Parents' Guide to Raging Sea: The Undertow Trilogy, Book 2

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Common Sense Media Review

Michael Berry By Michael Berry , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Middle volume in undersea saga ups the action and suspense.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 13+

Based on 2 kid reviews

What's the Story?

In RAGING SEA, Lyric Walker is on the run with two companions: her best friend, Bex, and Arcade, a member of the Alpha, a humanoid species suited for life underwater. With much of the East Coast devastated by monstrous invaders known as the Rusalka, the trio searches for Lyric's missing parents in Texas. The journey is fraught with danger, but none of the girls is prepared for what they find once they reach their destination. If her loved ones -- not to mention the rest of humanity -- have any chance of survival, Lyric must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 2 ):

It takes a lot of work to keep the middle volume of a sci-fi trilogy afloat, but author Michael Buckley does his best to raise the action and suspense in this installment of his undersea saga. Lyric and her companions encounter new dangers in their quest to rescue Lyric's missing parents, and they wind up in greater jeopardy than before. Buckley engineers a couple of neat plot twists, but there's sometimes a sense that the narrative is just marking time until Book 3. Still, there's an action-packed showdown at the climax of this volume, and the final pages will definitely leave loyal readers ready for more.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how people react to natural disasters and acts of war. Why do you think some survivors look for others to blame?

  • Why is dystopian fiction so popular? Why do so many readers enjoy contemplating the end of the world?

  • How do you forgive someone who has hurt or betrayed you?

Book Details

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