Victories Greater Than Death: Unstoppable, Book 1
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Victories Greater Than Death is a sci-fi space opera written by Charlie Jane Anders, the first in the Unstoppable series. High school junior Tina discovers she's a human clone of a legendary starship captain and that she's needed to fight an interstellar war. Swearing happens occasionally ("hell," "damn," "a--hole," "d--k," "f--k"). Sexual content is limited to flirting and light petting. Teens use alien intoxicants in one scene. Violence mostly happens at a distance, but one villain melts his opponents with a single touch.
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What's the Story?
As VICTORIES GREATER THAN DEATH opens, high school junior Tina learns that she's a human clone of a brilliant alien starship commander. When she and her best friend Rachael are rescued and scooped up from Earth to join an interstellar war, Tina discovers that she has lost many of her memories, which may put all their shipmates in danger. Tina assembles a diverse team of Earthlings to fight for intergalactic freedom, even they travel closer to some of the deadliest foes on any planet.
Is It Any Good?
Space opera can seem old-fashioned, but this sci-fi saga feels fresh and new. Author Charlie Jane Anders makes sure the plot of Victories Greater Than Death moves at the speed of light, offering up action-packed plot turns in combination with heartfelt character moments, all delivered by a cast of cleverly constructed alien beings. Tina's a boisterous protagonist -- brave, sensitive, and ready with a positive quip. Big battle scenes alternate with quieter moments among best friends and potential romantic partners. This volume ends on a moment of temporary resolution, but many readers are going to want a second volume delivered at hyperspeed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Victories Greater Than Death depicts its teen characters as supremely competent in some areas but deficient in others. How do people discover where their talents actually lie?
Would you be willing to embark on a fabulous one-way trip, in which you would have all kinds of amazing experiences but never see your home again?
What might it feel like to carry someone else's memories? Would you want all of them, or only some of them?
Book Details
- Author: Charlie Jane Anders
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, Space and Aliens
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Tor Teen
- Publication date: April 13, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 18
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 2, 2021
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