Tempest: A Novel
Equal parts sf time-travel saga, secret-agent action thriller, and romance, this series starter takes time getting its bearings, even as dramatic scenes place its hero, Jackson, in inexplicable danger. For fans of puzzle-within-puzzle plots, this won’t be a deterrent. Son of a New York City CEO, Jackson knows he is able to step back in time and has been testing his abilities with his science-nerd friend, Adam. But Jackson’s girlfriend, Holly, is in the dark until two sinister men corner the couple and begin shooting. Shocked, Jackson is thrown far into his own past. Certain that the Holly he knows in 2009 is dead, he sets out to know an earlier version of her, while also learning that his own father may not be who he says he is. The CIA is involved, as is a doctor who engineered a terrible experiment. Significant ambiguities remain throughout the final act as Jackson makes some tough choices, though for some readers this may actually keep them panting for the sequel. Grades 9-12. --Karen Cruze