Changing Tide by Robert Joncas Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reviewed by Nick Rees Gardner Nothing is as it seems in Robert Joncas’s Changing Tide, a speculative sci-fi page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. For Skye, life is a series of rude awakenings. Ripped from her comfortable life in Arizona, she is faced with multiple deaths, a drug-addled mother, and a boyfriend who may or may not be cheating on her. Robert Joncas’s Changing Tide begins as a realistic coming of age novel featuring a young woman faced with endless traumas, but it becomes much more. Joncas brings in sci-fi and fantasy elements of magic seashells and aliens to create a call to adventure. The result is a book about Skye Connor, a young woman, who, against all odds, overcomes loss and trauma to save the world. When Skye is ripped from her comfortable life in Arizona in the wake of her father’s tragic death, she doesn’t believe in the supernatural or aliens. Thus she remains skeptical when, on a walk along the beach outside her Nana’s house in Crescent Cove, California, she finds a giant conch shell that seems to be able to speak to her. Little does she know that contained in the shell is the soul of an ancient alien, one with whom she has a special bond. After her mother overdoses, Skye is riddled with guilt and falls into the arms of Paul, a somewhat untrustworthy character whom she believes harbors a secret. In a series of surprising events, however, Paul, Skye, and Nana find themselves on a mission that leads them to the Grand Canyon where they must face a group of evil overlords and save the world from destruction. Right off the bat, Joncas introduces family problems and a love interest. Skye’s mother is a drugged-out husk who fights with Skye, but her Grandma (Nana) is an old hippie who “probably planned (her) beach retirement while sitting around smoking pot at Woodstock.” The plot seems straightforward, except for the ominous, speculative element of the talking conch shell. However, Joncas twists your expectations to make you confront an alien invasion. It is a shock, not unwelcome, but requiring a lot of worldbuilding as both Skye and the reader’s “normal” world is transformed into one with aliens inhabiting humans to fight off evil overlords. Similar twists and surprises come with a frequency that can leave the reader reeling. Characters are killed off suddenly and mysteriously. One character, Karly, resorts to attempted murder due to her jealousy over Paul and Skye’s relationship, a plot point that, rather than being resolved, is dropped after a tense confrontation. Though many of these deaths and near-deaths are necessary to drive the plot forward, they are eclipsed halfway through the book by the aliens’ attacks. Overall, though the twists keep the reader riveted, they also lead the reader in many different directions, small distractions that make it difficult to see where the story is going. Even so, the book is hard to put down. Some surprises are harsh, such as the death of Skye’s mother, while others come in the form of humorous asides that break the tension. In an especially tense scene, while Skye, Nana, and Paul traverse a narrow tunnel, Skye smells “A whiff of sulfurous air, like rotten eggs.” It is a smell that seems foreboding until, just a couple sentences later, Nana admits that she farted. As a book of young adult science fiction, Robert Joncas’s Changing Tide offers all the shock, creativity, and humor a reader would look for in a novel with memorable characters facing seemingly insurmountable odds. While it jerks the reader in many different directions, the story remains focussed on Skye, a character written with enough care to make the reader want to follow her to whatever strange places she leads them. A fun book, distinctive, quirky, and with enough charm to keep a reader engaged.
5 out of 5 stars
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Changing Tide by Robert Joncas takes readers on a gripping and emotional journey through the life of Skye, a young girl facing immense challenges after the tragic death of her father. From the very beginning, the author masterfully paints a picture of Skye's struggle as she copes not only with her own grief but also with her mother's overwhelming depression.
The story takes a turn when Skye and her mother move to her Nana's house, a significant change that sets the stage for a series of unexpected events. It is here that Skye encounters an old childhood bully, Paul, and, to their surprise, they discover a mutual attraction. This unexpected connection adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, adding depth to Skye's emotional journey.
The plot takes a fascinating twist when Skye stumbles upon a talking seashell on the beach. This mystical encounter leads her to release an entity trapped within the shell, an act that unknowingly intertwines her fate with that of an alien desperately seeking her help. The author seamlessly blends elements of fantasy and science fiction, creating a unique and captivating storyline.
As the story progresses, Skye finds herself face-to-face with the alien, now inhabiting Paul's body. This encounter forces her to confront her own fears and make difficult decisions. Will she choose to aid the alien in its quest, or will she succumb to the temptation to run away from this sinister being?
Robert Joncas has crafted a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The pacing is well-balanced, and the author's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions is commendable. Skye's character development is particularly noteworthy, as readers witness her transformation from a grieving and vulnerable girl into a brave and determined young woman.
The book is professionally edited, with only minor grammatical errors that do not detract from the overall reading experience. The attention to detail and the author's ability to create vivid imagery are evident throughout the story.
In conclusion, Changing Tide is a remarkable book that grabs the reader's attention from the very first page. With its compelling characters, intriguing plot twists, and seamless blending of genres, it is a true page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent reading this book and was genuinely sad when it came to an end. Without a doubt, I highly recommend picking up Changing Tide by Robert Joncas and awarding it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
******
Changing Tide
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Changing Tide" by Robert Joncas.]
5 out of 5 stars
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Changing Tide by Robert Joncas takes readers on a gripping and emotional journey through the life of Skye, a young girl facing immense challenges after the tragic death of her father. From the very beginning, the author masterfully paints a picture of Skye's struggle as she copes not only with her own grief but also with her mother's overwhelming depression.
The story takes a turn when Skye and her mother move to her Nana's house, a significant change that sets the stage for a series of unexpected events. It is here that Skye encounters an old childhood bully, Paul, and, to their surprise, they discover a mutual attraction. This unexpected connection adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, adding depth to Skye's emotional journey.
The plot takes a fascinating twist when Skye stumbles upon a talking seashell on the beach. This mystical encounter leads her to release an entity trapped within the shell, an act that unknowingly intertwines her fate with that of an alien desperately seeking her help. The author seamlessly blends elements of fantasy and science fiction, creating a unique and captivating storyline.
As the story progresses, Skye finds herself face-to-face with the alien, now inhabiting Paul's body. This encounter forces her to confront her own fears and make difficult decisions. Will she choose to aid the alien in its quest, or will she succumb to the temptation to run away from this sinister being?
Robert Joncas has crafted a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The pacing is well-balanced, and the author's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions is commendable. Skye's character development is particularly noteworthy, as readers witness her transformation from a grieving and vulnerable girl into a brave and determined young woman.
The book is professionally edited, with only minor grammatical errors that do not detract from the overall reading experience. The attention to detail and the author's ability to create vivid imagery are evident throughout the story.
In conclusion, Changing Tide is a remarkable book that grabs the reader's attention from the very first page. With its compelling characters, intriguing plot twists, and seamless blending of genres, it is a true page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent reading this book and was genuinely sad when it came to an end. Without a doubt, I highly recommend picking up Changing Tide by Robert Joncas and awarding it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
******
Changing Tide
View: on Bookshelves
