Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Quick note: This is the second book in THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT series (which I say mostly because I hope there will be many more), but it definitely stands alone. The first book, TRAPPED, is nicely recapped in the first chapter of CAPTURED, and referred to often enough that you don't really feel like you've missed anything. Other than the fun of reading the first one.
Ryan and Regan Resnick are extremely smart kids. Maybe a little too smart. But boy is everyone else lucky that they are! Last summer, their scientist parents dragged them to a sleepy town in Pennsylvania, for no reason that they could see. Until they found the secret city that the government, and their parents, were studying, under high security. It was built by aliens. Ryan and Regan's dad was the first person to ever break through the barrier that the aliens put up. Until Ryan and Regan found their own way in. It's a good thing they did, too. Since they ended up having to save everyone. Now they are the youngest members of the Prometheus Project.
Between school and the Prometheus Project, Ryan and Regan have plenty to occupy their time and minds. Especially since they seem to have acquired some telepathic ability that connects them to each other as well as to the main computer in the city. They can communicate as well as sense the connections. At least they could with the computer until it sent out some kind of warning the other day, and seems to have shut down. But no one in the city seems to notice anything strange, so they let it go.
Planning to do some exploring and help with a few experiments, they meet their parents in the building that they've set up shop in. Much to the brother and sister's disappointment, their parents have a dinner party planned and are ready to go home. After much convincing it is agreed that they will be allowed to stay overnight by themselves. After all, the city is guarded by the best security the government can offer. Plus their parents are planning to be back at six in the morning.
Ryan and Regan wake up the next morning to find that it's already eight o'clock, and their parents still aren't back. They set out to investigate, only to find the city apparently deserted. No scientists, not even security people. Something is definitely wrong. And it looks like it's up to Ryan and Regan to solve it. As long as whatever took out the computer doesn't get them next.
Fast paced adventure, mixed with quick thinking. I don't know if I would have nearly the presence of mind that these two have, but it sure was fun to ride along with them! There is a lot of scientific information, which I'm sure is very interesting if you get it. I can speak from experience and say that it's not necessary to understand all of it. It's done in a way that just about anybody can follow, and doesn't make you feel dumb for not getting it all. Ryan and Regan are great fun, and the story is just a cool idea! The whole book is very well written, but the last chapter is too perfect! You'll agree when you read it.
I'm (impatiently) looking forward to getting a copy of the first book in the mail, and the next one as soon as the author can get it finished!
Quick note: This is the second book in THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT series (which I say mostly because I hope there will be many more), but it definitely stands alone. The first book, TRAPPED, is nicely recapped in the first chapter of CAPTURED, and referred to often enough that you don't really feel like you've missed anything. Other than the fun of reading the first one.
Ryan and Regan Resnick are extremely smart kids. Maybe a little too smart. But boy is everyone else lucky that they are! Last summer, their scientist parents dragged them to a sleepy town in Pennsylvania, for no reason that they could see. Until they found the secret city that the government, and their parents, were studying, under high security. It was built by aliens. Ryan and Regan's dad was the first person to ever break through the barrier that the aliens put up. Until Ryan and Regan found their own way in. It's a good thing they did, too. Since they ended up having to save everyone. Now they are the youngest members of the Prometheus Project.
Between school and the Prometheus Project, Ryan and Regan have plenty to occupy their time and minds. Especially since they seem to have acquired some telepathic ability that connects them to each other as well as to the main computer in the city. They can communicate as well as sense the connections. At least they could with the computer until it sent out some kind of warning the other day, and seems to have shut down. But no one in the city seems to notice anything strange, so they let it go.
Planning to do some exploring and help with a few experiments, they meet their parents in the building that they've set up shop in. Much to the brother and sister's disappointment, their parents have a dinner party planned and are ready to go home. After much convincing it is agreed that they will be allowed to stay overnight by themselves. After all, the city is guarded by the best security the government can offer. Plus their parents are planning to be back at six in the morning.
Ryan and Regan wake up the next morning to find that it's already eight o'clock, and their parents still aren't back. They set out to investigate, only to find the city apparently deserted. No scientists, not even security people. Something is definitely wrong. And it looks like it's up to Ryan and Regan to solve it. As long as whatever took out the computer doesn't get them next.
Fast paced adventure, mixed with quick thinking. I don't know if I would have nearly the presence of mind that these two have, but it sure was fun to ride along with them! There is a lot of scientific information, which I'm sure is very interesting if you get it. I can speak from experience and say that it's not necessary to understand all of it. It's done in a way that just about anybody can follow, and doesn't make you feel dumb for not getting it all. Ryan and Regan are great fun, and the story is just a cool idea! The whole book is very well written, but the last chapter is too perfect! You'll agree when you read it.
I'm (impatiently) looking forward to getting a copy of the first book in the mail, and the next one as soon as the author can get it finished!
Brother/sister duo Ryan and Regan are back only this time they're officially part of the team of scientists working in the top-secret alien city discovered deep underground in Pennsylvania. They rush off every day after school to work in the city of Prometheus. One weekend they convince their parents to let them sleep over in the city, only to wake up to discover all of the adults captured by a ruthless alien escaped convict whose mind control abilities mysteriously fail to work on the kids. It's up to them to save not just the adults, but the earth itself from alien rule.
This second entry in the series moves the plot and characters forward at a pleasant pace, particularly for middle grade fiction. Ryan and Regan's relationship has progressed from that of a tolerant brother/sister pair to one featuring mutual respect from working together. More mysteries of the alien city are creatively revealed through the infiltration of an alien escaped convict.
The villain is sufficiently challenging without being too frightening. There is no undo violence or threats made. He is a threat, but one the kids can live up to.
The length is more appropriate this time, which was a nice improvement. However, I do feel some of the writing can improve. Although the science will be interesting and challenging to young readers, sometimes the writing itself seemed to be skewed a bit too young.
Overall, this is another strong entry in this middle grade series. I firmly believe the series will keep young readers with an interest in scifi and secret government operations happily engaged while parents and guardians can have peace of mind about what they are reading.
Check out my full review. (Link will be live on August 30, 2011)
This second entry in the series moves the plot and characters forward at a pleasant pace, particularly for middle grade fiction. Ryan and Regan's relationship has progressed from that of a tolerant brother/sister pair to one featuring mutual respect from working together. More mysteries of the alien city are creatively revealed through the infiltration of an alien escaped convict.
The villain is sufficiently challenging without being too frightening. There is no undo violence or threats made. He is a threat, but one the kids can live up to.
The length is more appropriate this time, which was a nice improvement. However, I do feel some of the writing can improve. Although the science will be interesting and challenging to young readers, sometimes the writing itself seemed to be skewed a bit too young.
Overall, this is another strong entry in this middle grade series. I firmly believe the series will keep young readers with an interest in scifi and secret government operations happily engaged while parents and guardians can have peace of mind about what they are reading.
Check out my full review. (Link will be live on August 30, 2011)
