Strangelets

Publishers Weekly

The first half of Gagnon’s (Don’t Turn Around) thriller is well-executed survivalist horror endured by six teens trapped in a hospital-like bunker. They come from every point on the globe: cancer-stricken Sophie from California, petty thief Declan from Ireland, military trainee Anat from Israel, hiker Nico from Switzerland, shy Yosh from Japan, and studious Zain from India. Suspicious, confused, and desperate, they draw together to crack the bunker and figure out why they are there; escaping proves easier than solving the second mystery. Though they deduce that all of them were in near-death situations prior to awakening in the bunker, no reasonable theory exists for how they were transported there and why they are still alive. The second half of the story pivots from the engrossing characters and building suspense to the unraveling of their questions, and Gagnon’s mastery of the narrative falters somewhat. The action remains pulse-pounding, but some readers may find the SF explanation underlying the adventure to be a letdown after the skillful buildup that precedes it. Ages 14–up. Agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

Praise for Strangelets

“Mysterious, compelling, and edge-of-your-seat, heart-in-your-throat, drive-you-out-of-your-mind suspenseful, Strangelets was a thrill ride I never wanted to end.”
—Robin Wasserman

"Didn't put it down until I was done—and then I was sad it was over. Can't wait to see what Gagnon is up to next!"
—Liz Braswell

“Three very different teens on the edge of death get firsthand experience of the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics... Finding out what happened takes a back seat to survival... but readers won’t mind. Interesting characters, some of whom have dangerous secrets, act and react like real teens. The slow reveal of what’s going on is as tantalizing as the action is pulse-pounding... A fun ride.”
—Kirkus Reviews

"Well-executed survivalist horror.... Engrossing characters and building suspense.... Pulse-pounding.”
—Publishers Weekly

“I loved the story.... There were many twists and turns and surprises along the way, but it all helped build this world the characters suddenly found themselves in. It was amazing.”
—The Story Behind the Book Cover

“A crazy, mysterious, creepy, mind boggling story!”
—Some Like It Paranormal 

“Strangelets is crazy and awesome and thrilling and, well, strange.... I look forward to reading more from Gagnon, especially if it's anything like Strangelets.”
—Beauty and the Bookshelf 

 
“Fans of time travel, the concept of parallel universes or multi-verses will completely devour this story.... The way in which the events are described in Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon sure makes it seem like this could be true.  And that totally freaks me out!”
—Chapter by Chapter

Praise for The Tunnels
 
"Michelle Gagnon's stellar debut is an edge-of-your seat story of suspense and intrigue. Highly recommended."
─New York Times bestselling author Sheldon Siegel
 

Praise for The Gatekeeper
 
"High stakes, tension, excitement─I loved The Gatekeeper."
─New York Times bestselling author Lee Child
 
Praise for Boneyard
 
"Boneyard is a winner! A compelling page-turner that pays due attention to the human heart. It'll keep you up all night."
─New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver

Kirkus Reviews

Three very different teens on the edge of death get firsthand experience of the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics. Sophie is dying of lymphoma in a California hospice. Declan is about to be shot as a thief in Galway City. Anat is trapped in a tunnel collapse in the Gaza Strip....The next moment they awaken in a closed ward of what appears to be a hospital. Meeting up with Swiss Nico, Zain from India and Yosh from Japan, none trusts the others, but they have to work together since they've no food. When they do manage an escape, the world they find outside is a nightmare. It seems vaguely familiar to Nico, whose father works as a physicist on Long Island, but the buildings are weathered, and mature trees crack the pavements. The place is deserted except for violent, frightening beasts. Finding out what happened takes a back seat to survival. Gagnon's second for teens (Don't Turn Around, 2012) riffs on the notion that a supercollider will spawn mini–black holes and plays fast and loose with the laws of physics, but readers won't mind. Interesting characters, some of whom have dangerous secrets, act and react like real teens. The slow reveal of what's going on is as tantalizing as the action is pulse-pounding. Takes some suspension of disbelief (especially for science lovers) but a fun ride. (Science fiction. 14 & up)