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Laybourne, Emmy
5 Reviews
(4)
YA
Hanne is a Berserker: uncontrollable rage compels her to kill any threat--animal or human--to herself or her family. She and her siblings flee Norway for Montana Territory in hopes that their long-lost uncle can help her master her power; along the way, Hanne meets cowboy Owen. An unusual paranormal romance–meets–Western adventure seasoned with Norse mythology. The American-frontier setting notably lacks Native presence.
Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker
(3)
YA
Aboard a star-studded cruise ship, Laurel's seasickness prevents her from trying Solu, a new weight-loss wonder drug. As its side effects turn the passengers, including best friend Vivika, into violent monsters, Laurel and hot celebrity Tom try to warn others before the drug's widespread release. Through alternating narrators, Laybourne addresses issues of body image and self-acceptance amidst a bloody survival story.
Reviewer: Andrea Curtis
(2)
YA
The kids from the first two Monument 14 books have mostly reunited in Canada, but Josie is still imprisoned in a facility housing the potentially violent Type Os. Niko sets off with Jake, Dean, and his pregnant-by-Jake girlfriend Astrid to rescue Josie. Chapters alternate between Josie's and Dean's perspectives, and Laybourne sustains the tension and the thrilling pace throughout.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2014
(2)
YA
This Monument 14 sequel features a nifty plot device that provides unexpected moments of chaos: upon exposure to poisoned air, people with type-O blood go berserk, type-AB have paranoid delusions, and type-A blister and bleed to death. Laybourne excels at combining specific details of a world gone horribly wrong with intriguing characters, adding new ones as she sets up the next book.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2013
(2)
YA
A devastating hailstorm, an earthquake, and then a dangerous chemical spill lead to a school bus of kids (teens and younger) seeking refuge in a superstore--abundant resources and no adult supervision. In this intriguing, fast-paced dystopian novel, Laybourne gradually deepens the characterization and includes some touching scenes before bringing it all to an exciting conclusion.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2012
5 reviews
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