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Sky on Fire
Sky on Fire
Sky on Fire
Audiobook5 hours

Sky on Fire

Written by Emmy Laybourne

Narrated by Todd Haberkorn

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

We didn't die

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive while working together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Stay safe

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with his longtime crush Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once.…

Or get to Denver.

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with their leader, Niko, and the rest of the kids in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected.…

LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 28, 2013
ISBN9781469255606
Sky on Fire
Author

Emmy Laybourne

EMMY LAYBOURNE is the internationally bestselling author of six young adult novels, including Monument 14, Sweet, and Berserker. Her books have been honored by the Junior Library Guild, American Library Association, and the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, among others, and translated into 9 languages. She studied writing as an undergrad at Vassar College and while getting an MFA at UCLA for screenwriting, she won the Eleanor Perry Award from Women in Film. Emmy is a former character actress, and is occasionally recognized from her role as Mary Katherine Gallagher’s best friend in the movie “Superstar.” She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two kids.

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Reviews for Sky on Fire

Rating: 3.8841807819209047 out of 5 stars
4/5

177 ratings26 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved this book so much. It was definitely unbelievable but if you ignore that it’s amazing. Detailed and enthralling. Really makes you scared for the characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I went my whole teen years not knowing Monument 14 was a trilogy and so far #2 is all I've dreamed of, can't wait to start #3. All time favorite books!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    SKY ON FIRE continues the story that began in MONUMENT 14. It is told from two points of view by two brothers. Dean tells about what is happening to the kids left in the superstore while Alex tells the story of the kids who take off in the bus to look for help. Both groups of kids face horrible difficulties ranging from chemically deranged murders to gangs and to the fact that the air can kill some of them. It is 2024 and a series of disasters including a monster hailstorm and chemical weapons spills have devastated the area around Monument, Colorado. Fourteen kids on a school bus were driven into the superstore to take shelter from the storm. They ranged in age from seniors to kindergartners. Their bus driver takes off to try to find help and doesn't return. The chemical weapons have different effects on the children depending on their blood types. Type Os turn into "bloodthirsty monsters" if they breathe the air. Type ABs suffer from paranoid delusions. Type As blister and die. Type Bs have few symptoms but suffer from reproductive failure which Alex figures isn't that big a deal since they have much more immediate threats to their survival. When this story starts, the group has split in two with one group waiting for rescue in the superstore and the other group taking off in the school bus to try to get to Denver International Airport for help. The story was exciting. The events were chilling. It was interesting to read about the dynamics within the group and how desperate situations bring out the best or the worst in people. There wasn't a lot of character development here for most of the younger kids but it was still clear that they had all bonded together to survive. While this book is relatively short making it a good choice for middle graders, some of the themes which include sex and violence might make this book too intense for them. Many of the characters have to make very difficult choices in order to survive. I think the best audience for this title would be YA reluctant readers who are interested in post-apocalyptic stories and dystopias. To get the full effect of the story, readers must read MONUMENT 14 first.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Monument 14: Sky on Fire What a great cover for the second book in this series, don't you think? I love when a book's cover so perfectly fits the story within. , I read and enjoyed the first book in this series but it left me with some reservations about the writing. I no longer have those reservations, I thought this second book was wonderfully written and much richer in detail and character depth. While I had reservations after reading Monument 14 and normally, when I feel that way, I won't continue the series BUT I found that this story stuck with me and I was more than eager to read this sequel and find out what happened to the characters. This fact alone makes me consider raising my previous 4 star rating to a 5.With that being said, I didn't enjoy Sky on Fire as much as I did Monument 14. It almost felt like it was overstuffed, from action scene to action scene with barely any breathing room between. This is something I'm sure other readers will enjoy about the book but I found a bit too much for me. One thing I really enjoyed about Sky on Fire is that this author is completely unafraid to allow her characters to suffer in this brutal and dangerous world. This makes the story so much more plausible when there is the real possibility that the characters that readers have become invested in may get hurt, sometimes fatally. This makes the survival aspect all the more compelling and this is so very well done in this series, both in the first book and even more so in Sky on Fire. I want to also mention and appreciate the fact that this book had an ending with resolution instead of a cliffhanger. While it ended in a way that will allow the series to continue, I was not left feeling frustrated and angry as so often happens. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and even zombie books because, while there aren't exactly zombies in this series, it does have that atmosphere. If you read and enjoyed Monument 14, then I assure you, it is well worth continuing this series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I think this book was even more intense than the first one...again I read it in, I think, two sittings. And went right to the library website to put a hold on the third one. Highly recommended for edge-of-your-seat reading!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wonderful!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Idea is really good, but the writing is not.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you are hoping that everything calms down, you are in for one hell of a ride. We also get two perspectives during Sky On Fire.

    I loved being able to get inside Alex's head. Their circumstances were dire, but they somehow manage to stick together. They make their own little family. I was glad that they have such a close bond to each other. They see some pretty bad things on the road, but so does Dean at the store. Dean tries his hardest to take care of those that stayed behind. He doesn't realize just how strong he can be for them until the moment is on him. They take things as they come, and try their best to deal with it. I can't image being forced into the situations that these kids are.

    This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute you're terrified, and the next you're giggling with something that Max says. I don't think there is an emotion that you don't go through. Sky on Fire is very much about trusting those you are with, and becoming a mini family. You should also never lose hope. Even though things seem dire, there's always something to hope for.

    Sorry this review is so short, but I didn't want to give any spoilers for those that haven't read Monument 14 yet. If you liked the first book, definitely pick up the sequel. It's fast paced, and you won't want to put it down.

    I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    One nice thing about YA books - they are quick reads that pack a mighty punch in a short investment in time. This latest in the series follows the two groups of kids as they attempt to get to safety. There are some fairly coincidental meetings, but overall the story is entertaining and full of action. I especially like how the kids have bonded and take care of each other - and how in the midst of human brutality there are also people who are full of kindness.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have never read the first book, yet I had picked up a copy of the second one before realizing it was book two. However, despite this fact I was able to jump right into this book and start reading. There was a nice, quick overview of what had happened in the first book and who the main characters were and their main objective. Each child played a part in the overall story as a whole. No one was a wallflower.This is probably one of the better dystopian books to read. It felt believable and the storyline had great depth to it. I instantly was transported in the story as if I was one of the survivors. I like that while there was some romance trying to form that it never really did as I think it would have taken away some from the story. Nothing felt rushed even though this is a quick read. The ending does lead up to the next book. I now plan to go back and check out book one.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I think I liked this one better than the first, although some things seemed to happen just a little too conveniently.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked it. Definitely the tension was ratcheted up in this book. I will read the next book, as well.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Sadly, a middle book in a trilogy but better than most things you could read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you haven't read the novella that falls between books one and two, Jake and the Other Girl, I strongly advise reading it before starting in on book two of the trilogy. It will give you more insight regarding the triangle between Jake, Astrid, and Dean. Goodreads Blurb:Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope. Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .After the disaster with Mr. Appleton and Robbie the group decides they can't trust any of the information they got from the two men that betrayed them. So they load up the repaired bus with the intent being to get Brayden to a hospital or doctor. For the Type Os the plan is to knock them out with sleeping pills and tie them up to prevent them from harming anyone.But like many plans, this one doesn't work out as anticipated. In the end Dean and Astrid argue they are too much of a liability being Type Os. Niko agrees, much to Alex's anger, and then end up offloading the drugged Chloe as well. At the last possible minute Caroline and Henry, the twins, decide that they will stay at the Greenways because it's just too scary out "there." So Niko, Josie, Alex, Sahalia, Max, Batiste, Ulysses, and Brayden set out for Denver on the bus. From this point on it is as if there are two separate stories being told, one for those braving the outside, hoping for rescue and to send rescue back for the rest, and the rest who feel they must stay to protect the others, or are too young to really grasp what is going on.Niko does his best to lead his group, but they are beset by one problem after another, culminating in their losing the bus and risking their friends they left behind by potentially sending it straight back to them. But the bus that returns would be loaded with the enemy, and they have no way to warn them. As they make their way towards the Denver International Airport for the evacuation they've pinned all their hopes on, Niko and Josie develop a close bond, one that eventually blossoms into a romantic relationship. But something happens that stuns them all, and has one member sacrificing themself to protect the rest of the group. Back at the Greenways things aren't going as well as they'd hoped. They were discovered shortly after they'd finished resealing the riot gates. They do what they can by dropping food off the roof, but while all this is going on they'd forgotten about their power, and the lights have suddenly gone out, leaving them in total darkness. Thank goodness they have all those supplies at hand. A few more attacks are weathered, and then they get a huge surprise. Jake is back, telling Astrid he returned for her. While Jake's return increases the tension, it turns out to be a good thing he arrived when he did. Each of the kids matures in some way, with the young ones proving just how resilient youth can be. Each of them learn things about themselves, things they can be proud of as well as things they wish they'd never discovered. The trick will be taking the things they don't like about themselves and turning them into something to be proud of. Not all of them are as successful as others, but then some have the advantage of family to support them, or have extremely strong motivation to make the smart choice(s) going forward.Old friends are found, new friends are made, and some miracles take place. It seems as if all is over for the group, but then a missing piece of information is discovered. It looks as if the older kids may be up for one more heart pounding journey to rescue a friend. The only question that remains is who will be going and who will be staying behind?
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    If it's possible, this book moved even faster than the first one. I enjoyed the alternative point-of-views as it allowed me to see a "different side," but Alex is really no different than Dean, aiside from his skill set. What bothered me most is that there was a huge upset to their plans about 3/4 of the way through, and then the ending was miraculously "fixed" by deux ex machina.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was a fast read, but covered a lot of issues. The decisions each teenager had to make and live with were life changing. A good read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Some spoilers for part two...Events pick up right where they left off from the first book, although there is a nice little transitional journal entry at the beginning in case there were readers crazy enough to snort powdered sugar…er…skip the first installment. This time Alex, Dean's younger brother, shares storytelling duties with big bro, so we get a full-field view of what's happening at the Greenway store and the bus on its way to Denver International Airport. We meet new, old, and surprising psychos, heroes, and characters throughout this apocalyptic tale. This sequel was so finger-lickin' good I'm keeping it around for another read—and trust me, I rarely read sequels, let alone keep them. This one isn't just delicious, it's DELECTABLE!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A quick read that was fast paced.I enjoyed the changes in relationships as the story progressed. It showed how people can show a different side of themselves when faced with adversity.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Monument 14: Sky on Fire What a great cover for the second book in this series, don't you think? I love when a book's cover so perfectly fits the story within. , I read and enjoyed the first book in this series but it left me with some reservations about the writing. I no longer have those reservations, I thought this second book was wonderfully written and much richer in detail and character depth. While I had reservations after reading Monument 14 and normally, when I feel that way, I won't continue the series BUT I found that this story stuck with me and I was more than eager to read this sequel and find out what happened to the characters. This fact alone makes me consider raising my previous 4 star rating to a 5.With that being said, I didn't enjoy Sky on Fire as much as I did Monument 14. It almost felt like it was overstuffed, from action scene to action scene with barely any breathing room between. This is something I'm sure other readers will enjoy about the book but I found a bit too much for me. One thing I really enjoyed about Sky on Fire is that this author is completely unafraid to allow her characters to suffer in this brutal and dangerous world. This makes the story so much more plausible when there is the real possibility that the characters that readers have become invested in may get hurt, sometimes fatally. This makes the survival aspect all the more compelling and this is so very well done in this series, both in the first book and even more so in Sky on Fire. I want to also mention and appreciate the fact that this book had an ending with resolution instead of a cliffhanger. While it ended in a way that will allow the series to continue, I was not left feeling frustrated and angry as so often happens. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and even zombie books because, while there aren't exactly zombies in this series, it does have that atmosphere. If you read and enjoyed Monument 14, then I assure you, it is well worth continuing this series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really like this series. The storyline moves quickly and holds your interest throughout. There is action, drama, surprises, and shocks. I am looking forward to continuing this saga.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Love this series! I chose the audio edition for this second volume in the series as well. Todd Haberkorn narrates this book as well and gives another stunning performance. Sky on Fire begins with some of the kids leaving the safety of the Greenway store to travel to Denver Airport in hopes of being evacuated to safety. The remaining kids stay at the Greenway store and hope that the others will arrive in Denver safely and send help. The story is told from the pov of Alex and Dean, the brothers who have been split up. Alex chose to head to Denver and Dean stayed behind. This book was just as action packed as the last but it didn't have quite as much personal drama as Monument 14. I enjoyed both books though and was happy to be connecting with the characters again. I especially.love the twins and Max. The ending had a bit of a cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to seeing how things are resolved. 4 stars!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Minus one star for the idea that a toxin that produces bloodlust and rage and makes people murder other people in horrific ways can, in a slightly smaller dose, lead them to have sex. That's.. just... not.. no.

    The climactic scene was also forced and gimmicky. Which probably accounts for at least half a star.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After reading Monument 14 last year, I was looking forward to seeing how the series would continue, considering the very open ending. Thankfully, Sky on Fire picks up right where the first book left off, with two different journeys taking place via alternating viewpoints. Whereas Monument 14 was a bit of a light post-apocalyptic read, considering the confined environment that the kids are living in, Sky on Fire is much darker, more gritty and doesn't shy away from the fallout of the explosion at the plant that's released chemical warfare compounds into the air. While I'm not necessarily one for horror in any aspect, I did appreciate the fact that Ms. Laybourne didn't shy away from her descriptions of the horrors the kids face. All of their experiences really helped ground the book and kept me eagerly turning the pages.My one complaint about this book is that, despite the fact that it is compulsively readable and really grabs hold of the reader, the way the book is written comes across as stilted in many parts. I especially noticed that there seemed to be several instances where things were explained when elaboration really wasn't necessary. I don't know if that was simply to remind the readers that the narrators are themselves quite young, or what, but I personally found it unnecessary and a bit like the author was talking down to whomever was reading.I also never really emotionally connected with either of the people telling the story. While the book is definitely gripping - I read it all the way through in one sitting - it didn't impact me on an emotional level like I was hoping it would, aside from a vague desire to have everyone reunited with their loved ones. Now, this might be because the last book I read literally punched me in the gut and not through any flaw of Sky on Fire itself, so do take that with a grain of salt. Obviously, your mileage may vary!Ultimately I think that, if you liked Monument 14, you will likewise enjoy Sky on Fire. It is definitely a solid continuation of the series, where things are ratcheted up and the danger and suspense are much more ever-present. Based on the ending, it looks like there might be a third book in the works; should Ms. Laybourne write one, I will certainly give it a read!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    If I reviewed this book with just one word, that word would be UGH. Honestly, I enjoyed Monument 14 when I read it last year. I'm not sure whether it's actually better than Sky on Fire or if, because of my monumental reading challenge, I was just happy to read something so fast-paced. Either way, Sky on Fire is just sad. I hate making such a pronouncement, but the quality of the writing, the flat characters, and the discomfiting portrayal of women combined to make this a horrid read for me.Warning: There will be spoilers all up in this bitch.On the plus side, Sky on Fire probably only took about an hour of reading time all told. It's just 210 pages, so it flies by. Its brevity is the big selling point. The other positive I can offer for Laybourne's series is that the world building does have promise. I like that the world really does seem pretty fucked, and that she's willing to kill off characters; I would like it more if she killed off all of them. The idea of an airborne toxin affecting different blood types in varying ways is interesting too. Unfortunately, a good idea didn't help much, since I hated the plot, writing and characters.We'll start with the characters. I've read two books in this series now and have yet to see any character development. Things happen and the kids do change somewhat, but not for any discernible reason. Shit just happens. For example, Astrid, pregnant and the object of Dean's affections, tells him that it was nice of him to stay with her in the store, but that she won't have sex with him. Nothing really changes, but they have sex either that day or the next day and suddenly she likes him. Apparently this nerdy virgin who had no experience whatsoever before must have been a mind-blowing lay. *rolls eyes* So, yeah, Astrid changed, but there was nothing to explain why she supposedly likes Dean rather than Jake.Or, how about this? At the end of the first book, we learned of Astrid's pregnancy. This was my first really bright red flag in the series, but I still wanted to give book two a try. How terrible is it to be a pregnant teenager? Pretty awful in most circumstances. How about if there are no doctors around to help with the birthing? That's definitely worse. And what if you're in the middle of an apocalypse? Worst time ever to have a kid. This is pretty much fact. Yet, somehow, both Jake and Astrid are OVERJOYED at the fact that they will be bringing spawn into the world. No. Yes, these kids are idiots, but, fuck, even they should realize that this is the worst fucking thing that could be happening.Let's talk about the girls in this book. The way they are portrayed makes me very uncomfortable. The strongest girl in the book is Astrid, pregnant in the middle of the apocalypse. She does actually help save them. Yay! But she's also in the middle of an asinine love triangle and apparently wants to be with whichever guy had sex with her last. So . . . less cool. Then there's Sahalia, who does nothing but cry and have guys attempt to rape her. She's also thirteen. The younger ones serve no purpose to the plot. Oh, there's another girl who's used as a hostage. And another one who does save the group on the bus a couple of times, but then always runs off crying and I'm pretty sure gets left behind entirely, though they're going to go get her in book three. Still, they freaking fly off to fucking Canada and leave her. This is how much women matter.The writing drove me bonkers. It's repetitive and redundant, like my description. The sentences are simple, especially in Alex's sections. The narration is split between brothers Dean and Alex, as they group has split into two. Alex's notes are monotonous. I don't know how something non-verbal can be monotonous, but this is. Simple sentences with few two or more syllable words. "We did this. We did that." down to mundane details that have nothing to do with the overall plot. Both brothers seem to be writing journals of some sort, but it's unclear when they're writing them. The bottoms of each page indicate the time or location of the entry, but they sometimes reference things the characters don't know yet, like they're being compiled much later. For example, Dean mentions that the smoke kept the toxins in the air from affecting them though they didn't know that yet. That's something they couldn't have learned until at least the last few chapters, but that was in the middle of the book.Speaking of smoking, that plot element may have disgusted me more than the sexism. Apparently cigarette smoke clears the air of the dangerous elements. Yay! Children, cigarettes are good for you. Was this book endorsed by Marlboro or something? Ugh. There are so many other things that could have been used to clear the air, like incense or candles. It really had to be fucking cigarettes? This sends an awesome message to children.In no way can I endorse this book. It's certainly not a good choice for a reader like me. I suspect Laybourne is trying to target reluctant readers, but easy-to-read writing can be better than this. However, if you can look past flat, unlikable characters and questionable messages, then maybe you'll like this series. Every book works for someone, right? All I know is that no force in the 'verse could make me read any more.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A heart-pounding race against time, I really enjoyed this book!So the plot goes back and forth between the kids that leave and the kids that stayed behind at the store. If you have not read the first book, I suggest you do. Told from different point of views, each set of kids faces much trouble ahead of them. The plot never fails to give good entertainment and within the first few chapters, the reader has a good feel for plot. I really like that in this book you can really tell the growth difference. In the first book, all of them were scared and unsure what to do. In this book, the situation has forced them to grow up. They are no longer scared but know exactly what do. They don't take any chances. Now, the love interest between Dean and Astrid gives the reader time to move away from the craziness of the world and enjoy some teenage love drama. I can imagine in that time and place, how hard it would be to be in a relationship on top of all the other secrets as well. Both of these characters had to grow up quickly and in that, they play grow up parts. Sometimes their relationship is not even a teenage relationship but that of grown adults. Given the situation that their in, I think the author did a great job in creating an atmosphere where the kids aren't kids anymore.Sky On Fire is a great sequel that opens the reader eyes to the harshness of the world. Featuring a great plot and worthy characters who put everything they known behind them, Sky On Fire is amazing and compelling.