The Phoenix Files (#4 Underground, #5 Fallout, and #6 Doomsday)

by Chris Morphew
loaned to me (last spring!) by a student
paperback, 323, 318, and 405 pages respectively
genre: YA SciFi, Adventure

Sigh. I'm glad I'm finally done with these. The narrator of #4 was Luke, which I liked. The narrator of #5 was Jordan, which bugged me. The narrator of #6 bounced between Luke, Jordan, Bill, and Peter. This worked pretty well, but I just wanted the story to be over. The Luke and Jordan romance was never romantic. The entire Phoenix / Shackleton / Co-operative / end of the world scenario was simply too far-fetched. Oh, and the time travel and superpowers really pushed it over the edge.

It was nice of my student to loan these to me. I'm glad he was enthusiastic about reading them. The pacing and action level kept the stories moving along. I should probably write him a nice thank you note or give him a Barnes and Noble gift card or something . . .

Mutation: Phoenix Files #3

by Chris Morphew
student's copy paperback 311 pages
genre: YA dystopian

Finally! This third segment is told from Jordan's point of view. She's a kick-butt no-nonsense girl who is liked by both Luke and Peter but maintains friendship with both. The three now have trackers / supressors implanted in their lower backs. This part of the story gets even darker and creepier with Peter's former friends up to something and a mad scientist laboratory out in the bush.

I need to tell my student to stop loaning me his books! I don't have time to read so much.

Contact: Phoenix Files #2

by Chris Morphew
student's copy paperback 309 pages
genre: YA dystopian

This story was told from Peter's point of view. He's my least favorite of the trio of teens trying to figure out what's really going on in Phoenix and how they can stop the end of the world. This one gets even more intense with the creepy factor and an innocent character's death. These stories are addicting . . .

The Phoenix Files #1 The Arrival

by Chris Morphew
owned by a student paperback 291 pages
genre: YA SciFi Dystopian

A student loaned this to me (his personal copy) and asked me to read it. It was engaging, quick, and left me wanting to know "what's next?" This is book one and definitely invites you to continue.

Luke Hunter's mom and dad have just divorced. His mom takes a new job and they move to a new town called Phoenix (somewhere in Australia). Only things aren't quite what they seem. Jordan (a girl) is the other "new" kid and the two of them are determined to figure out what's going on.

From Goodreads:
Luke is having a rough year. When his parents split up, his mum drags him to Phoenix, a brand-new town in the middle of nowhere.

But Phoenix is no ordinary town. There are no cars, no phones and no internet. Luke thinks this is as weird as it gets.

Then he discovers that someone is plotting to wipe out the human race. Phoenix is suddenly the safest and most dangerous place on earth.

And the clock is already ticking.

There are 100 days until the end of the world.

 
Liked, but didn't love. Not easy to buy on most sites . . . not sure if I'll invest or not. Very appealing to struggling readers, I would think.