Horizon (Horizon, Book 1) (1)

A race for survival from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Uglies!This harrowing tale of supernatural suspense kicks off a new series from the visionary mind of #1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld.When a plane crash-lands in the arctic, eight young survivors step from the wreckage expecting to see nothing but ice and snow. Instead they find themselves lost in a strange jungle with no way to get home and little hope of rescue.Food is running out. Water is scarce. And the jungle is full of threats unlike anything the survivors have ever seen before -- from razor-beaked shredder birds to carnivorous vines and much, much worse.With danger at every turn, these eight kids must learn to work together to survive. But cliques and rivalries threaten to tear them apart. And not everyone will make it out of the jungle alive.BONUS! In the Horizon multiplatform experience, you're not just reading about the castaways, you're one of them. Join the race for survival in the FREE game, available on your browser and as an app.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—While traveling to an international engineering competition, four young teens find themselves stranded when their plane crashes in a menacing, inhospitable jungle. Along with four other teens, the eight are the only survivors. They should be in the Arctic but are in a tropical jungle instead. How is this possible? Where are they? How do they get home? Westerfeld creates a world with vicious predatory creatures, malfunctioning physical forces, and realistic characters. The teens must work together to survive. Many are scientifically minded and frequently use math and science to solve problems. As the first of a planned seven-book series, this installment does a great deal of introducing (characters, setting, conflicts, etc.). This does not, however, detract from the pacing or development of the narrative. With a tie-in online video game, this sci-fi title will have multiple platforms to keep readers' interest between volumes. VERDICT Buy where science fiction and survival stories are popular. Expect a hold list for this one.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“With a beginning and ending that pack hefty punches, this introduction to a dystopic futurepromises an exciting series.”

School Library Journal, starred review

“Highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic techonologies and a disturbingcommentary on our current public policies. Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel.”

About the Author

Scott Westerfeld is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Uglies series, which has been translated into 35 languages; the Leviathan series; Afterworlds; Horizon; and many other books for young readers. He was born in Texas and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City.

Reviews

News