Laddertop

by Orson Scott Card, Emily Janice Card, Zina Card, and illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza

This is an interesting start to a new series by the author of Ender’s Game.  In this futuristic world, kids who are smart and meet certain criteria (and being short may be one of them) are sent to the elite “Laddertop Academy.”  Extraterrestrials who visited the planet years ago set up four ladders that are portals to the stars, rising 36,000 miles into space.  Now people can use raw materials from asteroids and even begin to colonize space. However, it is a mystery what actually happens at Laddertop, and why children are necessary to do it.  Nevertheless, it is feisty Azure’s dream to go there, and her best friend Robbi’s secret dream as well. When both girls are chosen to go through the training and test phase, the real adventure begins.  Learning to move in zero gravity is trickier than it sounds, but then inexplicable things begin happening to Robbi that call the whole system into question.  This graphic novel hooked me early on, so I know I will be checking out future volumes as the series develops. 

Reviewed by Jennifer

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