A review by mb_booklady
Breaking Sky by Cory McCarthy
5.0
This is one of those books I wish life hadn't gotten in the way of reading. While it did take me about three weeks to read it, the fact is not a reflection of the quality of the story.
Chase, call sign Nyx, is part of a top secret military program designed to hopefully take down the controlling, iron-fisted world superpower, Ri Xiong Di. All pilots and co-pilots, or RIOs, involved in the Streaker program are teens who have earned their way into the Star Academy.
I can see some "Top Gun" influences in parts of the book, but overall I think the story is more of a Bildungsroman with a strong shot of action and adventure. Nyx has to learn or mature to the point where she can accept the truth of her parentage, recognize when she is running from life and herself, determine her coping mechanisms, and allow others close to her and herself to get close to others before she can become the pilot all of her potential indicates she can be.
McCarthy accurately portrays the relationship between teens living together without parental supervision, showing their camaraderie, activities, tiffs, and social order. I could tell how close Nyx was to her RIO and how much it bothered her when their relationship began to flounder.
I can see how other reviewers could feel the addition of a gay character was contrived. It wasn't necessary for the story, but it does give her the courage to pursue a true relationship with the guy she is interested in as she sees the gay character's emotional turmoil over unrequited love.
The only other semi-negative thing I can say about this story is that the final fight scene is a bit tamer than I would have expected, but it does demonstrate that it takes brains AND brawn to win a war.
The real reason the story gets a five star rating from me is because it brought me to tears. It takes a really good, emotionally gripping story to do that, as I am not a cryer.
Due to language, I would recommend the book to high-school age students and up.
Chase, call sign Nyx, is part of a top secret military program designed to hopefully take down the controlling, iron-fisted world superpower, Ri Xiong Di. All pilots and co-pilots, or RIOs, involved in the Streaker program are teens who have earned their way into the Star Academy.
I can see some "Top Gun" influences in parts of the book, but overall I think the story is more of a Bildungsroman with a strong shot of action and adventure. Nyx has to learn or mature to the point where she can accept the truth of her parentage, recognize when she is running from life and herself, determine her coping mechanisms, and allow others close to her and herself to get close to others before she can become the pilot all of her potential indicates she can be.
McCarthy accurately portrays the relationship between teens living together without parental supervision, showing their camaraderie, activities, tiffs, and social order. I could tell how close Nyx was to her RIO and how much it bothered her when their relationship began to flounder.
I can see how other reviewers could feel the addition of a gay character was contrived. It wasn't necessary for the story, but it does give her the courage to pursue a true relationship with the guy she is interested in as she sees the gay character's emotional turmoil over unrequited love.
The only other semi-negative thing I can say about this story is that the final fight scene is a bit tamer than I would have expected, but it does demonstrate that it takes brains AND brawn to win a war.
The real reason the story gets a five star rating from me is because it brought me to tears. It takes a really good, emotionally gripping story to do that, as I am not a cryer.
Due to language, I would recommend the book to high-school age students and up.