The Roar by Emma Clayton
Mika is the only one who doesn’t believe his twin sister is dead. Mika shares a unique bond with Ellie, who begins to show up in his dreams. When Ellie tries to escape her kidnappers, Mika feels her distress and becomes more convinced that he must find her. When the government provides a competition in the form of a flight simulation game, Mika is a natural. But he soon discovers that this is not a game to the government. And they have plans for Mika and his friends.
Mika and Ellie live in a dystopian future England where a plague infected all animals, and a wall was built around America and Europe, keeping out the animals. But the twins both learn the truth and the startling vast conspiracy. Clayton’s worldbuilding is fantastic; the imagery of the city is vivid. Though, more time could be spent on character development.
Fans of Ender’s Game will see similarities in this science fiction thriller. Full of adventure, suspense, and intrigue – this debut is exciting and engaging. The excitement builds to a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers wanting more. Clayton’s sequel The Whisper is set to release this February from Scholastic.