Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Relentless tale of future warfare asks disturbing questions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Set after \"the Change,\" SHADE'S CHILDREN depicts a harrowing future where mysterious Overlords harvest all children over the age of 14 for their human/machine hybrids. After he escapes the Dorm, Gold-Eye is rescued by Ella, Drum and Ninde, savvy teenage survivors under the protection of an entity who calls himself Shade. Shade sends his children on dangerous missions, promising that they are fighting for a better day. But can Gold-Eye and his new friends trust Shade to have their best interests at heart?
Is It Any Good?
This a fast-paced tale of futuristic guerilla warfare, and Nix keeps the action and suspense high while still paying attention to the emotional lives of these hard-bitten survivors. There are few easy answers in this unforgiving world, and Nix keeps readers guessing and involved until the very end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Shade's Children and the struggle to balance the future good of the majority against the immediate needs of an endangered minority.
Do you think a kind of machine consciousness like Shade might ever be possible? How might one differ from humankind?
Shade knows how to manipulate his Children to do his bidding. What kinds of rewards/punishments do governments or corporations offer to young consumers to make them behave in a certain fashion?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : September 18, 1998
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 345
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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