The Skyborn

The Skyborn

From Booklist Gr. 8-11. In this sequel to The Earthborn (2003), teenager Welkin Quinn, former Skyborn, has been fully accepted into the Earthborn community that rescued him after his homeship, Colony, crashed onto the surface of postholocaust Earth. Despite the rival bands, harsh landscape, wasting disease, and ever-present danger of the Skyborn, his community has developed a stable agrarian lifestyle. The peace is not to last, however, as a captured Skyborn alludes to a devastating attack meant to wipe out the Earthborn forever. Welkin and others set off to find Colony and stop the attack, only to discover another infiltration--the alien Hiveborn, absorbing Colony people into its "collective." Because Collins covers a lot of ground very quickly, readers will never be bored, though they may have trouble getting a good look at the scenery. Even so, with plenty of hard science, a well-realized world, harrowing action, and a large cast of lightly sketched but still distinctive characters, Collins' compelling story is bound to appeal to many sf fans. Krista HutleyCopyright