Rivers of Fire (Atherton Series #2)
In bestselling author Patrick Carman's rich and riveting follow-up to The House of Power, an extraordinary world meets its destiny in an epic and unforgettable rebirth. \ The world of Atherton has collapsed and the three levels have become one. Humans and monsters, once separated by vast cliffs, now roam the surface of Atherton together. The inside of Atherton--where the most troubling secrets are hidden--has been breached. While Edgar embarks on a life-or-death quest to find Atherton's mad...
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The Highlands, the center of Atherton, is sinking; Samuel and Isabel are trying to sneak into The House of Power to restore water to the world of Atherton; and Dr. Kincaid, Vincent and Edgar make their way towards the edge of the Highlands, intent on entering the secret underground refuge of Mead's Hollow and finding the key to unlocking Dr. Harding's brain. They must discover the solution to overcoming the threat of the deadly Cleaners, creatures now unleashed on the flattened land, before it's too late. But Mead's Hollow holds more secrets than any of them had ever imagined. In this tremendously satisfying continuation of the story of Atherton, readers will experience a world turned inside out; a spectacular flood; former enemies forced to work together in the name of survival; surprising histories concerning the creator of Atherton, Dr. Harding, and his partner Dr. Kincaid, and a shocking revelation about Edgar's own past. Best of all, the trip to Mead's Hollow leads to a dangerous-and extraordinary-expedition through the interior of Atherton that will titillate imaginations for a long time to come. With themes evocative of Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno, expect Rivers of Fire to give readers plenty to sink their teeth into.VOYAAtherton is a land in flux after flurry of seismic activity figuratively and literally leveled its three-tiered society in House of Power (Little, Brown, 2007/VOYA April 2007). The elite, learned individuals of the Highlands; the laborers of Tabletop; and the fanged, serpentine Cleaners of the Flatlands now share one domain. Even more worrisome, the Highlands, the source of Atherton's water supply, had slowly begun sinking into the Flatlands. As the planet's resources dwindle and the gnashing of the Cleaners' jaws grows louder, everyone's fate hangs in the balance. In a race against time, Edgar and his friends Isabel and Samuel, along with some unexpected allies, desperately strive to unravel the mysteries of their home as they battle fearsome beasts both large and small. Although not exactly well-written, the first book kept the reader entertained through a clever combination of brief chapters with cliffhanger endings and a fast-paced, engaging story with an ecological and social justice message. This sequel retains the same themes, yet it lacks the punch of its predecessor. Devoid of the elements that made the first book addicting and fun, Carman's clunky and frequently annoying prose glares through. The narrative offers too much explanation to the point of near-condescension to the reader's intelligence. Nothing, from character's facial expressions to their internal dialogue, is spared comment from the third-person narrator. The most egregious faux pas comes from a minor character who has the misfortune to deliver a sappy, hackneyed message before dying a hero. Still readers who loved the first novel may forgive this one's trespasses and keep it circulating. Reviewer: AngelicaDelgado
\ Children's Literature\ - Jamaica Johnson Conner\ Fans of Atherton: The House of Power will love this sequel, which opens with action, adventure, and suspense that does not subside until the concluding sentence. As the world of Atherton collapses, three separate groups of characters must find a way to survive. In the process of searching for safe havens and water, all three separate groups encounter dangerous and seemingly indestructible monsters, the Cleaners, which make the survival efforts all the more difficult. One group, which includes three teenage protagonists named Edgar, Samuel, and Isabel, represents the future of Atherton; these characters play a central role as the story unfolds and they attempt to reunite with their families and friends. Themes addressed through the characters' adventures include teamwork, looking out for others, survival of the fittest, the value of friendship, reality versus disillusionment, the importance of a father figure, and redemption. Carman's use of suspense blended with symbolism and allegory provides the reader with an additional layer of interest and meaning beyond the story itself, keeping the reader constantly engaged. Readers who enjoy plot complexities, intense character adventures, and exploring the deeper meaning of a text, will delight in this piece as it delivers all of these features magnificently. Reviewer: Jamaica Johnson Conner\ \ \ \ \ VOYA\ - Angelica Delgado\ Atherton is a land in flux after flurry of seismic activity figuratively and literally leveled its three-tiered society in House of Power (Little, Brown, 2007/VOYA April 2007). The elite, learned individuals of the Highlands; the laborers of Tabletop; and the fanged, serpentine Cleaners of the Flatlands now share one domain. Even more worrisome, the Highlands, the source of Atherton's water supply, had slowly begun sinking into the Flatlands. As the planet's resources dwindle and the gnashing of the Cleaners' jaws grows louder, everyone's fate hangs in the balance. In a race against time, Edgar and his friends Isabel and Samuel, along with some unexpected allies, desperately strive to unravel the mysteries of their home as they battle fearsome beasts both large and small. Although not exactly well-written, the first book kept the reader entertained through a clever combination of brief chapters with cliffhanger endings and a fast-paced, engaging story with an ecological and social justice message. This sequel retains the same themes, yet it lacks the punch of its predecessor. Devoid of the elements that made the first book addicting and fun, Carman's clunky and frequently annoying prose glares through. The narrative offers too much explanation to the point of near-condescension to the reader's intelligence. Nothing, from character's facial expressions to their internal dialogue, is spared comment from the third-person narrator. The most egregious faux pas comes from a minor character who has the misfortune to deliver a sappy, hackneyed message before dying a hero. Still readers who loved the first novel may forgive this one's trespasses and keep it circulating. Reviewer: AngelicaDelgado\ \ \ School Library JournalGr 6-9\ Atherton was once a place of order and structure, with its people divided by geography and social class. Edgar, an orphan boy from Tabletop, has discovered that Atherton is a man-made satellite created as a refuge from a dying Earth, predestined to change and evolve. At the Highlands, the uppermost tier, are the ruling class who control the water supply, while the middle tier villagers provide the food. At the lowest level live frightening creatures. After severe seismic shifts erase the boundaries between the sections of this shared world, the residents are forced to become one people as their world is altered and chaos threatens to overtake them. Determined that the planet and its people survive, Edgar's quest leads him to incredible discoveries about his relationship to the planet and to its creator that makes for an exciting, introspective journey. Jonathan Davis's smooth and unhurried narration draws listeners into Patrick Carman's science fiction novel (Little, Brown, 2008), the sequel to House of Power (Little, Brown, 2007). He conveys the heroism, selflessness, courage, and profound sadness that are characteristics of the various main characters. This complex and entertaining story will captivate a wide audience of listeners, but will be most appreciated by those who have read the previous title.-Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ\ \ \ \ \ \ Kirkus ReviewsCarman continues the story he began in Atherton: The House of Power (2007), depicting a world created scientifically as an alternative to its ecologically failing parent planet. The sequel completes the violent metamorphosis that provided a dramatic climax for the first book. A verbal sketch of the world and a list of characters precedes the narrative, bringing series readers up to speed and allowing new readers to dive directly into the story. The fast-paced and suspenseful plot takes place on the planetoid's surface as well as in its bowels. In alternating narratives, readers follow the adventures of both the population above ground (who wrestle with massive environmental disaster) and the small group of key characters, which includes Samuel and Isobel, two of the three child heroes, who struggle to escape before the world's environmental transition traps them below. There's a lot to like in this science-fiction adventure-danger abounds, science seems to have run amok and a neat (but not too neat) ending ties up most of the loose ends. (Science fiction. 9-12)\ \
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