The Girl at the Center of the World

June 1, 2015
This sequel to The Islands at the End of the World (2014) finds Leilani reunited with her family on Hawaii's Big Island as humanity slowly adapts to the new, post-apocalyptic normal. In the wake of the events of the first book, Leilani must persuade the Orchid, the extraterrestrial responsible for the global nuclear meltdowns, to absorb the radiation threatening to plunge the planet into nuclear winter. While the island's peace-loving residents grow crops and barter goods, gangs battle for control of vastly diminished resources-including the antibiotics Lei's friend Tami desperately needs. Worries mount: material expelled by the Orchid hits Mauna Loa; Lei discovers someone working against her efforts, pushing the Orchid to leave too soon. She's heartened when the attractive soldier who helped her escape Oahu shows up-but so does the sheriff of Hana, a brutal psychopath with plans for using her powers. Lei's epileptic seizures are in abeyance, but she fears they'll return after the Orchid leaves. Sharing its predecessor's strengths, a suspenseful plot and compelling characters with emotional depth, this sequel effectively depicts the true and lasting costs of violence, even when its use is justified. As in the prior book, the ways the characters react to growing chaos remain entirely convincing, and the setting is vividly realized. Exciting and fast-paced entertainment with a thoughtful subtext asking readers to ponder the interconnectedness of life on a fragile planet. (Science fiction. 12-18)

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June 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Leilani's epilepsy gave her the ability to communicate with the entity protecting the Earth in The Islands at the End of the World (Random, 2014); now she must face the consequences of her decision to keep it here. Humanity may be safe from its own folly, but it continues to struggle without its conveniences, especially in isolated places like Hawai'i. To survive, Lei's community returns to the old ways as opposed to the selfishness and turf wars of others. They are far from safe though. When real trouble surfaces, the tension increases three-fold, gripping teens straight to the end. Once again the tyrant sheriff appears, and this time he wants Lei. Yet, a greater threat comes from the mysterious voice that wants to send the Orchids away. While certain elements are sci-fi, this postapocalyptic novel is steeped in realism. The book devotes much of its time to the difficulties of this new life, and as various parties share their experiences, Lei questions whether she is doing the right thing. Not all is bleak though, for there are moments of happiness, especially when romance finally blooms. Lei is a remarkable character who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she hardly does it alone. VERDICT An engaging and poignant follow-up with weighty and powerful themes of survival, cooperation, and human nature.-Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Grades 7-10 In this sequel to The Islands at the End of the World (2014), Aslan continues the swiftly paced survival story of Leilani Milton, a 17-year-old epileptic hapa (half Hawaiian, half white), who can communicate with and control the Emerald Orchid. The Orchid (a sentient being in the sky, who absorbs radioactive fallout from nuclear power plants) appeared after a tsunami and disabled most traditional sources of power. Now communities are struggling to feed and clothe themselves, and medical care is well nigh impossible to obtain. Living in Hawaii, all islanders feel the lack of social services and media communication and find themselves forming new social orders and priorities for daily life. Leilani's immediate woes are exacerbated by romantic tensions and her concern for her beloved grandfather. Although the plot is sometimes stilted by excessive explanation, the whole notion of finding a way to undo the damage of nuclear power is a fascinating one. The survivalist theme makes brutally clear just how much our lives would change without electricity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)