Homicidal Aliens and Other Disappointments

Gr 9 Up—Yansky begins with a prologue explaining, in brief, what happened in the first work of this duology, Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences (Candlewick, 2010). New readers learn that aliens, called the Sanginians, have colonized Earth, killing most humans in their wake. Narrator Jesse, along with some other telepaths, was kept by the aliens as a slave, though he eventually escaped and (after many trials and tribulations) managed to kill the alien overlord, although even Jesse doesn't know exactly how he managed it. As the second book opens in earnest, many of the remaining rebels hail Jesse as a Warrior Spirit or Chosen One, hoping he can lead them to safety. Others, including Dylan, a rival for power, and Lauren, Jesse's girlfriend, dismiss him as a skilled fighter at best and irresponsible and selfish at worst. The teen's powers continue to develop, and with the help of a shamanlike character named Running Bird, he is eventually able to time travel (or, as he calls it, move into different moments). Fans of the first book will enjoy Jesse's sense of humor and the interplay between his normal problems (which girl to date, for example) and the high-stakes pursuit of survival. Some pacing problems, lack of character development, and incomplete world-building may prevent many new readers from feeling invested in Jesse's struggles. Recommended for libraries where the first book is popular.—Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR