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Parents' Guide to

Scorpion Shards: The Star Shards Chronicles, Book 1

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Kids use psychic powers in exciting, X-Men-like thriller.

Book Neal Shusterman Science Fiction 2013
Scorpion Shards: The Star Shards Chronicles, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Thankfulmom
Thankfulmom Parent of 14-year-old
April 15, 2022
age 14+

Don't Judge this Book by the Cover

There is an alternate cover for this book which makes it look juvenile but this series is not. This book is the first of a trilogy and the following two books, Thief of Souls and Shattered Sky, are published as adult fiction. I think 14+ is appropriate for all three. The six main characters have unusual powers that they are trying to understand. The story is engaging from the first sentence. It is a quick and exciting read and continues to be so in the following book. The series is a must for Neal Shusterman fans.
Maridalia
Maridalia Adult
May 13, 2019
age 14+

Exciting and thought-inviting

It explores the "evil" urges every teenager faces and how destructive it could be for those that succumb to it. It's great to open discussions about those topics and reflect. This author makes a wonderful job of keeping the thrill all the way to the end, so much that the reader wants to continue reading after it's reached.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As SCORPION SHARDS opens, Dillon, a boy who can cause chaos with a few words, and Deanna, a young woman terrified of nearly everything, realize that their chances of survival are greater if they team up. Four other psychically gifted teens are soon on their trail, trying to withstand the debilitating physical effects of their own superpowers. If they don't stop Dillon and Deanna in time, the entire world's population could be doomed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

If its premises and plotting seems a little dated after decades of X-Men adventures, this thriller still packs a superheroic punch. With Scorpion Shards, author Neal Shusterman displays his skill at creating teen characters with awesome powers who struggle against awesome challenges. The problems they face -- super-acne, mega-obesity, reverse aging and more -- verge on the unbelievable but are made plausible through convincing character development. The novel's action sequences are exciting and clearly described, and they serve thematic purposes rather than as excuses for a punch-up. By the end of the book, readers will feel sympathy for all the characters and want to see what happens to them in the next installment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Scorpion Shards uses elements ot superhero comics to tell its story. How is this effective?

  • Is there such a thing as "evil'? Can people be taken over by it and forced to commit bad deeds?

  • How is violence used in Scorpion Shards? Does it produce the results that characters want from it?

Book Details

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