Last Descendants

June 1, 2016
The debut of an action-adventure series that ties in with the popular "Assassin's Creed" video games. Monroe, the information technology guy at Owen's high school, runs an unusual operation: his Animus console allows users to enter simulations to explore genetic memories. For the 15-year-old white boy, this means he might be able to uncover the truth about his father. He doesn't believe what his grandparents say about his father: that he had a gambling addiction, robbed a store, shot a guard. Owen feels his father was framed by friends, and that landed him in prison. That thread of the story proves to be a dead end, left to future installments, but in a simulation that sends Owen and others to New York City during the 1863 draft riots, Owen and companions finds themselves caught in the middle of an ancient rivalry between two factions, the Templar Order and the Assassins Brotherhood. Amid the fast-paced action and historical drama, they uncover an ancient relic, a Piece of Eden, with tremendous power. The fascinating, free-wheeling blend of science, history, and action-adventure will make this a sure hit, even for those who haven't played the video games. The consciously diverse cast includes, in addition to Owen, a Latino, an African-American brother and sister, a Central Asian girl, and a white boy in a wheelchair. Readers will be anxious for the second installment, soon to follow. (Science fiction. 11-16)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Usually marketed toward adults, Ubisoft's popular Assassin's Creed video game franchise takes a stab at attracting young adult audiences with the first title in a planned series. Fans of the franchise will wonder what this title is doing in the youth section, while the target audience will rejoice that there is finally something for them in this thought-provoking historical fiction series. Just like the game, this volume follows the main characters into the Animus (think plugging into the Matrix), where they can relive parts of their ancestors' lives through their DNA. This new story begins by following high school friends Owen and Javier as they sneak out one night to explore an Animus in a shady bus with their school's IT guy, Monroe. He has manipulated the Animus in a way that will surprise seasoned fans and keep them hooked until the somewhat predictable cliff-hanger ending. True to the franchise, many characters are diverse in terms of culture, belief, and sexual orientation; however, their development is a bit flat and will hopefully be fleshed out in future installments. Newcomers to the series may be left puzzled at times, but fans of science fiction may be able to pick up on some of the technical lingo. VERDICT This will appeal to reluctant readers and gaming enthusiasts.-Amanda Schiavulli Finger Lakes Library System, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.