Series: 5 Worlds #4
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on May 12, 2020
Genres: Graphic Novel, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eBook, ARC
Source: Author, Publisher
I received this book for free from the Author, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Continuing their quest to light the five beacons and defeat the evil Mimic, Oona Lee, An Tzu, and Jax Amboy arrive on Salassandra to light the yellow beacon. The problem: the beacon is encased in amber! Stan Moon, aka. the Mimic, attempts to foil the protagonists’ plans by spreading disinformation about their mission, sending an evil Jax robot to assassinate Oona, and hunting An Tzu himself. In order to light the beacon—and bring themselves one step closer to saving the Five Worlds—the protagonists must decipher an ancient script. The stakes rise when An Tzu’s visions provide startling information with the potential to change the course of their mission.
Our protagonists have grown, as individuals and as a team, since they embarked on their journey. Yet, true to real life, they continue to fight inner and outer battles. An Tzu struggles with the changes he undergoes with his vanishing illness. Jax Amboy confronts his past as an android. And Oona must face her fears regarding her responsibility as the lighter of beacons.
What makes 5 Worlds my favorite YA graphic novel series, besides the compelling characters and detailed worldbuilding, is the mirror it provides to our reality. 5 Worlds never tries to preach to us, but it examines—through the world and characters—real-world concerns. In The Amber Anthem, these concerns include racism against “’em plant things [people],” betrayal and forgiveness, and the spread of disinformation. The latter is specially relevant to the world today. Much as people speculate on what the societal changes influenced by the pandemic mean for our future, the people of the Five Worlds question whether lighting the beacons will transform the Five Worlds for the better. Stan Moon takes advantage of this dissension to spread disinformation. His purpose: to ensure the people cannot trust anything they hear. As he says, “It’s not about them believing what you say. It’s about making sure they can’t believe anything at all” (p. 45).
Fortunately, the 5 Worlds team doesn’t leave us without any answers. On Moon Yatta, Oona learned to seek joy in her mission. This time, she must learn belief. Though the Mimic may try to deceive her, she must trust in the sand and in what she knows to be true. As Oona confronts her fears, we too confront the fears and anxieties perpetuated by disinformation. We too learn about the need to discern truth from lies, blind faith, and wishful thinking. We too learn to trust in what we know to be true. And we too learn that we do not need to fight alone.
Belief is born of knowledge that you’ve joined with the whole of yourself. It’s like the living fire—it can’t be faked.”
The Amber Anthem, p. 77.
The 5 Worlds series subverts the Chosen One trope. Oona is one of three children with the power to call upon the living fire. At first, she believes that her sister Jessa will save the world. Then Oona turns to Vector Sanderson. When Oona does have to fight, she relies on mentors and friends. Now on Salassandra, she must once again rely on others so that she can light the beacon. Believing in others doesn’t make Oona weak. Rather, her trust in her companions demonstrates the power of unity and the responsibility of the individual. Each of us has a unique role to fulfill.
This series gains new meaning with each reread. The 5 Worlds team sneak in Easter eggs like the famous singer Cascadelle, who we briefly glimpse as a popular idol in book one and who returns to play a prominent role in The Amber Anthem. Books three and four overtly tell us what Oona must learn on Moon Yatta and on Salassandra. As I learned from a conversation with author Mark Siegel, each world has a theme—which means that readers can return to books one and two in search of what Oona learned on Mon Domani and Toki.
Rated PG
Some potentially frightening scenes for younger readers
Bias Notes
I love comics, and I’m a fan of the earlier books in the 5 Worlds series.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
I hadn’t heard of these graphic novels, but they sound fantastic—I’ll have to check them out!
Crystal (Kester) says
They’re fantastic. I hope you enjoy them!
Ethan says
I love when an author is able to imbue their story with timely reflections like this one does. I’ve made a vow to vary my reading a bit more this summer, so graphic novels would definitely a fun genre to explore!
Crystal (Kester) says
Yes, some of the best stories reflect the times! I love how graphic novels pair the written word with visuals. There’re many ways artists play with them. Have fun with your summer explorations!