SCIENCE
FICTION
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| YOUNG ADULT |
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Debbie
Wiley
Book Reviews |
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Overview of cycle between autotrophs and heterotrophs
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Thomas Malthus, author of An Essay on the Principle of Population
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Karner Blue
Butterfly
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
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The Gardener
by S.A. Bodeen
What
if humans didn’t need food to survive?
Mason is a quiet teenager, fascinated by science. A biology teacher
encourages him to apply for a summer program through TroDyn Industries.
There’s just one problem… Mason’s mom despises TroDyn. Mason sneaks in
to see his mom at the nursing home where she works… and his whole world
is changed. Now, Mason is on the run with a girl in tow and TroDyn hot
on his heels. Has TroDyn done the unthinkable and created an autotroph?
And just who is this mysterious Gardener that the girl fears?
THE GARDENER is a tale that horrifies even as it educates. S.A. Bodeen
weaves together scientific facts and population theories to create a
fascinating science fiction tale that is all too realistic. There is
one scene in particular that still haunts me at the sheer audacity and
scope of TroDyn’s plans. S.A. Bodeen’s ingenuity at crafting questions
about how far a species will go to survive is part of what makes THE
GARDENER so intriguing. One can’t help but wonder “what if”, especially
with the scientific background making the concept seem credible.
Mason is the perfect hero figure to make THE GARDENER work. S.A. Bodeen
provides a background history on him that highlights his need to help
others in distress, providing a basis for why he’d be willing to
abandon everything to help Laila (the girl escaping the nursing home).
Part of what makes THE GARDENER so enthralling is that the reader
begins to care about the characters and what happens to them. S.A.
Bodeen does a marvelous job at making even her secondary characters
multidimensional, therefore heightening the suspense as circumstances
endanger each and every one of them.
THE GARDENER is an excellent tale for young adults and one that will
prompt many thought provoking discussions. However, it is also a book
that can be enjoyed by adults since the storyline and character
development take center development, with minimal to no teenage angst.
I look forward to reading other tales by S.A. Bodeen if THE GARDENER is
any indication of her talent. Bravo!
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (June 2010)
Author
website
Reviewed
by Debbie, Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
Courtesy
of Amazon Vine
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