STORM: The Black Sphere - Hardcover

Young, Emma

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803732686 ISBN 13: 9780803732681

Publisher: Dial Books, 2009

Synopsis

Six of the world?s leading scientists were at work on a top-secret assignment?Project FIREball. Now fi ve of them are dead, and one is on the run. He carries with him plans for a world-changing technology?one the CIA, MI6, and a ruthless megalomaniac will stop at nothing to obtain. Will, Andrew, and Gaia, the teen geniuses of STORM, join the high-stakes manhunt, racing to the Swiss Alps and into mortal danger, as they enter the heart of the Black Sphere.

Armed robotic eagles, laser-fi ring Frisbees, hightech surveillance roaches?STORM is back in their third high-speed, high-adrenaline adventure. E. L. Young, science journalist and master of suspense, bases all the science, technology, and gadgets in this story on real-life research, patents, and inventions.

About this title

About the Author

Emma Young is a New Scientist journalist who is an expert in the subject of space and space travel. She is a former journalist at the Guardian and BBC News Online and has contributed to several books and magazines, including Rough Guides and Tomorrow's World magazine. She lives in Australia.

Reviews

Grade 5–9—Summer in London has begun to seem routine following the stimulating events of Christmas in St. Petersburg in The Infinity Code and Easter in Venice in The Ghost Machine (both Dial, 2008). STORM's three genius 14-year-olds are occupying themselves with their "normal" day-to-day activities such as working with the British Government to create a mind-altering spray, creating exploding ink, or hacking into printers across the UK to prove that secret documents can be stolen from a safe distance. When Will sneaks into an international conference to test some of his new inventions, he, Gaia, and Andrew are kidnapped. Their abductor, Abigail Pope, reveals that her uncle was one of six scientists working on a top-secret project. He is now the only surviving scientist from the group, but seems to be missing. Abigail hires STORM to locate and bring her uncle to safety. Young intersperses the teens' ensuing adventure in Interlaken, Switzerland, with new and interesting inventions like "Hard Wear" (body armor), an Invisible Glove, and cockroaches with built-in listening devices. These 14-year-olds climb mountains, blow up restaurants, make deals with ex-mercenaries, maneuver hydrospeed boards through dangerous caves, and discover more about their own abilities and relationships along the way. YAs will once again be sucked right into the secret-agent world of STORM. Well written and containing real explanations for the inspirations for all of the science and technology, this installment in the series is an excellent addition.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT END

When an explosion in Switzerland kills a small group of scientists working toward a phenomenal breakthrough in energy, British intelligence agents seem unable to act effectively. Luckily, three 14-year-olds are on the scene. Andrew, Will, and Gaia once again put their knowledge, courage, and high-tech gadgetry to the test in the third STORM series adventure. Clearly delineated and surprisingly convincing, the three main characters are brave, smart, and vulnerable. As it should in a thriller, the slowly developing love interest takes a back seat to the action. An illustrated guide to the gadgets is appended. Great fun for STORM fans. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan

Edition details

• Publisher: Dial Books
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0803732686
• ISBN 13: 9780803732681
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320