OtherEarth

August 15, 2018
Simon and Kat flee the Company's clutches.Simon has rescued Kat from Otherworld, but their story is far from over. Armed with nothing but knowledge that could expose the Company's dastardly intentions, the (presumed white) teens take off across the real and virtual worlds, accumulating allies and discovering even more secrets. Meanwhile, the denizens of Otherworld are drifting into a state of war as the nonplayer characters struggle to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs. The novel checks all the usual boxes of a sci-fi sequel and points toward a third book at the very end. The authors improve on the big weakness from the last novel: Here Kat is a fully developed character rather than a damsel in distress, and her repartee with Simon buoys the novel and keeps the reader engaged. The road-trip structure mirrors the journey Simon went on in the first book, but the plot in this volume twists and turns as allegiances are tested and secrets are revealed. All in all, this is a standard second entry: Fans will be onboard for the ride and left with just enough of an appetite for more, while newcomers will be compelled to seek out the original.A competent follow-up that points to a fascinating future episode. (Fiction. 12-16)

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September 1, 2018
Grades 8-11 A software development in the game OtherWorld means that formerly static characters, called the Children, are now sentient and being hunted and killed by game players in the real world. Simon, Kat, Busara, and Elvis have their hands full trying to rescue Busara's dad, stop the Company from developing its deadly software, and avoid getting themselves killed inside or outside the game. As serious as the plot sounds, this sequel to OtherWorld? (2017) has its humorous moments as well. It also includes plenty of action in both the real and virtual worlds, predictable bad guys, a slightly misleading title (only a small part of the book is about the new game OtherEarth), and a confusing cliff-hanger ending that points to more entries in this series. There's a real question about audience, though. The game setting and action indicates teens and up, there are mature situations and the occasional f-bomb, but the humor is often juvenile and even self-indulgent at times. Nevertheless, fans of the series or the authors won't have any complaints. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: An author tour, merchandising, and heavy promotion are all in the works for this addition to Segel and Miller's best-selling series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)