Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Alien-invasion sequel earthbound but still action-packed.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Picking up where the first volume left off, UNDYING continues the adventures of Mia and Jules as they frantically try to stop an alien invasion of Earth. Having uncovered the secrets of a giant spacecraft, they stowaway on a shuttle bound for their home planet, accompanied by two of the Undying, Dex and Atlanta. They crashland in Europe and are taken into custody by agents of the International Alliance. No one believes Mia and Jules, though, insisting the invasion to be a hoax. Jules and Mia must escape and find absolute proof that Earth is about to be taken over by hostile extraterrestrials.
Is It Any Good?
Moving from the marvelous to the mundane can be jarring, and this mostly earthbound follow-up to a high-flying adventure in space may slightly disappoint faithful readers. Authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner make their lead characters Jules and Mia as adorable as ever, but running around Europe isn't quite as interesting as exploring an ancient, puzzle-filled, alien spacecraft. There's still plenty of crisp, quirky dialogue, and the action never flags, which may be enough for readers seeking a new spin on alien invasions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Undying offers a new take on the familiar trope of alien invasion. How might humanity react if it discovered that it is not alone in the universe?
How has climate change affected the natural world? What can be done to curb the destruction that's happening? How does the media address the situation?
Mia and Jules have very different personalities, but they're romantically attracted to each other. What do you think works best, being with someone who's like you or different from you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Hyperion Book CH
- Publication date : January 22, 2019
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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