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From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up–A suspenseful, cautionary science fiction tale. In a future dystopia, cities have become for-profit businesses. Orphanages are not exempt from the struggle to make money, and at the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys, kids are forced to endure product testing and frequently end up injured as a result. With orphans facing an average life expectancy of 15, 14-year-old Cosmo Hill knows that he is on borrowed time. Unfortunately, his escape attempt nearly proves fatal. While he's lying there dying, a small, hairless blue creature lands on his chest and begins to feed. He is rescued by the Supernaturalists, a motley crew of young people who have dedicated their lives to destroying the Parasites, which feed on the essence of the living. Cosmo joins the group as a Spotter, someone who can actually see the creatures and thus destroy them. However, facts soon emerge that cause the Supernaturalists to question everything they believe in. Is it possible that the Parasites don't feed off of the energy of dying people, but remove pain? Are they actually beneficial to society? The plot's twists and turns will keep readers totally engrossed until the last page. Colfer's futuristic world seems plausible; his characters have strengths, flaws, and histories that account for their points of view. The ending is satisfying yet open to the possibility of a sequel. For anyone who loves science fiction, or just an engrossing story, this novel is a must-read._–Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ_
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Gr. 6-9. In this futuristic thriller, 14-year-old Cosmo escapes from a gruesome orphanage and is rescued from near death by a streetwise trio on a mysterious mission. The group's charismatic leader, Stefan, and his sidekicks, a Latina teen with great mechanical skills and a child-size adult who is a paramedic, are hunting seemingly evil parasites that almost no one else can see. Cosmo, who can see the blue parasites that attack the wounded and dying, joins in the team's fast-paced adventures, which involve shooting and being shot at, like a video game come to life. A high-tech car race and a precarious space flight endanger the four, as does an untrustworthy executive in the corporation that dominates their bleak city. Several twists keep the plot interesting, but a somber turn of events near the end adds a jarring, melodramatic note. Although short on character development, this is packed with action and speculative technology, and the conclusion hints of a sequel. Kathleen Odean
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