Genius Squad (Evil Genius Trilogy Series #2)
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Overview
Now that the Axis Institute for World Domination has been blown up; the founder, Dr. Phineas Darkkon, has died; and Prosper English (who enrolled Cadel in the first place) is in jail for myriad offenses, Cadel Piggott has round-the-clock surveillance so he'll be safe until he testifies against Prosper English. But nobody seems to want Cadel. Not Fiona, his social worker; not Saul Greeniaus, the detective assigned to protect him. When he is approached by the head of Genius Squad—a group formed to investigate GenoME, one of Darkkon's pet projects—Cadel is dubious Genius Squad can offer him a real home and all the technology his heart desires. But why can't he bring himself to tell Saul what the group is really up to? And how can Genius Squad protect Cadel once Prosper English breaks out of jail?
Synopsis
Once Cadel was going to take over the world. Now he's stuck in foster care.
Publishers Weekly
Readers who loved Evil Genius will find this sequel as gripping, devilish and wonderfully dark as its predecessor. What made that first book so good was the author's delivery of a complex, layered protagonist in the young Cadel Piggot and the world of criminal masterminds in which he lives and learns, a world he eventually destroys. From these ashes rises another imaginative and just slightly less villainous cast of characters, the Genius Squad of the title, to tempt Cadel's vulnerable conscience. Cadel and his multiply-disabled best friend, Sonja Pirovic-a central figure this time around-land themselves among a new gang of superhuman brainiacs, who help populate this story with fresh twists and eyebrow-raising, technologically over-the-top antics. Cadel may be a genius, but is he smart enough to overcome his evil upbringing to land himself squarely on the side of good? Between Cadel's touching concern and growing feelings for Sonja, and the help of a few kindhearted adults, there's hope for Cadel. As readers keep their eyes on Cadel, however, Jinks stays busy, gradually setting up her audience for a stunning climax. Ages 12-up. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Editorials
From the Publisher
* "Readers who loved Evil Genius will find this sequel as gripping, devilish and wonderfully dark as its predecessor . . . fresh twists and eyebrow-raising, technologically over-the-top antics."—Publishers Weekly, starred review* "Pulse-pounding . . . Cadel makes an uncommonly memorable protagonist . . . the author’s ability to craft vivid characters and engrossing action scenes continues unabated."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Publishers Weekly
Readers who loved Evil Genius will find this sequel as gripping, devilish and wonderfully dark as its predecessor. What made that first book so good was the author's delivery of a complex, layered protagonist in the young Cadel Piggot and the world of criminal masterminds in which he lives and learns, a world he eventually destroys. From these ashes rises another imaginative and just slightly less villainous cast of characters, the Genius Squad of the title, to tempt Cadel's vulnerable conscience. Cadel and his multiply-disabled best friend, Sonja Pirovic-a central figure this time around-land themselves among a new gang of superhuman brainiacs, who help populate this story with fresh twists and eyebrow-raising, technologically over-the-top antics. Cadel may be a genius, but is he smart enough to overcome his evil upbringing to land himself squarely on the side of good? Between Cadel's touching concern and growing feelings for Sonja, and the help of a few kindhearted adults, there's hope for Cadel. As readers keep their eyes on Cadel, however, Jinks stays busy, gradually setting up her audience for a stunning climax. Ages 12-up. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.John Ritchie
Much of the fun in reading Evil Genius, the first book of this series by Catherine Jinks, was the twist of following Cadel Piggott through the Axis Institute for World Domination. It was a fresh perspective on evil characters. Her sequel, Genius Squad, loses the tongue-in-cheek style but carves out its own exciting story as Cadel continues his quests to discover the identity of his father, to consider whether he's actually all that evil, and to find a place where he can finally have 24/7 access to the Internet. Genius Squad picks up shortly after the events in Evil Genius, with Cadel living in a foster home under constant police protection. Cadel is approached by the Genius Squad, a group formed to investigate GenoME, one of the late Dr. Darkkon's projects. The series continues to be a great read for sharp-minded students interested in computers and hacking, along with a bit of James Bond-style action and plots for world domination thrown into the mix. Readers who rarely see their interests portrayed in YA literature will finally find them here. Reviewer: John RitchieKLIATT
In this sequel to Evil Genius, gifted computer hacker Cadel is now 15, and unhappily living in foster care in Sydney, Australia. He's under police protection while the man who may or may not be his father, his former therapist Prosper English, is in jail and awaiting trial. Cadel's only real friend is Sonja, who is gifted at math and codes though she is physically handicapped. When the two are offered the chance to move into a youth refuge house, which is really the cover for a "Genius Squad" of young people dedicated to bringing down a criminal gene-mapping company, they jump at the chance—only to find it's a trap, when Prosper comes looking for Cadel. As in the first book, there's lots of deception and manipulation going on, to further ratchet up the suspense, along with lots of tech talk, though the entertaining Axis Institute for World Domination no longer exists. Fans of Evil Genius will want to continue following clever but unlucky Cadel's adventures in the projected next book in the series, Genius Wars. Reviewer: Paula RohrlickSchool Library Journal
Gr 6-9- In Evil Genius (Harcourt, 2007), Cadel Piggott used his amazing brain for crime, and lived to regret the results. In this entertaining sequel, he joins a secret group of computer whizzes working on a more constructive, but still dangerous project. While using his hacking skills and forging friendships, he tries to steer clear of his notorious father, who threatens his safety even from prison. The first half of the book focuses on setting up elaborate schemes and establishing characters, and the details slow the plot down a bit. Action really picks up in the last 100 pages or so, though, as Cadel and the people he loves the most are endangered by his father. Readers who relished the complex plotting, sharp characterizations, and technological intrigue of the first book will enjoy this one, which includes a shift in atmosphere that gives this installment a slightly different flavor. Having rejected the destructive philosophy of his tutor/father, Cadel truly wants to do good this time. New relationships and powerful, sometimes conflicting, emotions affect the way he now applies his talents. As a character, he's less instantly engaging than he was in the first book, but ultimately more interesting. Fans of Evil Genius will have the easiest time catching on to the action, but others should be able to keep up. A satisfying ending answers some questions regarding Cadel's personal situation while setting the stage for a future showdown.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR