Review and "About the Author"

I have been wanting to expand my reading to something other than YA paranormal, but haven't had the nerve to do so until the author Tony Bertauski asked if I would review his book.  He told me it was a YA sci-fi, fantasy so I figured this was my chance to jump into something different.  I was not disappointed in any way!

Book Summary

When kids awake on an island, they're told there was an accident.  Before they can go home, they will visit Foreverland, and alternate reality that will heal their minds.  Reed dreams of a girl that tells him to resist Foreverland.  He doesn't remember her name, but knows he once loved her.  He'll have to endure great suffering and trust his dream.  And trust he's not insane.  Danny Boy, the new arrival, meets Reed's dream girl inside Foreverland.  She'e stuck in the fantasy land that no kids can resist, where every heart's desire is satisfied.  Why should anyone care how Foreverland works?  Together, they discover what its' really doing to them.  

If I had to narrow it down, I would say it is a book where Inception meets Evil Peter Pan.  The concept and idea of this caught my attention and after I got into it, I couldn't put it down.  I have to admit I was a little confused at first with the articles, but as I kept reading, things fell into place.  There were many twist and turns, just when I thought I had it figured out, something proved me wrong. I would put this into the thriller/mystery category as well.  The beginning was dark, creepy, and a little frightening as the plot began with the suffering and how they were "persuaded" to go to Foreverland. 

 I loved the characters immediately who drew me in to their hearts and stories. Danny, who wakes up in a place he doesn't know, does not remember his past.  Being an intelligent boy, he begins asking questions, determined to figure out why they are there.  Reed, being strong and only remembering a girl from his dreams, fights off the torturing techniques with her words to comfort him. How could you not get involved with these boys?   The ending was sort of a shock to me, but it was thrilling, kept me on edge, but left me with a satisfied smile.  

For those who aren't really into the sci-fi fantasy books, I would give this one a try.  It will not disappoint you!    It is a fairly clean book with a few "guy terms" of the body, but with a book of teenage boys, it is what I would expect.  Being a Mom of 4 boys, I am going to let my 17 year old read this, not sure my 12 yr old is ready for it, but I think it is something most teen boys would enjoy as well as adults.

About the Author

Toni Bertauski

Husband. Father. Son. Teacher. Writer. I am all these things.

Novels

I wanted to write a full-length novel and just the mere effort of putting 80K words in some sort of story felt like a success.  Well, it was!  Just having a coherent string of related thoughts is a success for the average person (I don't have any data to back that up, bur I'm going with it).  I put together a few novel-length stories, then proceeded to bore the sh** out of everyone I knew.  After learning the craft, however, I've done some decent work (see the Socket Greeny stories).  But I would like to apologize to the people that read the early stuff.  Really, really sorry, folks.  You deserve a medal or something.  I've gotten better.  Inspired by consciousness and identity, I've written story that explore our place in the universe.   

Other Novels

Young Adult/ Science Fiction
Claus, Legend of the Fat Man (Coming 2012!)
The Annihilation of Foreverland
The Socket Greeny Saga

Science Fiction Novellas (Drayton the Taker series)
Drayton, the Taker
Bearing the Cross
Swift is the Current

For more information about Toni Bertauski here are his links... 

http://bertauski.com  

http://bertauski.blogspot.com