Overview
Welcome to the infinite worlds of The Web Ghostly lights out on the marsh have been the subject of tales and rumors for as long as anyone can remember. Thirteen-year-old Aynsley suspects that the "lightstorms" are connected to a problem at the nearby power company. The company is trying to keep it a secret, but someone in authority needs to be told—and Aynsley is the one to do it. With the help of a network of friends across the world, Aynsley knows he just might be able to use The Web to get past the company security to find out exactly what's going on. But the Web works both ways. If Aynsley can get to the company, then the company can get to him. And the company has a way of dealing with intruders....
Synopsis
Welcome to the infinite worlds of The Web Ghostly lights out on the marsh have been the subject of tales and rumors for as long as anyone can remember. Thirteen-year-old Aynsley suspects that the "lightstorms" are connected to a problem at the nearby power company. The company is trying to keep it a secret, but someone in authority needs to be told—and Aynsley is the one to do it. With the help of a network of friends across the world, Aynsley knows he just might be able to use The Web to get past the company security to find out exactly what's going on. But the Web works both ways. If Aynsley can get to the company, then the company can get to him. And the company has a way of dealing with intruders....
Sarah Cofer - VOYA
These two cyberspace adventures, The Web: Gulliverzone and The Web: Lightstorm, are from a series that combines virtual reality with the Internet. It is World Peace Day 2027, and Sarah plans to spin into the Web for a virtual visit to the new theme park, Gulliverzone, which is loosely based on Gulliver's Travels. Unfortunately Sarah must bring her kid brother, George, along with her. Once they arrive, Sarah and George are shrunken by magic dust and attacked by struldbrugs working for the Empress of Lilliput. Sarah must find a way to get big again so that she and George can get back to reality. Gulliverzone contains some elements from Gulliver's Travels, including giants, a flying island, and Lilliputians. In Lightstorm, Aynsley sees inexplicable lightstorms over the marsh. After Aynsley and his Web friends investigate the mystery, they conclude that Bigene Industrie, a power company, is illegally dumping waste. They cannot go to the police because they acquired this information illegally by breaking into the company's files, and Bigene Industrie is now hunting them down. Aynsley and his friends must figure out a way to expose Bigene Industrie before they are caught. These two series entries do not connect in plot, but characters and events from Gulliverzone resurface in Lightstorm. Written by adult science fiction writers, both titles are too formulaic. The problems are solved easily, the resolution comes quickly, and the characters, courageous and inquisitive, always come out ahead. The books try to be futuristic with clichT science fiction elements such as holograms, virtual reality, and knowbots (librarians). Both books contain awebspeak glossary to help readers with lingo-one-mip, avatar, and phace. These short books are fast reads, but the pace is quite slow. Although the characters are young teens, these books will probably not be read by an older teen audience. This series is most likely to be read by fourth through sixth graders. VOYA CODES: 2Q 3P M (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2005, Starscape/Tor, 109p., Trade pb. Ages 11 to 14.
Editorials
VOYA
These two cyberspace adventures, The Web: Gulliverzone and The Web: Lightstorm, are from a series that combines virtual reality with the Internet. It is World Peace Day 2027, and Sarah plans to spin into the Web for a virtual visit to the new theme park, Gulliverzone, which is loosely based on Gulliver's Travels. Unfortunately Sarah must bring her kid brother, George, along with her. Once they arrive, Sarah and George are shrunken by magic dust and attacked by struldbrugs working for the Empress of Lilliput. Sarah must find a way to get big again so that she and George can get back to reality. Gulliverzone contains some elements from Gulliver's Travels, including giants, a flying island, and Lilliputians. In Lightstorm, Aynsley sees inexplicable lightstorms over the marsh. After Aynsley and his Web friends investigate the mystery, they conclude that Bigene Industrie, a power company, is illegally dumping waste. They cannot go to the police because they acquired this information illegally by breaking into the company's files, and Bigene Industrie is now hunting them down. Aynsley and his friends must figure out a way to expose Bigene Industrie before they are caught. These two series entries do not connect in plot, but characters and events from Gulliverzone resurface in Lightstorm. Written by adult science fiction writers, both titles are too formulaic. The problems are solved easily, the resolution comes quickly, and the characters, courageous and inquisitive, always come out ahead. The books try to be futuristic with clichT science fiction elements such as holograms, virtual reality, and knowbots (librarians). Both books contain awebspeak glossary to help readers with lingo-one-mip, avatar, and phace. These short books are fast reads, but the pace is quite slow. Although the characters are young teens, these books will probably not be read by an older teen audience. This series is most likely to be read by fourth through sixth graders. VOYA CODES: 2Q 3P M (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2005, Starscape/Tor, 109p., Trade pb. Ages 11 to 14.—Sarah Cofer