The Secret Sea

"Lyga used the real-life mystery of a ship under Ground Zero as a spark for the story, and an endnote gives more information and context to the discovery. Readers will love the fast-paced action and terrifying details of the alternate timeline Zak and friends find themselves in, and the satisfying conclusion will leave them considering questions of identity and family." --Publishers Weekly

"Lyga creates a compelling and impressively fleshed out alternate universe; sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian elements feature throughout, from mysterious wild magic to the glowing electroleum power source. . . . The narrative's success ultimately relies on its compelling adventures and character development. This work ultimately delivers the sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian goods and will draw in middle schoolers with its impressive world-building." --School Library Journal

"The Secret Sea is full of twists and turns, stuffed with scientific theories, voodoo leading to possession, and alternate universes. . . . action. . . . theories. . . . mind-bending. It is in some ways reminiscent of Andrew Smith's The Marbury Lens but not as dark. Science fiction fans of the TV show Fringe will binge read their way through this adventure." --VOYA

"Lyga returns to middle grade with a darkly compelling, if occasionally complicated, look at family, morality, and the long-term effects even seemingly small choices can have. A thoughtful--and thought-provoking--piece of science fiction." --Booklist When 12-year-old Zak Killian starts dreaming of boats and having visions of flooded Manhattan subways that no one else can see, he begins to think that the voice he keeps hearing in his head might not be his imagination. In a thrilling standalone adventure, Zak learns that his longstanding heart condition is the result of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome he siphoned blood from an identical twin in the womb. Zak's twin brother, Tommy, died when the boys were two, and their parents kept Tommy's existence a secret. Now Zak is hearing Tommy, who tells Zak that he can save him if he and his best friends Khalid and Moira venture into a parallel universe. Lyga used the real-life mystery of a ship under Ground Zero as a spark for the story, and an endnote gives more information and context to the discovery. Readers will love the fast-paced action and terrifying details of the alternate timeline Zak and friends find themselves in, and the satisfying conclusion will leave them considering questions of identity and family.--Publishers Weekly

Terrifying visions of subway stations flooded by ocean water. A somnambulistic journey to the World Trade Center. Lyga creates a compelling and impressively fleshed out alternate universe; sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian elements feature throughout, from mysterious wild magic to the glowing electroleum power source. A subplot involving the brutal repression of women by means of a legal system very similar to our own slavery adds depth to the comparison of the two worlds. The narrative s success ultimately relies on its compelling adventures and character development. This work ultimately delivers the sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian goods and will draw in middle schoolers with its impressive world-building. A strong choice for many young adult and upper middle grade collections. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

THE SECRET SEA is full of twists and turns, stuffed with scientific theories, voodoo leading to possession, and alternate universes....action....theories....mind-bending. It is in some ways reminiscent of Andrew Smith s The Marbury Lens but not as dark. Science fiction fans of the TV show Fringe will binge read their way through this adventure. VOYA

Even though he s grown up in New York City, 12-year-old Zak has lived a fairly sheltered life. He has a heart condition that has caused his parents, now in the middle of a contentious divorce, to keep tight tabs on him and they would only be tighter if Zak s parents knew he was hearing voices. But when Zak has a premonition of the subway filling with water and the mysterious voice he thinks of as his guardian angel warns him to run, Zak listens, only to find himself trapped in an alternate-universe New York with his two best friends, Moira and Khalid. Facing dangers from both this new world, which isn t kind to women, and the increasingly untrustworthy voices in Zak s head, the three struggle to find a way home that won t have cataclysmic consequences. Lyga returns to middle grade with a darkly compelling, if occasionally complicated, look at family, morality, and the long-term effects even seemingly small choices can have. A thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of science fiction. BOOKLIST

" When 12-year-old Zak Killian starts dreaming of boats and having visions of flooded Manhattan subways that no one else can see, he begins to think that the voice he keeps hearing in his head might not be his imagination. In a thrilling standalone adventure, Zak learns that his longstanding heart condition is the result of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome he siphoned blood from an identical twin in the womb. Zak's twin brother, Tommy, died when the boys were two, and their parents kept Tommy's existence a secret. Now Zak is hearing Tommy, who tells Zak that he can save him if he and his best friends Khalid and Moira venture into a parallel universe. Lyga used the real-life mystery of a ship under Ground Zero as a spark for the story, and an endnote gives more information and context to the discovery. Readers will love the fast-paced action and terrifying details of the alternate timeline Zak and friends find themselves in, and the satisfying conclusion will leave them considering questions of identity and family.--"Publishers Weekly"

Lyga returns to middle grade with a darkly compelling... look at family, morality, and the long-term effects even seemingly small choices can have. A thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of science fiction.-"-Booklist"

Science fiction fans of the TV show Fringe will binge read their way through this adventure.--"VOYA" "