Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill

From

Starred Review Durango is the 16-year-old chief of a team of mercenaries who

eke out a living on Mars by earning meager commissions for their dangerous

work. Their current job, and the main thrust of this high-energy, action-

filled, science-fiction romp, is to protect South Pole miners from the Dræu, a

cannibalistic group who are after the miners' treasure. Two feisty women help

Durango lead. Second-in-command Vienne and Durango care more for each other

than either wants to admit, although there is little time for romance amid all

the flying bullets and detonating bombs. Mimi, the other central woman and

Durango's former chief, is now implanted in his brain as an artificial

intelligence. The repartee between Durango and Mimi is particularly brilliant,

but throughout the novel, the dialogue crackles with expertly delivered

sarcastic wit and venom. If intelligent sophomoric humor exists, Gill is the

master at creating it. The intriguing dystopian setting is a Mars purposely

polluted by immigrants from Earth. Readers will have a hard time turning the

pages fast enough as the body count rises to the climactic, satisfying ending,

which will leave new fans hopeful for more adventures. Grades 8-11. --Cindy

Dobrez

Review

“Rockets readers to new frontiers . . . action-packed.” (Suzanne Collins,

author of The Hunger Games )

“Black Hole Sun grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go until the last

page. In the best tradition of Heinlein and Firefly, Black Hole Sun is for

readers who like their books fast-paced, intense, and relentless. Buy it, read

it, pass it on!” (Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Wintergirls and Speak )

“Readers will have a hard time turning the pages fast enough as the body count

rises to the climactic, satisfying ending, which will leave new fans hopeful

for more adventures.” (Booklist (starred review) )

Praise for Soul Enchilada: “Wonderful and unexpectedly touching, this is a

book meant for re-reading. Good stuff!” (Melissa Marr, New York Times

Bestselling Author of Wicked Lovely )

“Delightfully wacky.” (The Horn Book )

“Gill scores big in this action-packed, power-punch of a debut . . . All

readers can do is buckle their seatbelts, close their eyes, and take the

plunge.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )

“Great story, great characters, and nonstop action. David Gill takes you to a

rugged, fast, tough world.” (Chris Crutcher, author of Deadline and Staying

Fat for Sarah Byrnes )