Three months have passed since the action that took place in Across the Universe. Elder has assumed leadership of Godspeed and although Amy feels like the walls are closing in, she has hope that things will be better, especially since the Phydus drug has been banished from the ship and its people are no longer brainwashed.

But now that the ship’s residents are off of Phydus, they are violent and rebellious. It also turns out that there are still many secrets about the ship and its journey. Through it all the feelings between Amy and Elder build as they decipher clues about the ship’s mysteries.

Like in Across the Universe, A Million Suns alternates between Amy’s and Elder’s points-of-view, which I think is a good device that allows the reader to know what both are thinking and feeling. It gives the reader a fuller view of what is going on. Not too much time has passed, but enough that readers can immediately pick up on the changes on Godspeed. Dissent, laziness, and violence are rampant, causing decreases in the food supply and other materials. When murder is added to the mix, things really get out of control.

I was really impressed with A Million Suns. Across the Universe was really good and A Million Suns was even better. It is part murder mystery and part scavenger hunt. Clues were left specifically for Amy because she has known life both on Earth and on Godspeed. The first clues include literary quotes that added that extra “oomph” for me. In fact, the whole hunt for the clues really drove the story for me and they led to even more twists and “gasp” moments.

Elder had to grow up a lot in this book and although I really admired him, I was more focused on Amy and actions. I liked that Amy has very real emotions. I liked how she was not impenetrable. I liked that she did not try to force things with Elder even though they were the only ones their age on the ship.

There was a moment (my favorite) in chapter 34 when Amy was so bad ass that I would have cheered if the whole house was not sleeping. I was so proud of her.

Wow. A Million Suns is a very good young adult science fiction novel. I enjoyed it even more than the previous one and I am really looking forward to the conclusion next January.

Recommended for young adult readers sixteen and older, especially those who are already fans of Across the Universe. No blatant sexual content in this one, but there is implied rape and more violence (of the mob mentality type). No language - just the clever substitutes Beth Revis came up with.