Return Fire

Moving Target #2

by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

The thrilling sequel to Moving Target! When a young girl can determine the destiny of the world, the wrong choice could lead to disaster . . .

Cassie Arroyo has found the long-lost Spear of Destiny -- only to have it stolen right out from under her!

In Return Fire, Cassie and Asher must regain the spear. This time, however, it's not enough just to find it: Cassie realizes that when she used the spear, she sent the world down a path that could eventually lead to serious trouble. Can she find a way to stop the terrible chain of events that she set into motion?

As she tries to reshape her own destiny, Cassie takes off on a breathless adventure across Italy, leading her to a forest outside Rome, a Caravaggio painting full of clues, and a villa by the sea. There, in the ultimate showdown, Cassie has to decide who she can truly trust. And when the chance to use the spear presents itself again, she has to figure out if she can even trust herself.

Kids will be clamoring for this sequel after finishing Moving Target, and this has even more thrills, riddles, and page-turning excitement!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Friendship

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2016

About the author

Christina Diaz Gonzalez is the Edgar® award-winning author of several books including The Red Umbrella, A Thunderous Whisper, the Moving Target duology, Stormspeaker, Concealed, and two upcoming books, Invisible (a graphic novel available in August 2022) and The Bluest Sky (a historical fiction novel available in September 2022). Her books have received numerous honors including the Florida Book Award, the Nebraska Book Award, and the International Latino Book Award. Her work has also been designated as an American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and as an International Reading Association's Teachers' Choice book. Christina currently lives in Miami, Florida with her husband, sons, and a dog that can open doors. Learn more at www.christinagonzalez.com

Reviews

[Chris Cosci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I'm an adult parent of a nine-year-old who enjoyed the book greatly. He likes it when I read the books he enjoys, so here I am!

Like its predecessor, this book is a fast-paced adventure. It's in the same vein as thrillers like those by Dan Brown -- the heroes are being chased by a secret society as they encounter clues and puzzles in their search for a mysterious artifact. However, as this is a YA book, there is a lot less bloodshed and the puzzles are a little less complex.

If there was one complaint about the book, it's that some things are a little too simplistic. For instance, at the very beginning, the main character spends a few pages perplexed over the age-old puzzle involving a farmer trying to transport a fox, a chicken, and a bag of seed across a river.

I get it -- I'm not the target audience for the book. It's like watching Scooby Doo cartoons as an adult. As a kid, it was all big mystery. As an adult, when they reveal the culprit at the end, you think, "Come on -- it couldn't be more obvious. Even a monkey could have figured it out after 3 minutes."

That being said, the book had some interesting twists -- some predictable, some not. However, for a proper review, I'd have to keep in mind who this book was meant for. It never dragged. The characters were great. And you honestly felt for the lead heroine. And my son thought it was great. And anything that continues to encourage his love of reading is fine by me!

[Lilly S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read this book for a while but could never find it anywhere. And honestly, I kinda forgot about it. But, I was able to read it recently. It wasn't quite what I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting. It definitely resolved some things from the first book. It was just odd; I'd read Moving Target several times but hadn't read this one at all until today.

I'm not gonna lie, I kinda ship Asher and Cassie. But since I don't believe there's a third book, thats not gonna happen. Oh well. This novel was still worth the read. It wasn't nearly as good as the first, I don't think. But still interesting.

Honestly, if it had been just a little longer I might have been more satisfied. A lot can happen in 200 pages, but after finishing I just wanted more of thr character backstories, just MORE stuff in general.

Still a good read, though.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

A satisfying sequel, but not as riveting as Moving Target. I wasn't motivated to keep reading until about a third of the way through when the action picked up.

[Gözde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zorlu Hedef serisinin ilk kitabı Kader Mızrağını sevmiştim. İkinci kitabın çevrildiğini duymak beni çok sevindirdi ama bulmak kolay olmadı. İstanbul'da neredeyse birkaç D&R'da varmış bu yüzden online sipariş edip beklemek zorunda kaldım. İlk kitap çok güzel bir yerde bitmişti. Arkadaşının ihaneti ile sarsılan kızımız o sırada bir de yıllardır babası sandığı adamın aslında babası olmadığını öğrenmişti. Kader mızrağını ondan almaları da pek hoş olmadı tabi. Serinin iki kitaptan oluşması beni üzdü. Rick amca gibi bu yazarımızda bir beşli yapabilirdi bence çünkü konu çok müsait. Madam Elisabeth'e güvenemedim hiç diye düşünüyordum hep ve sebepler arıyordum kendi kendime. Belki çok sert biri olduğundan sevmiyordum onu. Çok otoriter ve Cassie'ye de bağırdı falan. Tobias'ın Cassie'nin babası olması bana iyi, ben o kısmı sevdim. Mızrağın etkisinden kurtulan Tobias’ın tatlış biri olduğu gerçeği de beni ikna etti.
Onun kefareti de kendini feda etmek oldu. En etkilendiğim sahne Tobias’ın Cassie’ye sevildin mi diye sorması oldu. Gelelim Simone’a ve annesine. Annesi gerçekten bir gerizekalıydı bu yüzden bunun üstünde çok konuşmaya gerek yok. Simone'un geri dönüşü ise üzdü. Onu aralarına geri almaları çok beklendikti. Güvenmeseler ve Cassie onu tam olarak affetmese bile geldi. Bir şekilde yine hayatlarına girdi. Sadece Asher ve Cassie olsa daha mutlu olurdum sanırım. Asher'ı gerçekten seviyorum keşke onun geçmişini daha fazla öğrenebilseydik. Üzüldüğüm diğer bir şey Simone'un varlığı, param var plan yaparım Asher'dan iyiyim kafası kötü geldi bana. Ama kafatası olayını bir bakıma o çözdü bunu kabul ediyorum. Kefarete inanırım diyen üç kızkardeşten biri kesinlikle haklıydı. Bunun dışında Cassie cidden devamlı bağımlı gibiydi kader mızrağı, kader mızrağı diye tuttururken çok endişelendim. Ve tahmin ettiğimiz gibi Cassie'miz addictive oldu. Tobias’a da aynısı olmuştu muhtemelen. Hastati örgütünü görememiz çok kötü oldu. Hep birkaç adam gördük ama örgütü tam anlayamadık. Madam Elisabeth’in onlarla anlaşması fena değildi ama Cassie sonunda annesinin neden ona güvenmediğini anladığı sahne çok hoşuma gitti. Denizin dibine yollamaları ise en iyisiydi. Kitapta çok güzel bulmacalar vardı, araştırma ve tarih bağlantıları çok iyiydi bence. Eksik gördüğüm her şey aslında çocuk kitabı olmasından kaynaklı. Benim istediğim şeyler olsa çok fazla ciddi bir kitap olurdu.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several loose ends from the previous Moving Target title featuring Cassie Arroyo are tied up in this follow-up title. Cassie is accompanied by her friend Asher, her Guardian, and the two of them must recover the Spear of Destiny. Although Cassie hasn't been trained in its use, she did use it to save her father's life, setting off changes in the world's future. The visions she now has are those of mass destruction and death, and she knows she must set things right. But it's hard to know who she can trust since her best friend Simone betrayed her earlier. When Simone pops up as Cassie and Asher are on the run, Cassie is torn about whether to let her in on her secrets. Fans of the first book will enjoy this one just as much as the first one because of the strong connections to the Three Fates, a centuries old mystery, and the theme of sacrifice that runs through its pages. Cassie knows that if she doesn't undo the changes she started when she used the spear, even though she had good intentions, the world is doomed. But what if the price of saving the world is sacrificing herself? Fans of this sort of thing will quickly realize that the spear is already changing Cassie, and making it harder and harder for her to resist its allure and the power it promises her. The fast-paced adventure and chases throughout parts of Italy are leavened with the bickering between Simone and Asher. I'm not sure if there is a follow-up title planned after this one, but I'm sure many readers will be clamoring for one.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that Cassie has used the Spear of Destiny, she is bound to it and Asher is bound to her as her protector. Simone betrayed both of them when she gave the spear to her mother who only wants it for its power. Cassie and Asher have escaped and are on the run. Cassie now realizes that when she used the spear to save her father, she actually saved Tobias. Cassie's visions of the future return to her in what her grandmother calls echo tracing. The images she sees make her believe that she must use the spear again to fix the future she created, but more of the evidence they are collecting points to ending the power of the spear and releasing destiny, giving everyone free will to make choices and live with the consequences.
Return Fire isn't quite as good as Moving Target. While the kids do continue to use clues to search for the spear, there are philosophical questions raised that have value in the story, but slow the action and make the pacing of the story uneven. The theme of choosing one's destiny and the importance of free will is pushed extremely hard in this book and almost overwhelms the actual story. As a second book out of two, this story does answer the questions left at the end of Moving Target and ties up all of the loose ends, but overall, the story just isn't as entertaining.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The improbability of reuniting the trio of Cassie, Asher and Simone in the middle of a mad-cap escape for their lives was probably one of the biggest stretches in this storyline, but it otherwise continued well enough in the vein of Moving Target. One of my favorite moments was the visit to the mirror church and the conversation with the old lady, along with understanding some of the origin story of the mysterious women. Since the action is so rapid-fire, it's easy enough to overlook the varying hyper-competence, or incompetence, of the various factions struggling for the spear. While the Hastati are the main mysterious force, it did leave me wanting to have them more directly involved in the events as they unfold.

[Steffi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Der zweite Band der "Moving Target" Reihe schließt direkt an den ersten an und man ist sofort mitten im Geschehen. Auf den ersten Seiten habe ich noch ein bisschen gebraucht mich in die Geschichte reinzufinden und mich an die Geschehnisse aus dem ersten Band zu erinnern, aber das hat nicht allzu lange gedauert.

Auch der zweite Teil ist eine gelungene Mischung aus Spannung, Abenteuer und Mythologie. An mancher Stelle kam mir Handlung zwar etwas gestreckt vor, aber insgesamt war das Buch für mich jedoch sehr unterhaltsam.

Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und passend für die Zielgruppe. Für Jugendliche ist das Buch mit Sicherheit eine gelungene Unterhaltung.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return Fire provides a solid ending to a gripping series.

Return Fire has the same historical-thriller-que mood of the first book and provides some further unexpected twists. Particularly, I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Simone and Asher, the moment with Cassie’s biological father, and the helicopter scene.

Moving Target is a duology that I’d recommend to any younger student.

[Anvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it and couldn’t take my mind off of the twists and turns that the books has. It pulls me in, I like the part when Cassie dies and then Tobias sacrificed his life for Cassie’s by going the the Realm of Impossibilities and bringing Cassie and Asher back to life, because Asher was Cassie’s gaurdian so if she died, he died as well.

[Zoraida Rivera Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an adventure that kept me turning pages and wondering about the places and historical figures mentioned. The girl protagonists are strong and resourceful. The Latin protagonist was well presented, yet I would have liked this facet to be more present throughout the whole manuscript.
The end was unexpected and rounded. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Mary Karbowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling Ride Until the End

Excellent book for middle grade students to enjoy. Very quick read as it kept you on the edge of your seat! Lots of twists and turns for those who love adventure stories with some legend and magic thrown in.

[Olivia Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as much as I liked the first one. The main characters are just children and they get themselves in so much danger. This book takes you on an adventure through Italy. Make sure to read the first book to the series. It is called "Moving Target."

[Shannon Sansom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Moving Target. Cassie continues to avoid assassins, her best friend's power-hungry mother, all the while trying to find her father and the Spear of Destiny and not knowing who to trust.
She needs to fix the future she inadvertently changed earlier to avert global disaster.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Moving Target - liked Return Fire. Still worthy of 4 stars (better than average), but it lacked a little of the fire of the first book. Still highly recommending to my middle schoolers!!

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I think that 6 graders and up would like it also. I love it because she does not back down and she is very determined.

[Cyris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good for young readers that are ok with a little violence and love suspense.

[John (Jack) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a bit difficult to read. So far there hasn't been much action, just yelling. There was one point of action, but not much else. Slowly losing interest in the book.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the conclusion to the Moving Target story. I was not disappointed and look forward to The Red Umbrella now sitting proudly in my stacks of books to be read!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to the MSBA-nominated Moving Target.

[Anne Beardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare that the second book in a series is as good as the first.

Mrs. Gonzalez has improved since her first book; it's easier to visualize her writing. The emotions are still strong and bright, the action is still clear and believable.

I love the fact that the single person in the world the heroine trusts most (besides her not-on-the-scene father) is the boy who is her guardian -- and although he is a patient, brave, smart, dependable type whom she cares deeply about she isn't buried in a morass of sexual hormones every time she looks at him.
And so we get lots about Asher being brave, Asher struggling with the presence of a suspected traitor, Asher talking things through with careful reasoning....and nothing about pretty eyes or silky hair. As a result, I actually respect Asher.

Even better, the heroine thinks of him as 'Asher, great human being and close friend that he is' as opposed to 'the hunk'...as so many other teen adventures would do. Do I suspect that these two will probably end up together someday? Yes. They have proven that they can work together very well indeed; they trust, respect, and care for each other.
Are they too occupied with saving the world right now to even think about that? Heck, yeah.

I love it.

The story went to good places, too. It didn't feel rushed or burdened with the stressed need to make every scene more high-octane than the last. It didn't have to, because as our teenage protagonists learned more about the issues at stake their choices took on more and more weight.

Mrs. Gonzales even avoided the typical "this is an item of power that corrupts everyone who touches it, but YOU are totally okay, young kid, because you are a special snowflake and we think you're a decent guy" trope. The consequences were real, and they were serious. It gave a gravitas and poignancy to the entire plot.

And the ending was very good, with a nice point to it. In the end it is a book about second chances, and the importance of fallible humans exercising moral agency.
Brava.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This one didn't grab me as much as the original, but sometimes that's the fate of sequels. Still enjoyed the continuation of Cassie's story and looking forward to sharing this with my students.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to Moving Target, Cassie is searching for the Spear of Destiny that she bonded with and then had stolen from her. She and Asher are following a series of clues across Italy again, never knowing who they can trust or who might betray them. An excellent continuation of their adventure. I highly recommend reading Moving Target first. For grades 4 & up.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the sequel to MOVING TARGET, Cassie Arroyo, an American going to school in Italy, has finally found the Spear of Destiny. Unfortunately, just when she had it, she lost it in a betrayal she never expected. Now, Cassie must find it again and fix the dark destiny she may have set for the world. As Cassie starts to feel the pull of the power she could have, she faces a major choice of trust that will change everything." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read the first book but I had no problem jumping right into the story. I think kids would really like this book. It's fast paced and has lots of surprises. As an adult it was a little young for me.

[Meya o_O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It is just as good as the first book. It is heartbreaking that there isn't going to be another sequel. This is most definitely one of my favorite books. I would give it and even higher rating if I could. I most definitely recommend this book to anyone.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got at ALA! Got to meet the author, Christina and had it signed. Really excited to read!! I'm going to read Moving Target first. Review to come...

[Sallyavena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a DaVinci Code for kids...fast paced mystery with tons of action. You have to read the first to understand this one though.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent second book!! It wrapped up nicely but I'd still love to hang out with these characters again!

[Feranmi Fakolujo]

i will love this book