Earth Star

Starred review from February 1, 2014
This far-future science-fiction sequel skips tired genre tropes to offer a fresh and thrilling adventure about hazardous archaeological excavation, a mystery in the sky and a potential threat to all of humanity. It's 2789. People portal between planets in seconds, often many times per day--except the Handicapped, like Jarra, whose immune systems can survive only on Earth. After her recent life-threatening work helping rescue the crew of a crashed spacecraft (Earth Girl, 2013), she plans to continue studying prehistory by excavating sites of long-dead cities. But before the next dig begins, Jarra and boyfriend Fian are whisked off to a military base and inexplicably sworn in as officers. An unidentified alien sphere is hovering above Africa. Are the aliens hostile? Is their technology superior or archaic? Jarra's skills, intelligence and courage are both exciting and believable. She evacuates Earth's Handicapped residents to underground caverns; she solves puzzles about the sphere; she grapples with layers of anti-Handicapped hatefulness; and she becomes a hero again--all due to smarts and hard work, not destiny. Explosions, serious injuries, death and suspense mesh with fizzy romance that includes some sparkling gender-role reversal. Nitty-gritty archaeology details are vivid, and easy slang creates color ("Twoing" is dating; "amaz" means amazing). Edwards shows that speculative fiction needn't be dystopic, conspiracy-filled or love-triangled to be riveting and satisfying. Amaz--simply amaz. (Science fiction. 11-16)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-There is human life thriving off Earth on diverse planets in new sectors in the year 2790, but Jarra Tell Morrath has a unique challenge: she was born with an immune system that doesn't support her living outside Earth's atmosphere. An intelligent, dedicated history and archeology student, she begins her college career by hiding this fact from classmates. Soon, an accident casts her in the spotlight, and she is awarded the highest military honor. As a result, her secret is revealed, as are the deeply held prejudices of those around her. When Earth comes in contact with an unknown interstellar sphere, it is Jarra who is called upon by the military to help save Earth from possible annihilation. Nuanced, realistic characters, action-packed sequences, and a government that acts in the best interest of its people successfully work together to engross the reader. Edwards's invented slang goes from obnoxious to appropriate to catchy, just as its modern equivalent does, though British spellings and phrases could deter reluctant readers. Universal themes include fitting in, overcoming fears, and dealing with parents-but are not heavy-handed. Fans of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game (Tor, 1985) and the Battlestar Gallatica television show will enjoy this space adventure.-Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 What a palate cleanser was the near-utopic sci-fi Earth Girl (2013)! Giggly, futuristic 18-year-old archaeologist-in-training Jarra is back in this similarly bubbly outing, which begins with Jarra and her totally zan boyfriend being pulled away from a dig site in Africa to assist with a top-secret military dilemma: Is the alien drone positioned above Earth a threat? As before, Jarra must prove that an ape (one of the Handicapped who can't portal off of Earth) is equal to anyone else. Edwards gives Jarra perhaps a bit too much credit (more than once she's improbably assigned to command senior officers), but it is nevertheless a flat-out pleasure to watch Jarra out-think her colleagues with her irrepressibly positive attitude. Edwards also gives Jarra her most serious character-building obstacle after an accident leaves her with a phobia that could derail her education. Serious themes are lurking beneath the confident world buildingprejudice, the idea of preemptive military action, the concept of acceptable human lossesbut Edwards' light hand is what continues to make this series so smart and breezy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Despite being "Handicapped"--unable to leave Earth--Jarra (Earth Girl) is drafted to formulate a first response to alien contact. This sequel's Star Trekian ideals celebrate the excitement of exploration and cast a hopeful if simplistic light on sexual mores, disability politics, and youth leadership. Jarra, equal parts nerdy and nervy, runs on pure competence, making her successes all the sweeter.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)