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Cover of UNDERSPIN
4.13

Based on 45 Goodreads ratings

UNDERSPIN

by the dizzying number of characters introduced and not a lot of action. But patient readers will be rewarded as stray details from the opening return with new resonance and seemingly minor characters step into more important roles later on. Midway through the book, it becomes apparent that Zhao is a master of careful plotting and mystery—the real kind that cottons to morally complex situations. Kristian excels at coaching because he’s both kind and cruel, distant from his athletes and too intimate with them, wounded himself and wounding. It’s almost impossible to like him until he appears in his own voice in one of the final chapters. A poet of table tennis, Zhao turns this underappreciated sport into a nimbly described choreography of Tomahawk serves, switch\u002Dhanded chops, and forehand and backhand loops."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:84
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781662603

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This gripping science fiction adventure plunges readers into a hidden subterranean world where a young protagonist discovers a civilization thriving beneath the Earth's crust. The narrative masterful...

Our Review

This gripping science fiction adventure plunges readers into a hidden subterranean world where a young protagonist discovers a civilization thriving beneath the Earth's crust. The narrative masterfully blends elements of survival, mystery, and high-stakes discovery as the surface world's problems collide with the complex society of Underspin. The author builds a richly detailed and believable underground ecosystem, complete with its own unique rules, technologies, and social hierarchies. Readers will be captivated by the intricate world-building and the constant tension between the familiar world above and the astonishing reality below.

What sets this novel apart is its profound exploration of themes like environmental responsibility, societal structure, and what it truly means to be a pioneer. The protagonist's journey is not just one of physical survival but of moral and ethical growth, making the story resonate on multiple levels for a young adult audience. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter revealing new layers of the underground world and escalating the central conflict. This is a thought-provoking page-turner that will leave readers contemplating its implications long after the final page, solidifying its place as a standout in the sci-fi genre.

Themes

Communication in politics

Subjects

Communication in politics