TItle: A Million Suns

Author: Beth Revis

Hardcover: 386 pages

Pub Date: January 10, 2012

Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)

Rating: +++++

Summary from goodreads:

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.

Review:

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Across the Universe. So much so that I didn’t just review it, I told you Ten Reasons Why You Had To Read It. So if you still haven’t read that book, go back and see why you should. I actually somehow loved this book even more.

I have another ten reasons then you need to read this book, but I will just highlight some of the best aspects. The rest of this review will have spoiler to the first book.

Amy’s struggle continues is a way that feels real. So often, characters seem to forget the bad that has happened and finds other motivations. Not Amy. She is still dealing with her parents being frozen and visits them almost everyday. When she makes decisions, that is one of her first considerations. It may make her seem stubborn, but I think it just shows a character that actually acts how a real person acts.

She also doesn’t forget the bad that has happened on the ship. In the first book, a character named Luthor attempts to rape her. It is only an attempt. She still struggles with it in this book. She si scared of him, she is scared to tell anyone what happened, even Elder. She can’t stand to be near him, especially since he still tries to harm her and has raped another young woman when he failed to rape Amy. When she finds out about the other woman, she tries to help her in anyway. Gives her support, even let’s her get a little revenge. I am not saying she deals with it in an ideal way, but I just find the entire story of it to be very powerful. It may be triggering to others who have had that happen to them, but it is one of the most impactful handles of the situtation in YA since Speak.

That isn’t the only situation handled with beauty and power. Elder has decided to take everyone off of the drug that was controlling them. As one can imagine, not everyone is grateful. Suddenly, people don’t want to go to work. They are depressed. They are angry. They can finally do what they want and a rebellion starts to rise. Elder has a lot of decisions to make as a leader and he does the best that he can. He does a lot right and some things wrong, and he is a young man trying to find a balance.

Even the relationship between Amy and Elder feels like it is realistic and not just s story romance. Amy is always thinking about wanting a choice in the matter. She has to decide if she should forgive him for what he has done previously (unplugging her in the first place). She has to forgvie for things he says and does in this books. She has to tfigure out if she really likes him, or if it is jsut because he is the only one her age on the entire ship. Everything is a choice and she uses her power of choice well.

I really love the characters in this book, but the plot is exciting, the writing is very good, and the mystery of who is trying to sabotage everything is intriguing. I figured it out early, but I don’t think everyone will.

Overall, this is a great book and I know I will be reading the next book in the series when it comes out January 2013!