The Pioneer

By: Bridget Tyler

Narrated by: Jesse Vilinsky

A 2020 LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Book!

Packed with action and unexpected twists, this addictive page-turner is perfect for fans of Illuminae and Defy the Stars!

When Jo steps onto planet Tau Ceti e for the first time, she’s ready to put the past behind her and begin again. After all, as a pioneer, she has the job of helping build a new home away from Earth.

But underneath the idyllic surface of their new home, there’s something very wrong. And when Jo accidentally uncovers a devastating secret that could destroy everything they’ve worked for, suddenly the future doesn’t seem so bright.

With the fate of the pioneers in her hands, Jo must decide how far she’s willing to go to expose the truth—before the truth destroys them all.

meh on setup, great on moral dilemmas

I picked this book up on the recommendation of an on-line influencer, mother of middle school and high school aged boys. She claimed the boys could not put the book down and neither could she. I love me some JA dystopian sci fi (Hunger Games, anyone?) but this was not as awesome as many others in this genre. I am surprised that it received such attention and award nominations, though I can see the pull. The protagonist is rather self-centered but what teenager isn't. Aside from her boring self-indulgent scenes, the real key to this novel and its sequel is the wrangling with moral dilemmas that not only have plagued us for milennia but also challenge us currently. I like the way the author constructs true dilemmas with which all the characters struggle. Though the setting and setup are rather contrived, I very much enjoyed the exploration of conscientious decision making.