ISBN: 978-1524720964
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2019
Genre/Format: Sci Fi/Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook
Awards
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2020
Reading Level Ages 14+ (NoveList)
Book Summary: Aurora Rising is the first book of three in an epic outer space adventure. The year is 2380 and Tyler, an Alpha, can't sleep because he's too wound up about the next day's draft at Aurora Academy; the day that he can pick his elite squad and start traveling through space leading his crew on missions. He takes out a ship for a ride to calm himself down and ends up rescuing Aurora from a spaceship that has been missing for over 200 years. Aurora has been cryogenically frozen asleep and has no clue about anything. Let the adventures begin!
Having missed draft day, Tyler is saddled with a misfit crew and they are sent on a mission that requires little skill and offers even less excitement. Little do they know that Aurora has been stowed away on their spaceship and will lead them on an unprecedented and harrowing adventure. Will the squad be able to overcome their petty squabbles and band together to face this mission? Or will their dislike for one another get in the way of an increasingly mysterious and dangerous mission?
Author Background: Australian authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have collaborated together on a previous sci-fi series, The Illuminae Files. Kaufman has written and co-written other novels and she also has a podcast about writing that you can find here. Kristoff is the author of many other sci fi and fantasy books including the award-winning The Lotus War series.
Critical Evaluation: Like most science fiction novels, Aurora Rising spends a great deal of time on world-building, but it's done in an organic manner so that it doesn't feel like you're reading through pages and pages of exposition. The authors introduce the characters and describe their species as the squad meets each other and get to know one another. Each chapter is told from one of the squad member's points of view, which provides great depth of knowledge of each of the characters. Additionally, there are "Data Entry" pages between some chapters that explain important information in a quick, but humorous manner. Still, because this book was published as the first of three, it takes a while for the plot to take off and there isn't a resolution at the end, only a slight breather.
Speed-Round Book Talk: Imagine waking up from a 200+ year cryogenic sleep; everyone and everything you had ever known is gone. Would you be excited about your new telekinetic abilities or would you rather search for answers. Check out Aurora Rising to find out!
Library Program: Let's have fun and make galaxy-themed shirts. Using diluted bleach in spray bottles, paint, brushes, and sponges we will create shirts that look out of this world!
Potential Challenges: This book has some language and violence, but no more than other sci fi novels. If anyone challenges this novel based on those two things then they are probably going to have to challenge a majority of books already in the library.
Reason for Inclusion: This book has interesting, well-rounded characters, including strong and powerful women and men who are willing to be introspective, too. Fans of sci fi will love this book and, I predict, the entire series so it will be a popular choice in the teen section.
References
Amy Kaufman Bio. (nd.). amiekaufman.com. http://amiekaufman.com/bio/
GetUnderlined. (2019). Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Official Book Trailer.
Kristoff, J. (2021). Bio. Jay Kristoff. https://jaykristoff.com/about/
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