Undertow (Undertow Trilogy, #1)

by Michael Buckley

• ISBN10: 0544348621
• ISBN13: 9780544348622
• Publish Date: 5 May 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Houghton Mifflin
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 389
• Language: English

Reviews

[Beth C.]

What happens when your small town, never a bastion of peace and understanding, becomes the place where "first contact" takes place - and where those aliens (by which I mean - a species unlike ours) end up camping? Well, if you're at all familiar with human history, then you know the answers to that question. Fear, mistrust, and hatred lead to death and destruction all around. Throw in the fact that the aliens are having their own struggles, and that those same aliens sent a group of 20 to assimilate into society years earlier that are now being hunted, and - well - life gets complicated. Particularly for Lyric, a teenage girl who finds out that her mother is one of those aliens sent before and who turned her back on her race.

I was curious about this book - I had heard so many good things about it. I will say that, for me, it started off a little bit slow, but once things really got moving, then it wasn't hard to convince myself to hang out and read the rest. The idea behind the story is interesting, though it definitely rings of "young adult". Some books are capable of moving beyond that and just being a good story - this one struggled to do so.

The characters are, rarely, one-dimensional. They all have their moments of good choices/bad choices (except for one, but I won't give any spoilers). And sadly, there was much within them (and the story in general) that rings all-too-familiar to the events currently happening in the world today.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I look forward to reading the second book when it arrives.

[lindsey]

Review coming soon.

[Linda]

#COYER scavenger hunt item 69: read a book with a mermaid as one of the main characters (5 points)

*I received a free ARC of Undertow from HMH Books for Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*

Undertow is a story about differences, acceptance, xenophobia and how important it is to believe in what we think is right.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[bookishzelda]

Undertow is a book that took me a little bit by surprise how it managed to keep me rooted to my seat. It did start out a little slow for me. I was sucked in by the first couple of pages but then was kind of waiting for something to happen. When I got about 70 pages in, it took off. I read the rest of the book in one day. I was just so hooked on what was happening. I’ve never seen District 9 and only watched maybe an episode of Starcrossed. So I can’t tell you if it’s like those or not. I can tell you that it really kept my attention and I was fascinated by many different aspects.

I don’t know much about Coney Island. I actually looked it up on tripadvisor out of curiosity of what it’s like now. I could easily see how the setting could change to that of the book. The description really formed in my mind the slum version of Coney Island, with crazy gangs running the streets and it becoming blocked off due to the Alpha being there.

The characters are so interesting including Lyric herself. She describes how she used to be, a total party girl and rule breaker, to how she is now. The girl that blends into the background. Normally you see a main character with a more innocent background and it was neat to see this wild teenager from her past. She says she can’t be that girl anymore but you see that there is still a little bit left in her. She can’t completely stamp it down. Even though she knows what she is and who she is. She hasn’t really found balance and acceptance. That’s what really changes with her.

I love the solid relationships he has with Bex. Even though Bex is not the main character she is still a major player and a true friend. Bex has her own issues that come from living in a more destitute world of the Zone.

Shadow and Lyric’s parents are a constant presence but they were definitely more supporting roles. I liked how much interaction we do actually see with the adults. It’s not like they just run off and let the kids handle things.

Ugh the Arcade thing. It made sense that Arcade doesn’t just walk away but still. The Arcade thing. Also Doyle was interest as well.

I didn’t always have the greatest grasp on what the Alpha looked like in my mind. I could picture some of them like Fathom and Arcade but some the others like Ghost. It was kind of just a rough sketch. I don’t think it had anything to do with how they were described, just me trying to put it together. I liked that they didn’t just magically look human and were proud to keep their cultural differences. I was fascinated by things of how they function in their home. How do they stay in one spot without the current floating them away. When a fish comes out of water it can’t survive. How do they survive. Do their bodies change, like a transformation. We see a little bit more with that towards the end of the book. I would probably down at the shore asking a hundred million questions and they would probably eat me just to get me to shut up.

Undertow takes discrimination head on. They don’t only talk about humans versus the Alphas but also different types. I always wonder what would happen if a book like this really came to life. I think the way people treated the Alphas is horrible but I think some of it is rooted in fear. It’s something that gets the gears in your brain turning.

I really enjoyed the book and I think if you enjoy Invasion stories that show the discrimination aspect of what would happen. This is a great and interesting read. I already want to know what’s going to happen next. I added the second book to my tbr upon finishing.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Caffeinated Aspects:

• The concept for Undertow is intriguing. Much of the Earth’s ocean has yet to be explored and we are constantly finding new species so the idea of a five-nation race of ocean dwelling warriors appealed to the geeky side of me. These beings known as Alpha’s have invaded the shores of Coney Island. As you can imagine this has caused the American nation to respond from quarantined areas to negotiations. Tensions are high; inhabitants of the area have fled or are dealing with a strong military presence.


• Through our protagonist Lyric Walker, a sixteen-year-old native of Coney Island, the story unfolds. She shares events, her experiences and eventual her interaction with Fathom, the crown prince of the Alpha's. Secondary characters from friends to the Alphas added interest fleshed out the world and created side stories giving the tale a well-rounded feel. Lyric’s family has a secret and that secret forces her to corporate with authorities. This has her meeting the young prince Fathom and helping him learn the culture and assimilate to his new surroundings. Their interaction was fascinating as we see two different cultures interact. A romance of the forbidden variety develops.


• The world building from the description of the Alphas to their hierarchy and religion captivated me even as I had questions. While we learn things through Lyric’s experiences, Buckley's descriptive writing style brought the story to life. I loved that we experienced it through showing. We did not get heavy info dumps although the Alphas have been in Coney Island on the shore for three years while the government heads talked. The authorities decided to send a select group of Alpha children to high school. It was suspenseful and action packed with twists and turns.


• Buckley really addresses prejudices and paranoia from the tension and unrest in citizens to the military and media dynamics. He highlights both sides of the equation allowing us to experience both the Alpha side of things and the human one. We see those who want to understand and others who want them destroyed. Culture misunderstands are at the forefront and allow the readers to ponder what his or her own reactions would be.

Decaffeinated Aspects:

• The romance while in the background was to be me unnecessary and under developed. Lyric has a human friend whom she hooks up with and it did nothing to enhance the story or character. Enter Fathom who looks more human than the others and she gets butterflies. Ugh. I know some folks need a romance, and maybe this thread will excite you but it lacked believability for me.


• I wanted more information about the original Alphas. I would love a prequel or novella about the twenty Alphas who came to shore and assimilated before the invasion. I will not say more because well, “spoilers darling” but this line of the story really had me curious.


• Bex is Lyric’s best friend and her storyline has depth and sadly a great big hole in it. She disappears for days and darn it, I want to know what the happened.


• I liked being in the dark and learning about the world through Lyric but I think I would have preferred Undertow more if it had been the second book in this trilogy with the first novel focusing on the twenty and actual invasion. Am I making sense? For me it would have strengthened the story and given it more meat.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer