Book Review: MiNRS by Kevin Sylvester
MiNRS
Series: MiNRS #1
Author: Kevin Sylvester
Published: September 22, 2015
336 Pages
Reviewed By: Cristina
Book Description:
A boy and his friends must find a way to survive in the mining tunnels after their new space colony is attacked in this gritty action-adventure novel, which School Library Journal called “a solid survival story.”
In space. Underground. And out of time.
Christopher Nichols and his family live on a new planet, Perses, as colonists of Melming Mining’s Great Mission to save the earth. Dozens of families like Christopher’s have relocated, too, like his best friend Elena Rosales.
A communications blackout with Earth hits, and all of Perses is on its own for three months. It’s okay, though, because the colonists have prepared, stockpiling food and resources to survive. But they never prepared for an attack.
Landers, as the attackers are called, obliterate the colony to steal the metal and raw ore. Now in a race against time, Christopher, along with a small group of survivors, are forced into the maze of mining tunnels. The kids run. They hide. But can they survive?
Cristina’s Review:
It all started when Melman Mining figured out how to mine small planetoids in the solar system. Earth is almost out of mineral resources, and Perses, a small planet on the outer edges of our solar system, is full of precious minerals. Christopher is 12 years old, and along with his classmates and friends, is part of the first colony on Perses. Everything is going well–until the colony is attacked. Not aliens. Other humans. Christopher and a few of his friends are the only survivors of the initial attack. Can they survive in the mining tunnels long enough for help to arrive? Or will they have to defend the only home they’ve ever known on their own?
Kevin Sylvester has written one thrilling science-fiction adventure with MINRS. It is NOT a book for squeamish young readers. There isn’t a “happy ending.” There isn’t any gore, but there are injuries, and death, and an intense setting that might be too much for younger readers. He also did the research for the scientific parts of the story which makes it feel all the more real. The character development is good, and the twists in the story are hard to see coming. This is the first book in a trilogy, so the cliff-hanger ending is perfect. If your reader loves non-stop action and intrigue, this is a great series for them. Just be prepared–you may want to check out the entire trilogy at once. Oh, and maybe have some tissues on hand. There are some very tender moments between the kids amid all the action.