Dark Divide

May 15, 2018
The perilous intricacies of espionage run deeper than ever in this high-octane sequel.After a harrowing and nearly fatal start to junior year, Nadia Riley returns along with her team of fellow teens, Jack, Libby, Alan, and brazen new student Simon, for their second semester at Desert Mountain Academy. No sooner do things get back to normal-- "normal" being relative in a CIA black ops training program--than the threats and the traitor, Damon Moore, from the start of the year return. Damon is desperate for Nadia's help--so desperate that he is willing to share information about impending dangers and truths that will shatter the world as Nadia knows it. Stone (Desert Dark, 2016) holds true to her diverse cast of teens (Irish-Lebanese-American Nadia, dark-skinned Damon, Israeli-American Alan, and neurodivergent Libby are joined by out-and-audacious Simon). The alternating third-person narration is used to explore the individual plot intrigues surrounding each team member, not only showcasing fascinating and lethal minutiae of intelligence operations, but also exploring the complex web of secrets that intertwines each individual with their family and each other. Character development and beyond-stereotype representations are sacrificed for hairpin plot twists and heart-stopping tension as the narrative barrels toward a conclusion that reveals explosive secrets. While a strong spy narrative, the inclusion of diverse identities here is not well-crafted, unfortunately reinforcing negative representation.A jaw-dropping second installment ready for a third. (Thriller. 12-16)

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July 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-This sequel to Desert Dark doubles down on intrigue by deep-diving into the intricacies of conspiracies and the fallout of secrets. Nadia Riley just wants to put last semester's betrayals behind her as she continues training at Desert Mountain Academy, a CIA black ops boarding school. In between lessons at the dojo and classes on psychological warfare, former teammate Damon Moore drops a bombshell into Nadia's lap-her father is not who he says he is. Damon promises further insight, but he has own agenda and is not to be trusted. Fellow team members Simon, Libby, and Alan are, in the meantime, running training missions for leader Jack that may have real-world implications. This is structured around flash-forwards and flashbacks, alternating among Nadia, her teammates, Damon, and Jack. The multiple viewpoints add intriguing layers to the spy narrative, but some readers may get whiplash from the frequent plot twists. The continued emphasis on Nadia as a focal point from the first installment feels a bit forced until the latter half of the book reveals her ultimate importance. New and returning readers will appreciate the beginning's debriefing on past events as well as explanations of espionage terms like tiger kidnapping and Stockholm syndrome within the book. Give this novel to teens that crave brisk, action-heavy intrigue and don't mind realistic violence. VERDICT Purchase for libraries where Stone's first book saw popularity and where spy thrillers circulate well.-Pearl Derlaga, York County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2018
Grades 8-11 Nadia Riley rejoins her crew for a second semester at Desert Mountain Academy, although her former classmate Damon has been expelled for his traitorous activities with a rogue special forces group, the Nighthawks. His place is taken by an overly charming Brit named Simon, who has a mission of his own involving a DNA database for CIA agents. Nadia's fastidious roommate, Libby, has her own worries when her father announces his candidacy for president, while �bernerd Alan struggles with his own ethical dilemma. Then Damon shows up in crisis mode: his mother's been taken hostage. All of these well-orchestrated plot strands eventually gel into a central mystery that questions why Nadia and her classmates were chosen to participate in a training program so riddled with danger and intrigue. It's a thrilling ride, packed with espionage techniques and black ops strategies. As in the series opener, Desert Dark (2016), readers are kept guessing about characters and their true loyalties until the very end. Recommend to fans of spy fiction or anyone looking for a sophisticated page-turner.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)