Although here I am, breaking the rules again, because while Rip Tide came out in 2011, the debut first book (Dark Life) came out last year. But Rip Tide is AWESOME, which is really the only qualification needed for breaking the rules (IMHO).
Rip Tide by Kat Falls is the action-packed sequel to Dark Life, an undersea fish tale that made me give a cheer for the resurgence of science fiction in middle grade. Ty, the pioneer boy born and raised subsea after The Rising flooded the earth and made land scarce, is the center of the story. Ty’s Dark Gift of biosonar is put to good use in Rip Tide as he battles surfs (surfeit population), topsiders (those who live on the scraps of land left) and a severe SeaGuard Captain (the Commonweath’s police) in a desperate search to find his kidnapped parents. Falls brings to life the Wild West lifestyle of this amazingly realized world, and her crisp, fast paced storytelling makes this novel breathless to the end. Where’s my liquigen (Ty’s deep-sea breathing liquid)?
I love the way Falls packs her story with undersea creatures and technology that kids will love. Her inventive use of slang draws you deep into the pioneer mindset, while she paints a world that is rugged, yet beautiful. Ty is a boy who loves the sea, is part of it, and his sense of joy in the wonders of the deep comes shining through.
There are a few chaste kisses in this story and Ty’s achingly sweet love for topsider Gemma gives this story appeal for both boys and girls. There’s quite a bit of violence in Ty’s brutal world, so I wouldn’t recommend for readers who are disturbed by shark attacks or bad guys willing to kill to get what they want. For that reason, I recommend Rip Tide for readers 10+ (same as my rating for Dark Life). But I can’t recommend this book highly enough and I hope to see many more great novels from Falls in the future. I hear there’s a movie in the works for Dark Life!! Which would be awesome with a shine (the glow that undersea pioneers acquire).
RL: 5.3 CSM: n/a Rating: PG Content: Sweet kisses, Wild West violence, mass killing
If you want to know what I’d like the future of science fiction to look like, it’s between the pages of this book! This trailer gives you a hint of what it’s like…
For more awesome book recommendations, check out these links:
Rachele raves about IMAGINARY GIRLS
Robyn spotlights ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
Matt loves SOLSTICE
Nicole wants to tell you about POSSESSION
Janet tells why she loves LIAR SOCIETY
Kate talks about MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Sheri admires IRON WITCH
Jen would like to tell you about WITHER
Shannon celebrates DARK PARTIES
Jon loves MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Michelle tells you about SHIFTING
Susan admires WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE
Natalie gives a shout out to AUDITION, THE FAERIE RING, and MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Katie loves THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER
Stina gives you a taste of BAD TASTE IN BOYS
Jessie spotlights SPELLBOUND and BIRTHRIGHT
Willow admires DESTINED
Christine raves about POSSESS
Kristin really really likes CLARITY
Anne features READY PLAYER ONE
Meredith wants to shout about DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE
Amy Rose loves THE NEAR WITCH
Theresa talks about DIVERGENT
Kelly focuses in on EARTHLING HERO and A SCARY GOOD BOOK
Christine gears you up for THE LIPSTICK LAWS
Laura is wild about GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
Patti tells you about HEREAFTER
Portia admires THE SECRET OF SPRUCE KNOLL
Ali has plenty to say about POSSESSION
What a cool idea for a book.
I'll even forgive you for not highlighting a 2011 debut. ; )
My list is going to grow much longer today.
I hadn't heard of this series but the underwater premise sounds so fun and action filled! Thanks for your review!
I'd heard about this book. Guess I need to add it to my list.
Very cool! And wow, a movie (here's hoping for Kat)!! So much fun and thx for participating!!!
Oh, this book sounds great! I hadn't heard of this series before, thanks!
This book sounds awesome! I'm glad you chose to spolight it, or I might have missed it.
I'm with Theresa, my to-read list will be ginormous after today.
Wow, I haven't seen this one. That will soon be changed! 🙂
Sounds like a really great book. I'll have to put it on my TBR.
Love the sound of the plot. thanks for sharing this find.
I need to read more middle grade, I'll definitely be adding this series to my list. Thanks for the review.
It sounds like a wonderful book. I love the idea of living under water…
Wow! Underwater Scifi adventure. That sounds like one exciting MG story!
I'm really liking this blogfest! And wow. That sounds like a crazy good book. There's always a market for SF, though, yes? :o) <3
Rip Tide sounds fabulous. I love the cover too.
So many amazing books I'd love to read. I'm bookmarking this post. Thanks so much, Susan!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
these picks are all so cool! How fun to see what everyone loved so far this year. And there are still so many to come!
I received this ARC but I haven't read it yet because I need to read the first one. Glad to see you recommend it!
Thanks for your review :)…the premise of the book sounds interesting.
@damyanti Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
DARK LIFE was awesome. It rarely stays on the shelves in my classroom. I'm jazzed to read RIP TIDE, now. I heard about DARK LIFE at the SCBWI – LA conference last year.
@Leslie We must have crossed paths without knowing at the conference! That's where I first hear about Dark Life too – actually, I had a crit session with the editor who worked Dark Life (he was critting my MG SF), and he told me about it. #awesome
oh my gosh, I've had Dark Life on my Kindle list forever — that trailer is incredible. So much to read! So little time!