Westerfield, Scott. Horizon.

Westerfield, Scott. Horizon. Scholastic Press   2017 241p $14.99  Hardback  ISBN 978-0-545-91677-6   ms  Fantasy  VG-BN     

When their plane crashes in the Arctic, a group of teenagers going to a robotics convention find themselves among the few survivors, but they are in a supernatural jungle.  The vegetation and animals are weird.  From razor-beaked birds to carnivorous vines to a mysterious predator that is not seen, this is no ordinary jungle.  The teens use their knowledge to begin to make sense of their situation and how to operate a device they find that can control gravity.  They form a plan to find out what is going on, and the book ends.  Readers will find it excruciating to wait for the next installment.

The writing is excellent, typical of the author.  But the abrupt ending without a very satisfying conclusion is annoying.  The publisher references an online game. Checking the web pages, readers can sign on and play the game as one of the characters in the story.  Information about the author and chat groups are available.  It looks like three titles in the series are now written. Seeing who the author is, this book will fly off the shelves.  However, it would be better to wait until more titles in the series are published, so readers can continue the story without interruption.

Summary: A plane crash in the Arctic leaves teenage survivors fighting for their lives in a supernatural jungle.  Associated with a game, this is the start of a survival series.  Readers may be disappointed that the story stops in the middle.  Middle school.

Survival-Fiction                                            --Joan Theal