Undertow - Book Review

Undertow - Book Review

Undertow

Michael Buckley

HMH 2015

1st in Undertow series

American

Year 7-8+

What’s it about?

Set in the seaside amusement park neighbourhood of Coney Island, NY this novel starts out rather confusingly and it takes a while for the reader to work out what is actually happening. Coney Island has been cordoned off by the Military because it has become the place where the Alpha (an undersea five nation race of underwater warriors) have come to seek refuge because they are being hunted in the sea by the Rusalkas. The 30,000 strong Alpha population is causing problems amongst people who can’t accept their differences and feel they threaten the human race. However, the Government has decided to house and educate the Alpha and orders the local high school to accept young Alphas. When the book’s heroine Lyric Walker, is singled out by her Principal to help the young prince Fathom assimilate she begins to fall for him which causes trouble for both of them. However their relationship could turn out to be the key to saving both the Apha and human race

What’s good about it?

It is quite an original story albeit one that requires massive suspension of disbelief. The teenage side of the story is convincing and engaging and I found myself wanting to keep reading. Readers may see analogies in the Alpha’s need for refuge and the reception they face from many in the human populace with current world events.

What’s not so great?

I felt the story was quite confusing and it took me a while to really understand what was going on. I couldn’t visualise the sea creatures and the story was really far-fetched, However it is a fantasy and plenty of books have unrealistic plots so that doesn’t necessarily count against it. Now that I have digested the first book I think the next one will make a whole lot more sense. Whilst there isn’t much swearing, the novel is quite teenage in tone and would suit older readers.

Who would like it?

Lovers of action, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi