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From Horn Book

July 1, 2017
In this third Masterminds installment, kids who have been cloned from evil criminals in an experiment gone wrong continue to hunt down the originators of Project Osiris, using a combination of their "innate" skills and the bonds they have formed with one another. Unfortunately, the conclusion is not as exciting as the previous two books.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Booklist

February 15, 2017
Grades 4-7 Korman's action-packed caper series comes to a satisfying close in this final installment. After facing a surprising double-cross at the end of the last book (Criminal Destiny, 2016), Eli and Tori get separated from Amber and Malik, but that doesn't stop each pair of kids from continuing to follow clues to track down the criminals from which they were cloned. They have good intentions, but they can't help but use their inborn skills, and soon they all begin to feel lured in by the ease of breaking the law. But as the cinematic plot, laced with red herrings, daring escapes, and mostly harmless minor crimes, trundles on to a tropical resort, where the foursome confronts the mad scientist responsible for their existence, the kids realize that their loyalty to one another and the skills they've learned from each other are enough to keep them on the straight and narrow (for now, at least). With a masterful balance of humor, thought-provoking questions, and adventure, this finale offers just the right closing note to an entertaining trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

From Kirkus

December 1, 2016
In this trilogy closer, the four escaped clones from Project Osiris are still on the run, trying to avoid capture, discover the truth behind their criminal origins, and rescue the rest of the clones from the clutches of the evil Dr. Hammerstrom.Amber and Malik travel to Chicago to question Malik's DNA donor, crime boss Gus Alabaster. Posing as his long-lost son, Malik is able to infiltrate his inner circle, but other than the confirmation that he is Gus' clone, the trip is futile. Meanwhile, Tori and Eli go to California to visit serial killer Bartholomew Glen. There, they find that the Osiris conspiracy is bigger than they imagined. The four use a combination of their innate criminal abilities and their learned kindness to survive. Whether it is stealing a car, selling stolen Girl Scout cookies, or hacking computers, they will do whatever it takes to find the truth. This final installment in the trilogy that began with Masterminds (2015) is packed with surprising twists, high-speed chases, and plenty of near misses. Though the novel sidesteps racial differences, the question of nature versus nurture adds a thoughtful layer to a book that relies heavily on some convenient coincidences and improbable scenarios. (The dimly lit cover depicts the kids as either white or ambiguous.) Fans of the series will not be disappointed. Action-packed, high-speed fun. (Adventure. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Horn Book

July 1, 2015
Eli lives contentedly in seemingly idyllic Serenity, New Mexico, until he tries to venture beyond the town limits. Slowly, Eli and friends realize that the town is fake, their lives are not their own, and they must escape to survive. A clever combination of The Giver and The Truman Show, this book is an engaging and compelling start to a new series.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Publisher's Weekly

December 15, 2014
Several teens learn that their idyllic small-town existence is a sham in this first entry in Korman's Masterminds series. Serenity, N.Mex., has the best standard of living in the country, with zero unemployment and total peace and prosperity. Thirteen-year-old Eli and his friends have never known anywhere else. Honesty, harmony, and contentment aren't just valued in Serenity, they're a way of life. Then Eli and the others start to notice odd things: when they try to leave town, they get sick; their Internet is remarkably sanitized compared to outside sites they accidentally come across; and some kids are considered special, while others are less so. After they discover the truth about why Serenity is so peaceful, they must face the fact that their lives have been ruled by a gigantic lie. Rotating among several young narrators, Korman builds tension as the mystery unfolds, leading to several surprise twists that upend the status quo. While an awful lot of dumb luck is involved in the kids' discoveries, this tense, fast-paced story will have readers racing toward the cliffhanger ending. Ages 8â€"12.

From Booklist

Starred review from December 15, 2014
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Tiny Serenity, New Mexico, is idyllic as it getseveryone has a job and a home, the kids are well behaved, and the genial community spirit is intoxicating. Sure, it's boring, and it's suspicious that a town of 185 people has its own helicopter-equipped security force, but 13-year-old Eli is content. That is, until his misbehaving friend Randy gets sent away. Eli's sure there's something screwy going on, and his suspicions are confirmed when he and his friends investigate the town's factory. Using their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, they discover that it's not traffic cones they manufacture there, but the truth. Korman cleverly constructs Serenity as a kind of stand-in for pearl-clutching attitudes about childrenthe history lessons exclude rebellion and any antiauthoritarian notions, and the kids don't even know what murder means. But learning they have been lied to is worse, and in alternating first-person perspectives, they explore thought-provoking questions about honesty and struggle with the dastardly, life-altering secrets that may change who they are. The compelling, twisty mystery has a truly gratifying payoff, and the emotional depth of the characters, not to mention the steadily building pace, will keep readers engaged to the final page, which happily lays the groundwork for a sequel. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Korman is no stranger to the New York Times best-seller list, and with a hefty marketing campaign behind this one, don't be surprised if he pops up on the list again.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

From Kirkus

November 15, 2014
With no unemployment, no homelessness and no crime, Serenity, New Mexico, is the perfect town. Or is it?When 13-year-old Eli Frieden attempts to bike past the town limits for the first time, he is struck with paralyzing nausea and pain that makes him wonder if Serenity is less of a paradise and more of a prison. When Malik Bruder, his classmate, discovers that the major employer, a traffic-cone factory, is just a front for something more sinister, the two boys, along with friends Hector Amani and Tori Pritel, decide to investigate. They find that Serenity, which holds honesty and integrity above all else, is built on a lie. The truth is so shocking that it puts into question everything they know, even their identities. The mystery is unraveled through several alternating first-person narratives. The distinctive voices of a cynic, a true believer, a hopeful optimist, a terrified tag-along and others create depth, while break-ins, theft, vandalism and an explosive car chase keep the pages turning. A cliffhanger ending points to at least one sequel. A fresh premise, good pacing, surprising twists and engaging characters all combine to make this a series worth following. (Adventure. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From School Library Journal

November 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-Serenity, New Mexico is an idyllic community for all its inhabitants. Everyone has everything they need and no one lies. As the local newspaper boasts, "Serenity Voted #1 in USA for standard of living." Eli has always been happy with his life and never had any reason to want to leave. One day though, while on a bike ride past the outskirts of town with his best friend Randy, Eli begins to feel sick. When he recovers from his illness he discovers that Randy, who convinced him to ride out, has to leave town. Randy tells everyone that he is going to his grandparents' house, but he is acting strange and no longer wants to hang out with Eli. After Randy leaves, Eli finds a note that makes him realize this may not be the perfect town after all. Eli and a few friends begin to uncover secrets and discover that honesty may not be at the heart of Serenity. They also realize that they can't trust anyone, especially not their parents. Korman has created a fun and creative story that delves into the philosophy of what makes us human and whether or not we are defined by our circumstances. Told in alternating voices, readers will get insight into life in Serenity and make life-changing discoveries with the characters. This unique and action-packed story is filled with twists and turns that readers will not see coming. A wonderful start to what promises to be a thrilling series.-Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

A masterful story and a cast of five individual voices combine to deliver a real thriller. Told in the alternating viewpoints of five teenagers, the story begins in the boring, serene, and aptly named town of Serenity. Ramon de Ocampo as Eli is the best narrator of the quintet, transitioning from a bored, carefree, and pampered teen to a serious young man who is desperately unravelling a disturbing plot. Mike Rylander also shines in the difficult task of voicing Malik, the angry, cynical teen who will earn listeners' grudging admiration. The five teens, three boys and two girls, will join forces against the adults in a town that is not what it seems. This thriller is the first in a series. L.T. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine