One Pod. The chilling mantra of Kristyn Dunnion’s futuristic science fiction book Big Big Sky draws parallels with the present world, exposes widely avoided truths, and forces readers to rethink the current situation of the world.

 

ScanMans, an alien world, have taken over the ravaged remains of the earth, dominating the lives of every Pod, controlling every aspect of their more or less meaningless existence. These Pods are fighting machines, trained to do this and nothing less. But as they reach the wild, their StarPod begins to change.

 

In the pages of Big Big Sky, Dunnion has woven a very real world where survival is everything and it’s every Pod for themselves. Through journeys of discovery–discovery of the truth, discovery of the past, and self-discovery–everything that not only the characters know, but everything that the reader knows and has taken for granted, is thrown into turmoil. Questioned. Reflected, wondered about.

 

The very integrity of co-habitation of different spieces and morality of human actions and situations are shaded in undertones.

 

An entrancing read with unique vocabulary and a very distinct storytelling style. Readers are carried along, feeling the very emotions of the characters as they face trial after tribulation. From the very glum glum moments to the marvel at the big big sky, Dunnion’s Big Big Sky is a very raw read.

 

Now it’s your turn. Decline, Deform, Disobey.

 

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Raised by their mother in an environment where outside beauty is everything, the girls receive a wake up call and are forced to cope with the fact that their lives have been drastically changed.

In Outside Beauty, Newberry Medal-winning author Cynthia Kadohata has explored and pushed the conventional beliefs of society. Through the spunky first person narration of Shelby, Kadohata has demonstrated the true power of sisterly love.

Thought-provoking and deep, Kadohata’s Outside Beauty depicts a journey; the journey that four girls unwillingly embarked upon to find themselves as well as the previously distanced relationship with their fathers, and finally, emerged to become stronger, more responsible, and better versed in the ways of the world.

Marilyn. Shelby. Lakey. Maddie. Four different girls with four different fathers. Four people who discovered that sometimes, it’s the beauty on the inside that really counts.

One beautiful read.