A review by givnuapeacesign
Dark Energy by Robison Wells
3.0
Rachel and her father lead an interesting life. Originally based in Miami, they move suddenly to Minnesota because an enormous ship has crash landed from outer space. As Rachel's father will be spending exorbitant amounts of time investigating the scene and the unknown inhabitants, she is enrolled in a Gifted and Talented boarding school close by. There she meets Brynn, Rachel, and Kurt who become instant friends. As the aliens emerge, they appear human and harmless. Yet they speak an ancient Native American language and know nothing of human norms. As the plot unfolds, the reader learns much. The main characters are recruited to help the understaffed crew collect photographic evidence of the crash site. What they find is a cruel, startling reality with far reaching implications.
I enjoyed this Young Adult Science Fiction novel. Yet I was perturbed as I started reading it. Why? It seems the author tried to make the novel more "Young Adult" by plopping random swear words within the first few chapters. So much so that I do not think I can put this on my middle school shelf without blacking out these totally unnecessary words. The novel itself is completely suitable for a mature middle level student. There is subtle mention of basic kissing, etc. There is a some blood and gore. Yet nothing to really give me pause, except the inappropriate language which completely disappears after the first third of the book. Readers are captivated by the plot, not stupid swear words that do nothing to advance that plot. It felt to me as if this author simply placed them there to make young people feel as if they were reading something edgy, when in reality the technique cheapened the novel. I hedge between three and four stars for this very reason.
I enjoyed this Young Adult Science Fiction novel. Yet I was perturbed as I started reading it. Why? It seems the author tried to make the novel more "Young Adult" by plopping random swear words within the first few chapters. So much so that I do not think I can put this on my middle school shelf without blacking out these totally unnecessary words. The novel itself is completely suitable for a mature middle level student. There is subtle mention of basic kissing, etc. There is a some blood and gore. Yet nothing to really give me pause, except the inappropriate language which completely disappears after the first third of the book. Readers are captivated by the plot, not stupid swear words that do nothing to advance that plot. It felt to me as if this author simply placed them there to make young people feel as if they were reading something edgy, when in reality the technique cheapened the novel. I hedge between three and four stars for this very reason.