Pulse

January 21, 2013
Carman (the Dark Eden series) mixes high school drama with mutations and conspiracies in this impressive take on the postapocalyptic novel. In the near-future wasteland between the giant Eastern and Western States, the remaining teenagers attend sparsely populated schools, ordering goods and taking classes piped in from the States on their networked Tablets. If they decide to emigrate, they are given free transportation to one of the States and cut off from the network. When Faith Daniels’s school is consolidated into another one, she and her friend and fellow junior Liz meet attractive and dangerous twins Clara and Wade. Faith also discovers her “pulse,” a rare power that gives her telekinesis. After Liz’s family emigrates, Faith gets caught up in what could be the beginning of a war. Carman’s world-building doesn’t stand up to scrutiny (too many social structures appear designed to enable plot points), but the character-driven action should keep readers invested. A large but well-developed cast and some grim turns of events keep the story moving and lay groundwork for the next book in this planned trilogy. Ages 13–up. Agent: Peter Rubie, FinePrint Literary Management.

December 1, 2012
Best-selling author Carman launches a new series in a dystopian civilization that has its roots in today's United States. It's 2051, and global warming has wreaked havoc around the world. Most of America's remaining population has moved into one of the two remaining States, where life is stringently controlled and people are kept amused by whatever latest entertainment is available on their ever-present Tablets. Outside the States, life is freer, but even there, kids like Faith Daniels still have to go to school, despite shrinking student populations. On her own, she clings to her friendship with Liz while wondering what it would be like to have a boyfriend like Wade Quinn. She soon finds out that both Wade and his sister Clara are dangerous. When Liz and her family move into the Western State, Faith is even more alone, except for Hawk, a genius hacker, and Dylan, who can not only move things with his mind, but ward off almost all threats to his body. Faith has this extra "pulse" as well...if only Dylan can train her to use it in time. The third-person narration shifts from one character's perspective to another in short, colloquial chapters, keeping the pace swift from the beginning. Carman's grounding of his dystopia in this recognizable near-future makes it highly believable. The successful mix of suspense and romance combines with unexpected twists to keep readers engrossed from the start and begging for more. (Dystopian romance. 13 & up)

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March 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-A mix of dystopian, adventure, romance, and superhero origin tale, this book covers all the bases admirably as long as readers are able to suspend their disbelief. Faith Daniels lives in between the strictly government controlled Western and Eastern States, in a zone whose population is dwindling daily through the promised advantages of immigration to the west or east. She also has the Pulse. Dylan has been watching over Faith to find the right time to explain about the supernatural power of the rare few who have it. As events unfold, he is forced to reveal his secret and hers. Faith must adjust not only to her newfound powers but also come to terms with the loss of her parents and the unexpected murder of her best friend. All this must be done pronto, as the evil forces that wish to kill the duo and rule the world are gathering. Faith and Dylan find an ally in nerdy genius Hawk, who is able to hack into the tablets that control all communication and information. As Pulse comes to a close, the forces of good and evil face off for a showdown. Faith, Dylan, and Hawk await the chance to use their intellect and powers to save the world. Engrossing and suspense-filled, this book is sure to find an audience, and readers will eagerly await the sequel.-Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2012
Grades 7-12 Set in a darkly dystopian future, Carman's latest is a thriller in which the future of civilization is, rather predictably, once again at risk, though exactly why remains unclear. Nevertheless, only three teens can save it: Faith and Dylan, who have telekinetic powers called The Pulse, and Hawk, who doesn't but has the advantage of being the smartest kid in the world. Could the forces of evil, which also have superpowers, have a chance against this trio? Well, in a word, yes. Otherwise there would be no story. The characterization, especially of the evil forces, is rather one-dimensional, and the occasionally thin plot is plagued by inconsistencies. Still, the action, especially in the last third of the book, is sufficiently fast-paced to carry the day and set the stage for volumes two and three of this planned trilogy. Teens will doubtless welcome this latest addition to the field of postapocalyptic fiction. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fans of the author's best-selling Dark Eden, Skeleton Creek, and Trackers books will be eagerly anticipating this start to a new trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
In a disturbingly graspable 2051 America torn in two, Faith learns she has a "pulse," the power to move things with her mind. She is forced to choose between two powerful warring groups and two boys on opposite sides. Though the conceit is promising and will have wide appeal, flat characters and plot holes kill some of this dystopian trilogy starter's tension.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)