cover image Pursued

Pursued

Gary Urey. Albert Whitman, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-8075-6684-8

When two children wind up in possession of teleportation devices after the inventors—their parents—are murdered, they become the targets of a worldwide manhunt, courtesy of Dr. Lennon Hatch, a ruthless billionaire determined to gain control of the technology. After being relentlessly pursued for a year, 13-year-olds Axel Jack and Daisha Tandala are separated, cast to distant parts of the world, and unable to reunite until their GeoPorts recharge in 72 hours. As Hatch’s people get closer to capturing them, Axel and Daisha’s only hope is to decipher their parents’ last clue and destroy the GeoPorts once and for all. In this fast-paced, globe-hopping adventure, Urey (the Super Schnoz series) delivers a gripping tale full of surprises, starring memorable protagonists set against almost overwhelming odds. There’s a certain tongue-in-cheek aspect to the story as well, with Urey giving ample attention to his egotistical, amoral antagonist (“He would give the people the ability to travel anywhere instantaneously. The Doctor would be King, and everyone else in Silicon Valley his court jesters”). A cliff-hanger ending leaves many questions unanswered for future books. Ages 9–12. Agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary. (Feb.)