he goes to confession after each disaster he causes to ask absolution. Winston also comes across as having faith, which is probably tied to his Deep South upbringing, but a faith nonetheless (I think he even named having gone to Baptist church until his dad died and his mom became paralyzed?). Lourdes also has some hints of faith, though more mentioned in passing. At any rate, it was refreshing to see not only a few characters with active faiths, but that their faiths were not a source of hate, or evil, or corruption as in too many of the books I've been reading these past couple of years from the sci-fi persuasion (The Stars My Destination, Altered Carbon). Rather, in Dillon's case especially, they were a source of healing, or at least comfort and familiarity.
   I enjoyed meeting all these characters again - Dillon, Deanna, Winston, Tory, Michael, Lourdes - and getting to know them all over. They have more than a rough time of things, but they also have enough courage and persistence to keep pushing forward. They learn to trust and rely on each other, and find strength not only in each other, but in themselves. And this time, I fully plan on reading the rest of the trilogy. I can't even remember if I've read Thief of Souls, though I know at one point I owned it (even if I can't find my copy of the book anymore, and I've searched all the likely places and then some). I know for sure I've never read Shattered Sky, but this time, I will.
   I met Neal Shusterman 11/14/2022, and he personalized this book. During the Q&A, I asked him if he could go back to any of the series he has done to revisit the world and write more in it, which would it be? I held up my 1996 edition of Scorpion Shards, saying how much I love it, and sure enough - he wants to visit the Scorpion Shards universe the most! And seems closest to revisiting this over other series, even the Scythe series (which was the highlighted book at the bookstore for this event). When talking with him while he signed my books, he mentioned how he hasn't seen one of this edition in a long while, and how even he only has one copy of it himself! He was also suprised by my older edition of Dissidents (that will be another read, another time).

Typos:
...sulfer spring... - page 188 - should be sulfur spring

...said the voice. I can give you completion. - page 238 - missing opening quotation marks

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a weird book, and honestly it may be a tad offputting to some people.

This is a story about six broken kids fighting their personal demons and realizing they are all part of something greater.

Their adventure will take you from one side of the country to another as six misfits with superhuman afflictions come together and begin to realize who they are and what they need to do.

I can tell this one of the author's earlier works - while the writing is still good, it certainly lacks in some areas. Especially in the first half, you have these fifteen year olds saying über-profound things every other page. The first half of the book is honestly the biggest fault here. It's chaotic and it makes close to no sense, almost to the point where I figured I should drop it and move on.

But... I didn't. I kept reading. The chaotic mess of characters and awkward pacing became a struggle against literal, actual demons. Destruction, Fear, Pestilence, Lust, Gluttony, and for being old. Not even kidding there.

These kids realize they have their own demons and they fight the hell out of them in their own unique ways that show how each character has grown and matured, and they end up turning their demon-fed afflictions into gifts and blessings that can help and restore others in supernatural and amazing ways.

This is a story about six antagonist that become
protagonists. This is is a story about six outcasts that war against their inner demons - both literally and figuratively - and become reborn.

There are twists and turns around every page-turn, and though about 200 pages seems a tab bit little to grow connected to six characters, this book does a pretty fine job of it. I went from wanting to just drop it to not being able to put it down really, really fast.

And while it may have been difficult to understand at first, I'll definitely be reading the sequels.