Academy 7

September 1, 2009
Gr 8 Up-In this futuristic tale, two teens with mysterious and difficult pasts meet at the universe's most prestigious and demanding school: Academy 7. Aerin, a foreigner and fugitive slave, knows she does not belong here. Dane, the rebellious younger son of the Alliance's most powerful leader, enrolls partly to thwart his father's control over his life. From the beginning of the school term, Dane's cocky, contrary nature and Aerin's extraordinary combat and computer-savvy land them both in trouble with the school's administrator, a powerful member of the Alliance Council. Aerin, secretive and estranged from nearly all social contact, and Dane, bad-boy, rich-kid heartthrob, are unlikely allies. Each holds a key to information that could cause political repercussions throughout the Alliance, and an uneasy truce develops as they are repeatedly thrown together. The story's pacing, intrigue, and subtly romantic overtones are consistently engaging, but the use of pen and paper and easily hacked computer systems seem anachronistic, and a few futuristic details may need a strong visual imagination. Such effects hardly detract from Osterlund's impressionistic and evocative storytelling style, as the plot moves at light-speed, and the setting and characters are believable. "Academy 7" is a satisfying, refreshing portrayal of two smart, desperate, and unhappy young people struggling to make sense ofand betterthe world their parents bequeathed them."Roxanne Myers Spencer, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2009
Grades 8-12 When 17-year-old Aerin Renning is accepted at Academy 7, an ultra-exclusive military school, she finds herself in fierce competition with the other top freshman, Dane Madousin. Their backgrounds could not be more differentDane, as the son of a powerful general, grew up with wealth and privilege while Aerin spent a nomadic childhood with her renegade trader father, enduringsix harshyears of slavery after his death. Character development and a budding romance between Dane and Aerin drive this fast-paced read. Osterlund establishes an intriguing world of Machiavellian plot twists, along with imaginative histories for the different planets the characters encounter. Fans of Tamora Pierces Alanna series will find many of the same elements here: a competitive school environment, catty female students, motherless childhoods, and shared secrets. The unfortunate cover suggests a formulaic romance, but the story itself, with details of spacecraft, flight, and other worlds, will appeal to readers who crave adventure, and demands a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)