Electric Life: Surge

Having left Estrella, Alara has been living in London Under for six months. Although desperate to escape the restrictions of the city and feel alive, she is struggling to adapt to her new life and longs to escape to the surface and be free to travel with Jay. But tension is mounting in London Under as anti-Estrella rises and Jay no longer has the time to devote to their relationship, leaving her feeling even more disconnected. Alana soon finds herself having to make some difficult and dangerous decisions about her future - and that of London Under and Estrella.

Every bit as enjoyable as Electric Life, Surge offers a thoroughly satisfying and absorbing continuation of Alara's story. I refuse to say 'conclusion to' in the hope that there might yet be more to come . . . Fast paced and engaging, plenty happens in this action-packed sequel. Very relevant in today's climate, it reflects how quickly 'ideas' can take off and gain almost cult following, an unquestioning attitude where mobs look to rhetoric-spouting leaders to tell them what to think and provide them with a common enemy. There is a sense that the voice that shouts loudest is 'right' and that those who disagree with them are instantly 'wrong' and that there is no common ground, offering plenty to pause and reflect on.

Having lived her new life for a while, Alara is puzzled to find that things are not as utopic as she expected. The first flush of passion and infatuation with Jay has passed and daily life is now taking its toll on their relationship, as so often happens. As the story develops, she comes to realise what true happiness is - how it takes effort, develops and needs to be appreciated for what it is - leading her to re-evaluate her decisions and strive to make life better.

Electric Life: Surge is an excellent, thoroughly engrossing and satisfying read. Highly recommended!

352 pages / Age 12+ / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 11+