Six

Gr 4-6--British siblings Parker and Emma Banks have a lot on their plates: Emma is deaf, Parker is being bullied at their new American school, and their mother is dead. Their father, renowned scientist Dr. Geoffrey Banks, is often unavailable due to the hours he's putting in at his new job at Avecto. The three stay in contact with a telepathy device developed by Dr. Banks to help Emma communicate, but it doesn't help them talk about the things that really matter. Then Dr. Banks disappears, and Parker and Emma are the only ones who can rescue him--if they can figure out what he did at Avecto. Through many twists and turns, they discover that their father was developing teleportation technology to transport people to a new utopian planet called SIX, and that he has been unwillingly teleported there. Most issues are resolved, but some remaining loose threads make another installation possible. At close to 400 pages, there's a lot crammed into this book. The periodic action scenes keep the pages turning, but other plot elements seem unnecessary. Parker's bullying and the introduction of an albino pig only serve to bog down the story. Certain plot points smack of deus ex machina. For example, Parker has a wealthy sidekick whose money handily circumvents a variety of obstacles. VERDICT An additional purchase for ravenous readers of adventurous sci-fi.--Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

After 12-year-old Parker Banks's scientist father is kidnapped, it's up to Parker, his deaf younger sister Emma, and their friend Michael to track him down. As the three children peel back the layers of the mystery, they find a massive conspiracy. Who is the person posting online as Anteater, and how does he or she know so much? Why is the enigmatic Solomon Gladstone in a mental institution under a false name? And what is project SIX? Luckily, Parker and Emma have a secret of their own: the ability to communicate telepathically through their father's technology. Vaughan (The Ability) puts an intriguing spin on the classic SF conceits of teleportation and telepathy, providing a plausible way for these young heroes to face off against an all-powerful corporation. The open-ended conclusion leaves room for further exploration of a concept that is full of potential, and Vaughan's considered portrayal of 10-year-old Emma, who doesn't let her deafness slow her down in the least, is particularly well done. Ages 8-12. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. (May)