June 25, 2012
The sequel to DiTerlizzi’s The Search for WondLa finds 12-year-old Eva Nine and her alien companion Rovender Kitt in the human city of New Attica. At first, this seems like the culmination of Eva’s quest: raised by a robot in an underground sanctuary, she had been searching for humans like herself. But in New Attica, Eva begins to notice that her human peers have ulterior motives and hidden motivations. Narrator Teri Hatcher’s performance of the book’s dialogue is exceptional: she breathes life into each of the characters, differentiating them with distinct voices and vocal mannerisms. However, when she reads expository or descriptive passages, her voice becomes stilted. And this contrast will likely prove jarring to listeners—especially ones immersed in the story by the narrator’s fine rendering of the characters. Ages 10–up. A Simon & Schuster hardcover.