Swarm

July 15, 2016
After Zeroes (2015), the group of superpowered teenagers is derailed by other people with powers--and fewer morals.Everything's going pretty well for the gang--they've even started a monthly underground nightclub where they can safely practice their powers (as most of them require crowds). But then a pair of out-of-towners who get off on treating people like toys hit it and break everything the Zeroes have worked for--and they hint they've something bigger planned. The Zeroes must track down the troublemaking duo, but when they do, they discover that these two are the least of their worries--a terrifying person hunting the superpowered teens has been pointed right at them, and horrible deaths await. The pace clips along nicely, and the large ensemble cast (gender-balanced, economically diverse, and with multiple races and shades of the LGBTQ spectrum represented) enjoys complicated dynamics, a palpable bond, and intersecting character development arcs. Aside from their inner circle, family storylines add emotional stakes on top of the physical. The expansion of the world to include superpowered people from out of town creates nice foils for the heroes, especially as they continue grappling with the ramifications of the powers. The ending resolves the book's main plot but then offers up the kind of cliffhanger that may make readers riot. A high-octane bundle of thrills. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

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August 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-This addition to the series starts off with the Zeroes working on a new project: a nightclub to experiment with their powers. It's reasonably safe, if not exactly legal. Unfortunately, their plans are disrupted by the arrival of two new teens with supernatural abilities-and unlike the original crew, these guys are not dedicated to using their powers for good. What's more, one of them, nicknamed Swarm, may be more powerful than all of the original Zeroes. If they don't work together and learn to control their powers, the results could be deadly. Like the first volume, this novel can feel weighed down by a large cast and multiple points of view, but the Zeroes continue to be relatable as they struggle to do the right thing even when they are in over their heads, and the fast-paced action keeps the pages turning. VERDICT Fans of the first book will not be disappointed by the latest installment in the saga.-Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2016
After the disastrous events of Zeroes (rev. 11/15), the diverse team of supernaturally gifted teens has set up the aptly named Petri Dish, a nightclub/social experiment where they can test and eventually master their powers in relative safety. It's the perfect place, since many of the Zeroes' abilities -- such as leader Nate's influence on the emotions of a crowd -- depend upon connecting energetically to a large group of people. Perfect, that is, until two superpowered strangers wreak havoc at the Dish with their own crowd-manipulating abilities. Wanting to prevent any more chaos, the Zeroes track down the strangers, only to learn of a much bigger threat. Now that readers know the main players, their powers, and their abilities' pitfalls, this second volume accelerates the pace and ups the stakes of the first book. Lots of action sequences, including a handful of truly scary scenes that would be right at home in a zombie flick, add to the suspense. (Spoiler: you really don't want to encounter a swarm. ) But it's not nonstop near-escapes and explosions. The authors develop the teens' platonic and romantic interpersonal dynamics (including one blossoming same-sex relationship), and it's these connections that both endanger the Zeroes and, ultimately, save them. A cliffhanger ending will leave fans eagerly awaiting the Zeroes' next adventure. katie bircher

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2017
The Zeroes, a diverse team of supernaturally gifted teens, encounter strangers who wreak havoc with their own crowd-manipulating abilities--and warn of a much bigger threat. This second volume (Zeroes) accelerates the pace and ups the stakes with lots of action sequences, some truly scary. Development of the teens' platonic and romantic interpersonal dynamics (including one blossoming same-sex relationship) adds depth.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)