MINRS3

Sylvester, Kevin. MINRS3 
May 29th 2018 by Simon & Schuster
Public Library Copy

**SPOILER ALERT** Can't quite write the review without mentioning a bit of a surprise that occurs early on. Stop reading if you don't want to know!

After MINRS and MINRS2, the children are in a situation that makes it very clear that they need to get back to Earth to warn everyone about the evil Thatcher. Not everyone believes Christopher that a transport can get them successfully back, and even he admits that the calculations have to be followed exactly for the group to make it. Pavel continues to be an absolute jerk about Grinders, and some of the group doesn't even want to make them trip. Five of the children set off, only to find an enormous and unpleasant surprise waiting for them. Thatcher is on the transport, and up to his evil ways. Christopher thinks that perhaps he should have killed him, or should still kill, but can never bring himself to do so, thinking idealistically that he should hand him over to the authorities to face justice. When the code received from the Oracle doesn't work, and the craft is in danger of being shot down as it nears Earth, Thatcher at least proves himself to be useful.Once they land, the group manages to break away in a digger and find some rebel forces who help them a bit. There are a lot of puzzles and mysteries, and it takes a meeting with Melming himself to finally point Christopher to a path he must pursue to save Earth.
Strengths: The cover is green! I predicted that in the review of book two! A trilogy is perfect, and this wraps things up nicely. For some reason, it occurred to me that this would be a good follow up read for students who really liked The Hunger Games. Some of the same themes of social justice, some of the same cruelty; definitely dystopian. Bringing Melming in was a nice touch.
Weaknesses: I would have killed Thatcher without a second thought after all the turmoil he caused. I also started fading a bit when there were a lot of puzzles and political history just over halfway through, but since the book isn't hugely long, I was horribly affected by Fantasy Amnesia.
What I really think: This is a very serviceable space adventure series that is solidly popular in my library. Very interested to see what Sylvester writes next.