Decelerate Blue

Graphic Novel

VG/A  Rapp, Adam.  Decelerate Blue.  First Second, 2017. 188p.  978-1-59643-109-6. 17.99

In Rapp’s vision of the future, everything is fast paced and the Guarantee Committee makes sure that your every action doesn’t waste any time. Meals are precooked, whenever you are done speaking, you say “go” indicating the next person can respond and contractions must be used as much as possible. Teenager, Angela, doesn’t like this lifestyle and when she finds a banned book called “Kick the Boot” by Kent Van Gough that the resistance movement uses as their bible, she goes underground with the movement. The resistance members take a pill called decelerate blue that makes them go slower, even reducing their heart rates. While Angela is slowing down and falling in love, the outside world is plotting to destroy the resistance. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial

Nil

G/A  Matson, Lynne.  Nil.  Henry Holt, 2014.  376p.  978-0-8050-9771-9.  17.99.

There's a flash of heat and when Charley wakes up she's naked and alone in a strange place. After 12 days, she finally runs into some other teens and finds out that she is on the island of Nil. No one knows how or why they are there, but they do know that they only have 365 to escape through a "gate" before they perish. "Gates" come once a day and only one living thing can go through each one. Charley develops a relationship with Thad, whose days on Nil are numbered. Told in alternating viewpoints from Charley and Thad, you get to know the characters better, although their voices are pretty similar. Even though there are several holes in the story and a lot of questions left unanswered, this science fiction debut is an adventurous story. Fans of television shows like Lost or Survivor will definitely enjoy this novel. Loren Spector, LAPL, Memorial Branch Library