Teen Take: A review of Battlefield by J. F. Jenkins (Cuyler Creech)

Orlando, Cadence, and JD are three normal, everyday kids. They are completely different from one another, and the possibility of the three would ever hangout, let alone say hi, is remote. They’re just three everyday teenagers trying to survive high school.

That is, until a crazy fireball crashes into the local mall ten feet from them. And as the flames crackle and sizzle down, out steps a glowing red figure.

An alien.

This is the moment when everything changes. The strange, handsome alien, Alan, tells of a great war coming.

And its battlefield is Earth.

 

 

 

Through the use of a strange orb, the teens gain supernatural powers, powers kept dormant in every human until unlocked with a force such as the strange orb. Telekinesis. Super intelligence. The three teens will use their powers for good, because according to Alan, the three have been chosen to help fight in the intergalactic war that is soon to come knocking on Earth’s door.

Orlando, Cadence, and JD must work together as a team, bonding with one another as an elite force of chosen ones to save many lives in the coming destruction heading their way.

Battlefield was interesting. Though too dynamic at times, I thought the personalities of each character were truly individual and unique. Orlando, the sulky gothic boy with a temper. JD, the reckless and somewhat self-conscious guy. And Cadence, the smart one, and more rational of the three.

The idea of “Battlefield” was very intriguing. Four tribes from a distant planet, locked in years of war and indifference, brought to Earth to fight to the death with the help of a select few teenage humans with superpowers. Can you ask for much more in a good sci-fi novel?

Though the idea was good, I think it would have benefited with more research. Or at least explain why things are the way they are, or how the work, a little more in depth. Also, there were a few places of dialogue between the characters that I didn’t quite understand, and it seemed at times that their reactions to certain situations were a little awkward, or at least not how I myself would have reacted. But hey, I’m not a teen with superpowers so I guess I can’t say much.

Another thing that confused me, were the jumps between character POVs, but I managed.

Despite all these things, I still think it was a good and interesting read. I give it three out of five stars.