SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

July 16, 2007 by Betsy Bird

Review of the Day: Atherton – The House of Power (Part Two)

July 16, 2007 by Betsy Bird   Leave a Comment

(CONTINUED FROM PART ONE)

Also, I love a book that takes place in the future that doesn’t happen a measly 10 or 15 years from now. There’s nothing that gets my goat more than the words 2015 and a view of Earth decayed and crumbling. This story takes place inn 2105. Thumbs up all around on that choice of date. And I liked some of the precautions Carman took in terms of time and memory. Stop reading here if you don’t want to know a couple spoilers for the book. Now do you remember that horrible Kevin Costner vehicle, "The Postman"? The film takes place a mere fifty or so years in the future when no one can even remember anymore than there was ever a United States of America. Since time was of incredible importance in this novel and since there had to be characters that were around before the formation of Atherton (which is a floating planet above Earth) and during this actual story, there had to be a way to make the characters in this book unaware of where they’d come from. To this end, Dr. Kincaid, the creator of this world, makes a stipulation to anyone arriving on Atherton that they must have their memories wiped of their old life before arriving on this new planet. It makes sense in the context of the story and it allows the author a way in which to talk about a future that both makes sense and is seriously suspenseful.

It’s not all sunshine and roses. For example, I’m not sure that I was a big fan of the narrative techniques used at times in this book. Sometimes Carman adopts a kind of "dear reader" voice that feels a touch at odds with the rest of the text. Sentences like, "It was midday when Edgar arrived at a place in which we are well suited to rejoin him…," and, "Before we discover what Edgar saw, it is worth noting that Edgar was usually a careful climber…" This sort of familiarity with the reader is meant to feel natural and easygoing. Unfortunately, I sometimes thought it a little affected. Fortunately it doesn’t happen all that often, and when it does it mostly fails to distract. Another detail that chapped my hide was that there aren’t many explanations regarding gravity and how the water in Atherton circles about. Hopefully these will be addressed in upcoming sequel.

In a way, the book this title reminded me the most of was Jeanne DuPrau’s "The City of Ember." In both cases a child discovers that the artificial world in which they live is a farce. They go up and down to find an escape with the help of a mysterious book. And in both books the adults are corrupt, there’s food hoarding, and time is of the essence. Both books are also of the science fiction genre, which is important. Of course, while there might be cursory similarities, "Atherton" is an entire world unto itself. Exciting and painful and not like anything else you’ll find aside from some surface details.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

There are kids in this world who want exciting adventure novels that don’t contain wizards and witches. Crazy, no? These kids are fans of the Suzanne Collins "Gregor The Overlander" series. They come to me, desperate for any kind of a recommendation I can give, and let me tell you that exciting sci-fi books of this nature are hard to find. Ask anyone in the publishing industry and they’ll tell you that sci-fi doesn’t sell. They tell you this because their definition of what constitutes sci-fi is limited (i.e. big scary aliens). "A Wrinkle in Time" is sci-fi. "Tom’s Midnight Garden" is sci-fi. And "Atherton" is sci-fi too. Not only sci-fi, but also containing a message or two about the environment and what we’re doing to our world. Rather than preach, though, the book just ends up displaying a future that almost no one else could have ever thought of. Like nothing you’ve read before, "Atherton" is definitely one of the most diverting adventures of the year. Thumbs up and then some.

(CONTINUED IN PART THREE)

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

Review of the Day: Zia Erases the World by Bree Barton

by Betsy Bird

June 2022

Review of the Day: Book of Questions / Libro de las Preguntas by Pablo Neruda, ill. Paloma Valdivia

by Betsy Bird

June 2022

Review of the Day: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

by Betsy Bird

May 2022

Review of the Day: The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

by Betsy Bird

May 2022

Review of the Day: You Ruined It by Anastasia Higginbotham

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Shark Week and Earl Grey Tea: Bob Shea and Brian Won on The Yarn Podcast

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Have You Seen the Darkness? A Richard Fairgray, Black Sand Beach Interview

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review | Red and Rover: Fun’s Never Over

by Mike Pawuk

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Mail: Dachshunds, monsters, magic, climate change, and more!

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Share Black Stories

'Banned Book Club' Authors Offer Advice as Teens Confront Censorship

Fantasy, Adventure, Legends, and Family Legacy in These "Shang-Chi" Read-Alikes

"Your Place in the Universe" Named 2021 Cook Prize Winner

In Their Own Words: What Christine Day and Andrea L. Rogers Want You to Know

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2022


    COPYRIGHT © 2022