Monday, July 12, 2021

Review: Becoming Brooklyn by Amanda Deich with Giveaway!

 


BECOMING BROOKLYN
by Amanda Deich
January 5th 2021
YA Contemporary, Science Fiction






 

Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn never knew her father. Rex Blackburn died in the 9/11 attacks four months before she was born.

And even though she never met him, she always dreamed about what he must have been like before he died. In her mind, he was a hero.

Little did she know.

After an attack at a 9/11 memorial gala, Brooklyn learns her father had been a member of an elite, anti-terrorism, military task force, made up of a very select group of people who had superhuman abilities. On the day the towers fell, he died using his power to save people.

The Army believes she inherited his gift, and Brooklyn is invited to train at West Point in order to hone her skills. Knowing deep down she is different than anyone else her age and wanting to learn more about a father she never knew, she readily agrees to become a cadet at the prestigious military academy.

She and five other 9/11 babies strengthen their superhuman abilities and spend weeks preparing themselves for their future in the army, fighting terrorists at home and abroad. And in the process of training, they identify with their deceased parents in a way they never knew they could.

Brooklyn knows she’ll go to war someday, but when terrorists find out about the group’s gifts, they don’t bother to wait.

They bring the war to West Point.

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MY TIDBITS

Reality takes a well-woven, superhero twist with a girl, who's so natural, that she feels like she could be the friend from next door. 

Brooklyn is a 9/11 baby, whose father died in that day's terrorist attack. Eighteen years later, she takes part in an event with five other 9/11ers to remember the day, only to barely survive an attack on the gala. Before Brooklyn can digest what has happened, she learns that her father was the member of a special, elite group of soldiers...ones with superpowers. Convinced that she has inherited his gift, the Army sends her to West Point to immediately begin her special training. While she isn't sure this is what she wants, she has no choice but to join. The enemy already knows about the groups secret talents, and the attack on the gala was only the beginning of the hunt to destroy her, and those she was with.

This book starts out with a bang and grabs from the very first page. The reader joins Brooklyn as life is turned upside-down, and she learns that people with special talents exist around them. The shock that her father was one of them is only topped by the news that she has this power too. I enjoyed how the author takes a very normal girl and keeps her as a very normal girl, while she first has to digest that she might have a power and that she isn't just a weird misfit, who has trouble fitting in. The insecurity of a usual teen and learning to accept ones self is something easy to identify with. It also makes Brooklyn seem more real and likeable.

The plot is quick paced with several layers of intrigue and secrets twisted in. Some of these hang on the dangerous, terroristic plot, while others hit the young adult level of fitting in, bullying, romance, and self-esteem. Nothing is easy to guess, and it's hard not to cheer for Brooklyn the entire way through. Even the romantic interests, while holding a bit of insta-attraction, aren't smooth flowing and build tension as well.

Fans of superhero tales, teen romance, spies and intrigue will enjoy this read quite a bit.


And here she is...

 

Amanda Deich is an author out of Littleton, CO. In her non-writer life, she is a teacher and coach to hundreds of kids, and she is a mama to two. If you meet her, she'll talk Jesus and identity like no one's business.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram





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3 comments:

Giselle said...

This sounds like a well written read and compelling from start to finish! Great review!

katieoscarlet said...

I really like the idea for this story line. I like this take on his heroism with his powers after the attack to save people.

Barbara Montag said...

I like the title subject and cover for this great book!
Thank you for sharing it.