The Sinister Secrets of Singe by Sean Ferrell

What worked:

Young readers will sympathize with Noah’s plight as he’s been secluded inside his house for his whole eleven years of life. He’s never known what it’s like to walk in the grass among the trees or among the people of Liberty. He doesn’t even know his uncle is the governor. Noah is a talented tinkerer which is understandable since his father and mother Marie are brilliant inventors. He sees beauty in his father’s inventions while the public is terrified of his monsters. His admiration for the creatures is in stark contrast to everyone else freaking out. Noah finally realizes he’s being punished for his father’s crimes and has no intentions of returning to his home prison with Marie. However, he discovers life with his father might be even worse.

The first half of the book focuses on Noah’s escape from Liberty by navigating the ocean with smugglers to reach the island of Singe. The build-up paints a picture of danger and ferocious creatures and it turns out it’s not an exaggeration. The author creates anticipation by having the characters share rumors of the threats, terrifying sounds are heard, and partial images are described until finally an entire mechanical monster is revealed. Noah’s arrival on the island leads to more teasing evidence of the creatures as he maneuvers his way through dense bushes and trees.  The author’s strategy allows readers’ minds to wonder what kinds of perils might await Noah in the upcoming pages.

The author presents innovative creations and keeps them mysterious by not trying to explain how they work. Somehow, a spider-like machine constantly works on adding new rooms to Noah’s house like an obsessive, computerized creature. Noah’s closest companion is an AI robot named Elijah. Elijah is a complicated character as he was programmed by both of Noah’s parents who have conflicting motivations. There is evidence Elijah might be displaying some actual human characteristics but that’s surely impossible.

What didn’t work as well:

The book’s synopsis reveals way too much information as some of it happens in the second half of the book. Sharing what Noah finds on the island and what happens afterward should have been left for readers’ imaginations.

The Final Verdict:

This book won’t allay any fears of people who are expecting AI machines to take over the world! The dynamics of Noah’s family are intriguing and are at the essence of his issues. His father will not be what readers expect and his view of the world amplifies the problems. Overall, this book is quite compelling and I recommend you give it a shot.