4.5 As the previous volume this is a surprisingly fresh YA/middle-grade novel that does nearly everything right. World-building, characters and writing are all superb. Didn't expect the serious and well-done discussion of sacrifice and the role-reversal of kids going out to protect their parents with the latter's (grudging) consent. Even the little sister is well done.

Okay, a little of the eighties "Save the Whales" stuff is a tiny bit cheesy, but apart from that only thing that is a little annoying is the hint of an upcoming love story.

This part is a little less nerdy and bit geekier and I liked the previous installment a tiny bit better, but it's still a really good book to give to your kids. They will be confused by how easy-going parents were back then. It takes a shark attack or the threat canoodling in middle-school to get them worked up - funny days those...