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Tremor: Pulse, Book 2

Name: Tremor: Pulse, Book 2
Item: Tremor: Pulse, Book 2
Rating: 4
Author: Michael Berry

Book review by

Michael Berry, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 13+

(i)

Telekinetic adventure keeps suspense high in game of wits.

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Set in a near-future no-man's-land, Tremor doesn't offer much in the way of a scientific rationale for the characters' psychic powers. Which shouldn't interfere with any reader's enjoyment of the story.

Positive Messages

Tremor is a fairly straight-ahead adventure story, free of much moralizing. It does, however, raise questions about the responsibility that comes with great power and whether revenge ever has worthwhile consequences.

Positive Role Models & Representations

In Tremor, female protagonist Faith Daniels struggles to follow orders and be less of a loose cannon. She's still impulsive, but her bravery and willingness to put her own safety on the line are tempered by her feelings of responsibility for her entire team.

Violence

Until its climactic battle scenes, the violence in Tremor is fairly low key, mainly because the telekinetic characters can't figure out how to hurt each other. Once the two factions engage, however, some major supporting characters are killed, not to mention untold foot soldiers and bystanders.

Sex

The sexual content of Tremor is fairly mild. Faith is still physically attracted to Dylan and to Wade. She and Dylan share a tender moment in which they kiss and stroke each other through their clothing. She also kisses Wade but breaks away.

Language

The language in Tremor is mildly salty, with a dozen or so uses of "damn," "hell," and "ass." "Bastard" and "bitch" are used a few times, as are "s--t" and "pissed."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

There's no drinking, smoking, or conventional drug taking in the main narrative of Tremor. Wire Code, a fictional electronic drug, is mentioned in passing.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Patrick Carman's Tremor is a post-apocalyptic science fiction adventure that picks up where the previous installment, Pulse, left off. It features characters with telekinetic powers who repeatedly attempt to kill each other, usually to no avail. The level of violence is fairly low, at least until a climactic battle, in which major supporting characters are killed, along with untold foot soldiers and bystanders. Sexual content is low, with romantic encounters consisting of mostly passionate kissing and hugging. The language is the book is mildly salty, with a dozen or so instances each of "damn," "hell," and "ass," and less frequent uses of "bitch," "bastard," and "s--t." Drug use is mentioned only in passing.

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What's the story?

After the collapse of society in North America, Faith Daniels, and Dylan Gilmore not only possess telekinetic powers but have the coveted "second pulse," which makes them virtually indestructible. However, their sworn enemies also have second pulses and are gearing up for all-out war. In a game-changing move, Dylan infiltrates their stronghold and puts himself at their mercy. Meanwhile, Faith and her compatriots work to save him. No matter how well they execute their plan, however, no one is prepared for the secrets that will be ultimately revealed.

Is it any good?

Author Patrick Carman keeps the suspense high and engineers a couple of neat plot twists in the middle of the book and at the end. TREMORS slightly changes up the scenario established in trilogy starter Pulse: Although there's still plenty of telekinetic mayhem, the focus is now on a game of wits between Dylan and his "captors." This emphasis on mind games rather than punch-outs is a good way to avoid the sophomore slump and keep the saga feeling fresh. Tremors will leave readers primed for the series conclusion.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can discuss why post-apocalyptic/dystopian science fiction is currently so popular. Why do readers seek stories about "the end of the world?"
Does great power require great responsibility? Why do people in power often abuse that power?