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B.E.S.T. World #2
Under Pressure: Book 2 – A High-Stakes Underwater Adventure About Rescue and Friendship for Kids (Ages 8-12)
In the second book of this inclusive near-future adventure trilogy, the kids from box #242 take a deep dive into a secret underwater world in hopes of finding their missing best friend and saving another from a life-altering bionic augmentation. Told through the alternating perspectives of Leo (they/them) and Jayla (she/her), the boxmates from the B.E.S.T. Academy are lost at sea and their best friend, Grayson Bix, is missing. Their hoverpod is busted, their stomachs are empty, and their hopes are crushed. When a mysterious vessel approaches, Ace, Leo, and Jayla are certain they'll be carted back to the Tower of Power, with their punishments for escaping awaiting. But a The crew is rescued and introduced to a vibrant and thriving underwater world that is off the grid and out of Bixonics's eye...and one step closer to finding Grayson. From the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the heights of the stratosphere, hijinks, adventure, and emotional challenges ensue as the gritty kids meet a whole new cast of characters, weigh out the costs of life-changing bionic enhancements, and blow the top off of an earth-shattering secret that has global implications. In book two of this action-packed near-future adventure, Cory McCarthy crafts an incredible world with high-stakes storytelling, magnetic characters, and thematic undercurrents that spotlight the complexities of family and friendship, self-empowerment, and the magnitude of truth.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
2 people are currently reading
1615 people want to read
About the author
Cory McCarthy
19 books375 followersCORY (previously Cori)
…earned degrees in poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. They have authored four acclaimed YA novels, with a middle grade series, young adult contemporary, and nonfiction picture book forthcoming. Cory coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with their spouse A.R. Capetta.
…earned degrees in poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. They have authored four acclaimed YA novels, with a middle grade series, young adult contemporary, and nonfiction picture book forthcoming. Cory coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with their spouse A.R. Capetta.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 6, 2023
At ToP anything is possible for these young cadets. Well almost anything. If you loved Ace Takes Flight, you will not be disappointed with Under Pressure. Many of my questions from book 1 were answered, while leaving me with plenty more for the trilogy conclusion.
January 2, 2023
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Grayson, Leo, Jayla and Ace all meet at school in the B.E.S.T. program in Ace Takes Flight. There's even more intrigue now! Grayson wakes up with a new body aug (body augmentation-- the augmentations are widespread but somewhat contentious technology) but he's at the bottom of the ocean. The other three are adrift in the sea with their hoverpod inoperable. Jayla is picked up by her family, who still want to control all of her actions, and Leo and Ace are picked up by Stern and Rosa. They are taken to Atlantis, which appears to be a stronghold of the Resistance. They think that Jayla's family has her hidden somewhere and try to find her, which they eventually do. Leo, who is in a wheelchair, is interested in the Sherlock mind aug, but there is a mystery surrounding it tied to Bixonics and to Grayson Bix. The three head back to the Tower of Power (their school) and need to chose an aug track. They are told that the Sherlock aug has been discontinued because no onw qualified for it, but Coach Vaughn tells Leo they (Leo uses they/them pronouns. All students at the school have their pronouns listed and use them regularly.)can try for the aug if he can teach Ace to fly. Eventually, the friends are tracked about ready for augs, but can they save Bixonics and humanity? This is a purported trilogy, so we'll have to wait for book three.
This reminded me a bit of the Voyagers series that starts with Project Alpha and is written by a variety of middle grade authors, with a dash of the undersea adventure and Atlantis connections of Riordan's Daughter of the Deep. There's a threat from an amorphous source that the kids must figure out and hunt down, difficulties they must overcome, and places to which they must travel.
The different augmentations are fascinating, and of course there have to be some problems with them. But really, who wouldn't want super vision or intelligence? The characters are diverse and well developed, and have a good working relationship, even if they are occasionally at odds. There's just the right level of conflict to keep the characters motivated and moving forward.
The school and the augmentation track decisions will resonate with readers who like "academy" books. The older the teachers are, the more suspect they seem; Rose and Stern are teens, so Leo and Ace trust them a bit more. The covers of both of the books are great.
Readers who enjoyed Kraatz's Space Runners: The Moon Platoon, Fry's Jupiter Pirates, Landers' Blastaway or Levy's Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy series will enjoy B.E.S.T. World. This is also a great choice for undersea adventure fans, who liked O'Hearn's Atlantis, Lerangis' The Colossus Rises, or Jason Henderson's absolutely fabulous Young Captain Nemo.
Since I have all of those books, and couldn't get my students interested in the ARC of Ace Takes Flight, I will pass this book on to my public library. Also, every time I read Tower of Power, I thought about. evangelist Robert Schuller and his Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power show, which is not what the kids in this book are really talking about!
Grayson, Leo, Jayla and Ace all meet at school in the B.E.S.T. program in Ace Takes Flight. There's even more intrigue now! Grayson wakes up with a new body aug (body augmentation-- the augmentations are widespread but somewhat contentious technology) but he's at the bottom of the ocean. The other three are adrift in the sea with their hoverpod inoperable. Jayla is picked up by her family, who still want to control all of her actions, and Leo and Ace are picked up by Stern and Rosa. They are taken to Atlantis, which appears to be a stronghold of the Resistance. They think that Jayla's family has her hidden somewhere and try to find her, which they eventually do. Leo, who is in a wheelchair, is interested in the Sherlock mind aug, but there is a mystery surrounding it tied to Bixonics and to Grayson Bix. The three head back to the Tower of Power (their school) and need to chose an aug track. They are told that the Sherlock aug has been discontinued because no onw qualified for it, but Coach Vaughn tells Leo they (Leo uses they/them pronouns. All students at the school have their pronouns listed and use them regularly.)can try for the aug if he can teach Ace to fly. Eventually, the friends are tracked about ready for augs, but can they save Bixonics and humanity? This is a purported trilogy, so we'll have to wait for book three.
This reminded me a bit of the Voyagers series that starts with Project Alpha and is written by a variety of middle grade authors, with a dash of the undersea adventure and Atlantis connections of Riordan's Daughter of the Deep. There's a threat from an amorphous source that the kids must figure out and hunt down, difficulties they must overcome, and places to which they must travel.
The different augmentations are fascinating, and of course there have to be some problems with them. But really, who wouldn't want super vision or intelligence? The characters are diverse and well developed, and have a good working relationship, even if they are occasionally at odds. There's just the right level of conflict to keep the characters motivated and moving forward.
The school and the augmentation track decisions will resonate with readers who like "academy" books. The older the teachers are, the more suspect they seem; Rose and Stern are teens, so Leo and Ace trust them a bit more. The covers of both of the books are great.
Readers who enjoyed Kraatz's Space Runners: The Moon Platoon, Fry's Jupiter Pirates, Landers' Blastaway or Levy's Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy series will enjoy B.E.S.T. World. This is also a great choice for undersea adventure fans, who liked O'Hearn's Atlantis, Lerangis' The Colossus Rises, or Jason Henderson's absolutely fabulous Young Captain Nemo.
Since I have all of those books, and couldn't get my students interested in the ARC of Ace Takes Flight, I will pass this book on to my public library. Also, every time I read Tower of Power, I thought about. evangelist Robert Schuller and his Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power show, which is not what the kids in this book are really talking about!
May 11, 2023
3.5 Stars (I feel I need to acknowledge I did not read the FIRST book in this trilogy and may have enjoyed it more w/ that context.)
Told through the alternating perspectives of Leo (they/them) and Jayla (she/her), Under Pressure follows the "cadets" as they search for their missing friend, Grayson, make decisions about what "augs" they will choose to enhance or boost their abilities, and who they can or cannot trust as they weigh the motives of Bionix—responsible for the "augs" and their training—versus the Resistance. This science fiction novel is the second book in a planned trilogy, B.E.S.T. World, and does not work well as a standalone story. Readers are dropped right into the middle of the action with little context for the characters and their surroundings. Heavy use of acronyms and words specific to the futuristic world of Under Pressure will be confusing to readers who are not familiar with the first book. The characters themselves are a diverse bunch representing different races and gender expressions. Adults and cadets identify their pronouns as a matter of course. The plot moves quickly and the cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for the final installment.
Optional purchase for grades 4-6 where the first installment of the trilogy is popular.
Told through the alternating perspectives of Leo (they/them) and Jayla (she/her), Under Pressure follows the "cadets" as they search for their missing friend, Grayson, make decisions about what "augs" they will choose to enhance or boost their abilities, and who they can or cannot trust as they weigh the motives of Bionix—responsible for the "augs" and their training—versus the Resistance. This science fiction novel is the second book in a planned trilogy, B.E.S.T. World, and does not work well as a standalone story. Readers are dropped right into the middle of the action with little context for the characters and their surroundings. Heavy use of acronyms and words specific to the futuristic world of Under Pressure will be confusing to readers who are not familiar with the first book. The characters themselves are a diverse bunch representing different races and gender expressions. Adults and cadets identify their pronouns as a matter of course. The plot moves quickly and the cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for the final installment.
Optional purchase for grades 4-6 where the first installment of the trilogy is popular.
April 26, 2023
A fun follow-up to book one, although warning--again, we end with a bit of a cliffhanger. This volume switches to two new POV, with both characters having their own personal struggles even as they look for ways to overcome the big problem the whole group is facing. Answers questions from the first book even as it raises new ones. Lots of action and cool tech--kids will enjoy this series.
November 9, 2022
This was a really cute read! Under Pressure is book two in the middle grade trilogy, B. E. S. T. World. This was a great continuation of the series and I appreciate it’s many diverse characters. I can see many kids enjoying this one 😊
October 2, 2023
Gah, this one was so good! I’m super excited by this series. It’s an interesting look at a future that COULD be. And we get so much backstory in this one! I love that.
VERY much looking forward to the next!
VERY much looking forward to the next!
August 30, 2023
I love this series!! New favorite!
Want to read
May 31, 2024SM
February 15, 2023
Under pressure is the sequel in the B.E.S.T World series. It picks up where we finished in the first book, and we meet our amazing protagonists once again. This time around, the story is told through the eyes of Leo and Jayla. It was so interesting to get to know more in-depth each of these characters. We got to see how the team worked together and solve even more secrets thought to be sealed.
I really enjoyed the setting this time around as well. We were transported to an underwater secret world, where they are pretty much self-sufficientt. Once there, they will make a plan to rescue their friend and learn to work together. Love how the author touched basis on sensitive issues like body modifications and gender. Just like the first book, you'll appreciate all the adventure and life lessons the book has to offer.
I really enjoyed the setting this time around as well. We were transported to an underwater secret world, where they are pretty much self-sufficientt. Once there, they will make a plan to rescue their friend and learn to work together. Love how the author touched basis on sensitive issues like body modifications and gender. Just like the first book, you'll appreciate all the adventure and life lessons the book has to offer.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews