Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Multiple time lines converge in rewarding sci-fi finale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE KLAATU TERMINUS, Tucker Frye and Lia seek answers atop a crumbling pyramid in a long-abandoned city in the far future. As a teen in the Midwest, Tucker's Uncle Kosh finds himself falling in love with his brother's fiancée. Meanwhile, crazed priests wreak havoc in the present and in the future. Tucker, Lia, and Kosh must puzzle out the purpose of the mysterious gates known as "diskos" before they're destroyed forever and the three are trapped separately in deadly circumstances.
Is It Any Good?
The climax of The Klaatu Terminus proves to be worth all the mind-bending and head-scratching action that precedes it. Throughout The Klaatu Diskos series, author Peter Hautman has juggled a large number of characters, settings, and time frames, surely leaving some readers wondering whether he'd be able to catch everything neatly at the end. But Hautman acquits himself well, developing his characters while concocting some outrageous plot twists. Readers who persevere through all the paradoxes will feel rewarded.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why time travel is such a common theme in science fiction and fantasy. Where in the past or future would you like to visit?
If you could change the past, would you do so? How might changing the past affect the future?
How are religion and technology sometimes connected? In what positive and negative ways do science and technology affect society?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : April 8, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate