May 25, 2015
Westerfeld (Afterworlds), Lanagan (Yellowcake), and Biancotti (Bad Power) weave a sprawling adventure about a group of superpowered teenagers who call themselves Zeroes. When one of their number, named Scam for his ability to tell people exactly what he needs them to hear, is detained after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the others reunite after months apart, some less eager than others. Events quickly escalate, and soon half the group is in hiding, while the authorities and the mob hunt for them. The plot meanders, but the authors give their characters plenty of depth, skillfully blending human dilemmas with superhuman abilities. With the exception of Crash, who can bring down technology with a thought, these aren’t flashy, cinematic powers; subtle yet powerful, they largely revolve around coercion and manipulation. Mob and Bellweather can influence the emotions of crowds; Anonymous is nearly impossible to perceive or remember; and blind Flicker telepathically sees through the eyes of those around her. With action, romance, and thorny ethical questions, it’s a book with a little something for everyone. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.
July 30, 2015
Co-authored books often raise alarm bells for readers, with many examples of great ideas poorly executed. Thankfully Zeroes manages to overcome any scepticism with a well-crafted plot and some pretty amazing characters. There are six main characters in Zeroes. Each character has a different superpower that can be both a benefit and hindrance (hence the ‘Zeroes’ rather than ‘Heroes’ of the title). Each character also covers particular personality traits—confident, shy, dishonest, self-serving, honest—without being overly stereotypical, and readers will be intrigued to know which characters were written by which author. The plot weaves together the story arcs of the characters, exploring situations that many teenagers will relate to at one time or other, such as the character who while not invisible is so non-memorable they might as well be. There are a couple of farfetched scenarios but we’re dealing with superpowers so it’s kind of a moot point. Zeroes is a really good book that will have wide appeal thanks to its breadth of characters. It’s the first of a series that I think has the ability to attract the same following as Scott Westerfeld’s ‘Uglies’ series.