It seems I’ve been on a sci-fi dystopian kick lately, and Reach is a great addition to that list! I didn’t know what to expect exactly with the mention of martian genetics, secret government plot, and chess? (I love chess, especially when I’m the one losing lol)

Ratings for Reach

Story: 4/5

Worldview: 4/5

Story

The action begins from Chapter 1 with a sudden twist, which was a great hook and premise for the rest of the novel. I loved seeing Reach’s relationship with his mom; she really came across like such a determined, honorable mother. As the story progressed, I loved meeting other characters, like Dr. Jog, Dr. Geo, Lift, and Llama. Since the novel talked so much about game theory, I really wasn’t sure who to trust at every turn! Some of these moments really reminded me of the Hunger Games, too. My only note with story is that early chapters tended to explain a lot of information at once, so the pacing slowed down a bit, but it picked right back up again at the right time. 🙂

Worldview

This novel is not a Christian novel, so I am not reading it with that perspective. The main message of the novel seems to be rooted in trust, loyalty, and standing up for what’s right no matter what it costs you. I loved Reach as an underdog kind of character, disadvantaged in almost every situation but also clever enough to figure it out. Reach and Llama are the main love interests, and they were really cute with their banter. One note is that there is a moderate kiss (with intention for more).

Even though this is not a Christian novel, there is one reference that stood out to me. There was a very slight reference to God, but it comes across as a “you’re going to get what’s coming to you when you die” and not a message of hope or redemption. This is the quote for reference: “You know, there are some beliefs people once had. After death, a person is required to answer to a higher power. […] It’s called reckoning. I like it. I believe it. […] you’ll spend the afterlife answering for what you did […] and what you’re doing now. Justice might not be served in this life, but it will be served in the next.”) I can’t tell if this person actually believes in God or if they’re just throwing this in another character’s face.

Overall Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book as a whole! It’s a solid debut from O. McCarthy, and I look forward to seeing the next book in the series!! I recommend this book to teen readers of dystopian if you want a fun adventure with quite a few twists!

If you want to check out another sci-fi dystopian book, I recently read The Shattered Ones by Brigitte Cromey. Happy reading!