Not as good as The Compund, but still kept my interest. ( )

I read this one mostly so that I could finish the series. I didn't love it all that much. ( )

Nice follow-up to The Compound, starting with the very plausible tension in the Yanakakis family after their ordeal of the previous book. As happy as they are to be out of the compound and reunited with family members they thought were dead, there are lots adjustments to make, and relationships that need to be redefined and rebuilt.

As Eli wonders if they can ever get back to a normal life again, he gradually discovers that he may have more to worry about than picking out the right clothes for himself and dodging a nosy public. The tension moves from normal to bizarre and straight into an action-packed ending reminiscent of the first book.

There's still a little time left over for Eli to develop a love interest; it doesn't take up too much of the plot, but it was a nice touch to include for a character who's learning how to be a teenager in the real world. I especially liked that the girl's name was Verity, considering how much Eli feels he has to lie to her to keep his identity safe.

One more note on Bodeen's luscious descriptions: there are meals in this book that I wish I could eat, there are places I want to visit, and I might even be willing to do crime if it would get me that shower in Eli's room on the island.

If you wanted more story after The Compound, here it is. I was quite happy with it. ( )

Not as strong as the first book, but an intresting contemplation on the strictures and difficulties of life for the overly famous. Unfortunately, not that believable, and less compelling in character than the first book. It is nice to know how the story ends, however. ( )

3.5 stars

Potential spoilers for book 1: Eli and his family have made it out of the underground compound without his father. They are reunited with Gram and Eli’s twin, Eddy. But it’s not easy fitting back in to a “normal” life after six years underground, especially as the well-known rich family they are as they try to hide from prying eyes. They don’t even know who they can trust.

I liked this. It did show how hard it would be to fit back in to a regular life, for Eli and the family, in addition to Eddy having to get used to this new world, as well. As I noticed at least one other review mention, the science fiction aspect of the book didn’t come into play until near the end, but that didn’t bother me, as I still thought the rest of the book was good, too. There were a couple of surprises near the end – one I’d guessed (just shortly before it was revealed), but I didn’t guess the other at all. ( )