Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sci-fi page-turner has too much swooning, too little plot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In RELEASE ME, after weeks of interrogation, Rosabelle escapes prison and tries to return to Ark Island to take down the Reestablishment and save her sister Clara. Two big obstacles stand in the way of her plans: she can't return without a mysterious vial that's now under lock and key and James locates her before she can steal a plane. And no matter how many times she pushes James away, with bullets and knives, his healing powers and their mutual attraction keep her hopelessly tethered to the mainland.
Is It Any Good?
This sci-fi spinoff started strong and still has much potential, but this sequel has too much swoon and swagger and not enough plot to push the story forward. Fans of the Shatter Me series already know to expect this. Tahereh Mafi is a fantastic writer who explores some really fascinating 1984-level big brother stuff here, but she often stretches her series too thin and fills the space with the constant mooning of her attractive, troubled, and heartsick characters and the verbal sparring of their cool friends. The verbal sparring in Release Me is pretty fun, especially with Kenji around, but much of the mooning interrupts gunfights and other action sequences. Even readers who revel in Rosabelle and James' intense longing for each other will wonder why they can't stay on task when things get chaotic and bloody. Not the time, lovebirds. Still, this sequel is a page-turner that propels readers through Rosabelle's anxiety and longing to the tense cliffhanger ending. Fans will certainly be back for more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about surveillance in Release Me. What's different about the surveillance in the Reestablishment and the New Republic? Why is this difference so jarring for Rosabelle at first?
How does Rosabelle manage her anxiety and PTSD? How does James? How do they show empathy for each other when they are stressed?
People are shot left and right in the bloody gunfights. Is it less jarring because a character can heal himself and others? Or is it still jarring because key characters are always running around with gunshot wounds?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Dystopia , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Superheroes
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Storytide
- Publication date : April 7, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : April 13, 2026
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