Injoy's Blogs + Book Reviews

I received a free kindle copy of Undertow by Michael Buckley, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I gave this debut book from Michael Buckley five stars start to finish. Lyric Walker's life is changed forever when the Alpha, an underwater dwelling race of warriors, arrives on Coney Island where she lives. 

Her own family has secrets they need to keep. The governor is a publicity seeking two faced tyrant who doesn't want the Alpha to attend public schools there. It's reminiscent of the South in the Sixties with forced integration.

There's a lot of prejudice against the Alpha & anyone who associates with them is deemed a traitor to humanity. There are picketers & hate-mongers galore. Some humans who have befriended the Alpha were murdered in heinous ways.

Lyric is forced into a situation where she is supposed to tutor the Prime's prince son Fathom. It was off to a frightening start since he has 'swords' that 'snick' out of his arms to use as weapons in battle. The Alpha are a proud race & any insult is dealt with in battle.

Can Lyric learn how to deal with this situation? Can her family stay safe? Can the Alpha assimilate? 

Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LZ7GSX0