Author: Michael Buckley
Pub. Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s only hope of survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.
Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders.
I don’t know much about Coney Island. I actually looked it up on tripadvisor out of curiosity of what it’s like now. I could easily see how the setting could change to that of the book. The description really formed in my mind the slum version of Coney Island, with crazy gangs running the streets and it becoming blocked off due to the Alpha being there.
The characters are so interesting including Lyric herself. She describes how she used to be, a total party girl and rule breaker, to how she is now. The girl that blends into the background. Normally you see a main character with a more innocent background and it was neat to see this wild teenager from her past. She says she can’t be that girl anymore but you see that there is still a little bit left in her. She can’t completely stamp it down. Even though she knows what she is and who she is. She hasn’t really found balance and acceptance. That’s what really changes with her.
I love the solid relationships he has with Bex. Even though Bex is not the main character she is still a major player and a true friend. Bex has her own issues that come from living in a more destitute world of the Zone.
Shadow and Lyric’s parents are a constant presence but they were definitely more supporting roles. I liked how much interaction we do actually see with the adults. It’s not like they just run off and let the kids handle things.
Ugh the Arcade thing. It made sense that Arcade doesn’t just walk away but still. The Arcade thing. Also Doyle was interest as well.
I didn’t always have the greatest grasp on what the Alpha looked like in my mind. I could picture some of them like Fathom and Arcade but some the others like Ghost. It was kind of just a rough sketch. I don’t think it had anything to do with how they were described, just me trying to put it together. I liked that they didn’t just magically look human and were proud to keep their cultural differences. I was fascinated by things of how they function in their home. How do they stay in one spot without the current floating them away. When a fish comes out of water it can’t survive. How do they survive. Do their bodies change, like a transformation. We see a little bit more with that towards the end of the book. I would probably down at the shore asking a hundred million questions and they would probably eat me just to get me to shut up.
Undertow takes discrimination head on. They don’t only talk about humans versus the Alphas but also different types. I always wonder what would happen if a book like this really came to life. I think the way people treated the Alphas is horrible but I think some of it is rooted in fear. It’s something that gets the gears in your brain turning.
I really enjoyed the book and I think if you enjoy Invasion stories that show the discrimination aspect of what would happen. This is a great and interesting read. I already want to know what’s going to happen next. I added the second book to my tbr upon finishing.
Giveaway Details:
5 winners will receive a prize pack that contains an Undertow beach towel, beach bag, bookmark, a finished book. US Only.
Tour Schedule
Week One:
4/27/2015- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf- Interview
4/28/2015- Library of a Book Witch- Review
4/29/2015- Moonlight Gleam Reviews- Book Trailer Post
4/30/2015- Word Spelunking- Review
5/1/2015- Bewitched Bookworms- Book Excerpt
Week Two:
5/4/2015- For the Love of Words- Review
5/5/2015- Novel Novice - Guest Post
5/6/2015- The O.W.L.- Review
5/7/2015- Mom With A Kindle- Interview
5/8/2015- Literary Meanderings - Sneak Peek of Book 2 Post