Emma Clayton

Clayton has the good sense to start her novel about the point where others would end it: Ellie Smith climbing into a Pod Fighter to escape the wonderfully named Mal Gorman. She doesn't make it; doesn't get back to her family beyond the Wall that surrounds the moldy, industrial enclaves man huddles in after the Animal Plague; she doesn't get to share the Secret it will take us the rest of the book to learn. After the first three chapters, most of the story shifts to her twin brother Mika who show more just knows that Ellie didn't drown as the government says, knows that she's still alive. And, to find her, he'll have to choke down the supplements and drugs the Youth Development Foundation (YDF) is handing out at school, horrible gym classes - also courtesy of the YDF, compete in a tournament that starts out as a mere arcade game but then sinisterly transforms into something else, deal with a bully who also happens to be tough opponent in those games, and juggle the complexities of unfortunate friends, loving but clueless parents, and something like young love.

The story moves quickly. Clayton's style is mostly smooth except for the very occasional metaphor that jars a bit in the context of the story and some odd shifts in viewpoint. Certainly the ending sets up the story for future sequels and leaves many plot elements unexplained, but it also raises some nice dilemmas after the Secret is revealed.

The characters are all stock. In addition to the clueless parents and bully, we get an eccentric, grandmotherly old woman who seems to know the Secret. The villain not only has villainous designs. He just can't seem to relate to children on the simplest levels. Most significant, this story is in the long tradition of science fiction stories about mutant children who are misunderstood and persecuted - and probably the ultimate saviors of humanity. The charitable interpretation of this sort of story is that youngsters often feel misunderstood and persecuted. The more uncharitable truth is it's a story element that often seeks to bond with a narcissistic, vain element in the reader.

Adults will almost certainly guess what the YDF is up to - though they will also find it all too plausible in its combination of government hectoring, marketing campaign, and outright coercion. The details of the Secret may surprise. Adults will not find any attempt to teach about the world of real science and technology as the juveniles of Robert Heinlein often did. Some of the book's mystical elements are unexplained and a bit hackneyed.

But young readers will see an exciting story about a brother who misses his sister, a world of school and games which is not what it seems. show less

In the Earth of the future, an Animal Plague has led humans to destroy most of the planet. The entire population is now crowded behind a wall surrounding the top third of the world. There are no animals, there is very little sunlight unless you're rich, there isn't real food to eat, and everyone feels pretty hopeless and helpless. Ellie and Mika live in this world. Ellie was kidnapped about a year ago. She has learned to do fabulous things, but she still only wants to go home. Her parents show more believe she's dead, but her twin brother, Mika, feels that she's still alive somewhere. He's getting teased at school, frustrating his parents, and just generally being miserable. One day, his gray, damp, moldy classroom is lightened up with cupcakes and balloons. They are starting the Fit for Life program, sponsored by the Youth Development Foundation. Mika is suspicious of the program, but eventually goes along because he believes he might learn what happened to Ellie. As part of the program, the kids play a video game called Pod Fighter that can lead to fabulous prizes for them and their families. Everyone rushes to compete, but Mika has a feeling there's a lot they aren't being told.

From the beginning with Ellie's heart-pumping race to freedom, to the ending where you can't believe there just aren't any more pages, the action is almost non-stop in this book. It's a pretty long middle-grade novel at 488 pages, but those pages fly by. I can't wait to read the next one!

I like Ellie, Mika, and Audrey a lot. I'm curious to find out more about Leo and even to find out what's going on with the jerk, Ruben. But Mika really stood out for me. The story is told mostly from his point of view and his reactions all feel real. He wants to be good for his family, but he isn't stupid and he knows the government is covering up something. When he has the chance to find his sister and help improve the family's lives at the same time, he pours his heart and soul into the effort.

This is a dystopian novel, and I can have trouble with those, but I obviously ate this one right up. It was a world that I, scarily enough, found very believable.

For a fast-paced adventure story for both boys and girls, give this one a try. Young readers (and not-so-young readers, for that matter) should love this one! show less

The Roar is not a little reminiscent of Ender's Game; children playing arcade games in training for some mysterious mission the government has planned for them. But the comparison wasn't too startling that I couldn't suspend my indignation and become completely involved in the story, in the very believable character of Mika, in the world of animal plague and mould-made 'fab food'. This was really very good, to the point where I felt willing to forgive the very abrupt ending and the myriad show more questions left unanswered. show less

I enjoyed reading it very much, even though I think there are some pretty major plot holes. I certainly hope it has a sequel, because it ended in a supremely unresolved state. In fact, if she can pull off resolving it believably, I will be profoundly impressed and intrigued, but I have a feeling that she will do it.
It reminded me a great deal of Ender's game, but lacks the finesse. On the plus side, the book has strong male and female characters.