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• When this book appeared on my doorstep (pure magic!), I did a happy dance around my living room. And when I turned to the first page, I was riveted, unable to move until I finished it. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE was such a switch-up from the books I've been reading lately--a true mystery with an amazing setting.To me, a good mystery has you questioning the events, character motivation, and where the story's going all the way through to the last sentence. AtU did just that. I loved how people aren't what they seem (of course, I can't go into too much detail because I don't want to give too much away!). As the story progressed, the questions piled up: Who was killing those frozen for transport to the new world? What happened to the Elder before this one? How do the people living on the ship not know about the "cargo"? Why are the current ship residents homogenous and so unlike those on Earth? The questions made me turn the pages even faster. Besides an excellent mystery, the worldbuilding was incredible. The world aboard the spaceship was intricate and only added to the storyline. Eldest is the leader of the people who live and work on the ship, and he's training Elder to take his place. Most people are feeders, those who grow the food and maintain the ship and who have very little thought beyond their daily jobs. But there are also "crazy" folks, those who are kept separate from the feeders because they just don't fit in and very important to the world itself. The details are what make the world believable. I think of those details, I liked the floppies the best. I mean, how cool would it be to have computers that are the size and density of a piece of paper, found everywhere, and can be used by anyone just by signing in with a thumb scan? I want one!Elder and Amy, the two main characters, provide necessary dual perspectives throughout the story--Elder as the voice of the current people and Amy as both the outsider and the voice who questions the society. Amy was an intriguing character. I can't imagine how terrifying it would be to wake up somewhere you're not supposed to be, somewhere you're not wanted, and to know that everything and everyone you know is lost to you. She's completely alone. And Amy's reactions are on par, without being too whiny. However, she's not willing to sit back and just follow orders. She wants to know what's going on and is a catalyst to shake up Elder's life and push him to figure out what's really going on in the perfect little world aboard Godspeed. I only had a couple of minor quibbles: Eldest was a bit over-the-top villain-y to me. While he plays the benevolent ruler to his cow-like people, he turns a Janus face to Elder and Amy, showing his dictatorial side which is very Hitler-like in his desire to achieve a perfect, harmonious society (i.e., his way or the hatch into space). I also didn't feel this was much of a love story, at least not to the extent that it's advertised. Elder has a strong connection to Amy since she's so different than what he's used to but there was only a hint of attraction. To me, it felt more like Amy was just trying to figure out what was going on and was clinging to anyone who showed her some kindness. Actually, I saw more of a connection between Amy and Harley, one of the "crazy" folks and a fantastic artist (loved Harley!). I'll have to wait and see what happens between the two of them in the next book, I guess!I could analyze this story to death but, well, I don't want to ruin the story for you or bore you so I'll finish with this: read ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. It'll send you on a wild ride through the stars and leave you asking for more. As for me, I can't wait to see what comes next for Amy, Elder and everyone aboard Godspeed.

  5.00 out of 5

  BookSwarm

• I haven't read sci/fi this good since ENDER'S GAME. Beth Revis is a genius - her world sucked me in and I finished the book in less than 24 hours!In the first chapter, 16 year old Amy and her parents are being cryogenically frozen for a 300 year long space trip. The process completely freaked me out and I couldn't stop thinking about it. As Amy goes under, the last thing she hears is the techs discussing how there's a one year delay for the mission. All Amy can think is 'I want my year back.'Elder is a 16 year old leader-in-training on the spaceship 'Godspeed', 250 years AFTER it's launch. He talks about a Plague that ran through the ship years ago and how everything changed, including how the ship is set up and used. We learn that everyone on the ship is now monoethnic, because one of the biggest causes of discord are differences. Everyone has olive skin, brown eyes and brown hair.The chapters alternate between Amy and Elder, it was interesting to see what was going on from both viewpoints when they are apart.The real trouble begins when Elder finds out that the ship holds the cryogenically frozen people. What ensues isn't just a story of how things go wrong, or have gone wrong, on the ship. It's a love story and a story of how rulers go bad (like and how being different is wonderful.This is an excellent read and one of the best books I've ever read. Beth Revis is planning on a trilogy for these characters and I can't wait for more!

  5.00 out of 5

  SevsOnlyGirl

• Wow. Can you imagine living life on a ship in the middle of the universe, knowing that you could only breathe recycled air forever and live with a fake sun that is just really a bulb in the middle of manufactured and synthetic fields? Is that really living?WOW.I think this word over and over again throughout the reading of Across the Universe, by Beth Revis. A Young Adult novel, it is literally a murder mystery in space, in a universe that stretches on and on, infinite and vast. And how incredibly lonely it is when stuck on a ship traveling in it.Amy is sixteen-years-old and lives with her parents on our Earth. Her parents are gifted, a talented genetic scientist is her mother, and her father is a brilliant military tactician. They are essential to a new world that 100 other gifted members of society are selected to make a journey to Centauri-Earth, a world where oxygen and water samples have returned successfully, necessary for human survival. These people will be cryogenically frozen to journey 300 years to this new world to help begin life on that planet.But, Amy is not essential to this new planet. She's just a kid, but is permitted to go because of her parents, and she is frozen into the 300 year sleep along with her parents on the ship called Godspeed.Fifty years before the intended arrival to this new world, Amy awakes when she is unplugged and separated from her cryo-haven, surviving an attempted murder -- and no one knows who did it. Forced with the reality that she is now living in a small city that exists on the metal ship, where everyone awakens to a fake sun and drinks recycled water, Amy bonds with Elder, also sixteen. This new life is all that she will now have and she is also awake before her parents. She's now alone. Elder is next in line to lead the ship after the current aging leader, known as Eldest, passes on. But, now amidst the safety of a world which doesn't know questions and chaos, someone is starting to kill again, and they're targeting the frozen people hidden in a ship that only a few select people know about.I was lucky to score an Advance Reader's Copy at the SIBA Trade Show in Daytona Beach last weekend, part of my loot of 47 books. The release date for this book is January 2011, and color me giddy with excitement for how this book will be received by everyone. It has all of the elements that all murder mysteries need, which completely satiated my desire for a good "whodunit," all amidst the realities of space and the cage of Godspeed.I could not put the book down, and my eyes were growing heavy with sleep late into the night as I kept telling myself "just one more page." Each chapter switches between Amy's and Elder's perspective, allowing you to experience each of their own stories. Normally, I tend to like one character more than another when chapters switch like that and want to hurry to get to the next chapter, but not with this one. As each chapter switched characters, I was excited, ready to find out more and uncover the mystery that each of them were facing.I cannot tell you more about the plot without giving anything away - I can only tell you that I loved this book, this story with characters so real and interesting and engaging. I was drawn into their angst, their confusions, and the mystery that they were trying to solve. There is even more to this story, discussions of class systems, prejudice, and other social issues that were fascinating. I admit that I sit on the edge of my seat wishing for 2011 to pass quickly so that I can get my hands all over Book Two -- oh, yes, this is a series! Yes, yes, yes!

  5.00 out of 5

  coffeeandabookchick

• I really enjoyed this book and how Beth Revis changed the point of view from one person to anothers. The mystery of reading the book is the reason why I did not want to put the book down. I cant wait to see what books Revis writes next.

  5.00 out of 5

  Conner23456

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