Thalia Kalkipsakis, Split Infinity (Lifespan of Starlight #2), Hardie Grant Egmont, 1 May 2016, 272pp., $19.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781760125325
In an Orwellian future society is tightly controlled by ‘the Feds’ and the ‘legals’ have chips implanted in their arms. But if you are an ‘illegal’ like Scout you have no chip and that means no right to rations, school or to exist within mainstream society. Scout and her friend Mason however have learnt to time skip; this means they can escape to the future, or does it? Scout soon discovers the Feds have been waiting for her, her mum has disappeared and those she knew have grown up, or moved away, or died. Can she go back to the past to change the future? Will she be able to prevent those she loves being hurt? And does this mean there is an alternative universe in which parallel lives are possible?
Following on from the first in her trilogy, Lifespan of Starlight, Kalkipsakis raises some intriguing and thought provoking ideas such as relative time theory in this well paced action sci fi romance for young teens. Although plot elements are a little contrived at times, this is a well written, intelligent page turner. Recommended 12+
Reviewed by Mem Capp
