Great series, didnt quite like the ending. ( )

I was really surprised by how much this final volume made me think about morality and responsibility. Sure, there was some very hand-wave-y science (cleverly winked at in the text itself) and some implausible survival stories, but there was also depth and intelligence to the underlying ideas. I started the series because it was fun and thrilling and s**t blew up (I love it when s**t blows up), but, by the end, I was thinking about the issues and questions it raised. Bravo, Mr. MacHale, for being a sneaky bugger and making me question my own assumptions while I happily "watched" destruction rain down and the end of the world be narrowly averted. ( )

Once again, Tucker Pierce and friends must fight for their lives against the better-equipped SYLO, and they will risk nearly everything to keep each other safe the battle's climax nears.

I don't know what it is about MacHale's books but I have a really love/hate relationship with his last chapters of his series. But before I talk about that let me start at the beginning.
A lot of times reading this book I kept thinking to myself "how the heck did this start at a high school football game where a kid died from taking the ruby??" That's how good this author is at building up a story. This series, especially this book, was action packed. It was a go go go till the very end book and I absolutely loved everything about it. As a conclusion to the story, I was impressed, to say the least.
That being said, I almost rated this MUCH lower because of the end....
I understand why he did what he did. I understand why he had them go to the past and start over. I get that more than anything else. but really what?
It disappoints me that these 4 kids did SO MUCH to stop everything and they don't get to experience or even know how it worked out. They don't know if anything worked. Who lived and who died. What happened, they just know nothing. I was really upset about this but as soon as Tucker came up with his plan I absolutely loved it.
It was bittersweet. They did everything I would do given the opportunity to go in the past. Invest in really big companies, and invent a healthier way of life on the planet. But really the thing that had me crying at work while I was mopping the floor is that they went to their younger AU selves and gave them jobs. That really meant so much to me and DJ just has this insane way of making everything go full circle.
That being said....
I loved it. It was beautiful. This series is amazing. I think if I ever got asked for a recommendation for preteens/teens who wanted action packed stories with little to no romance that this is what I would recommend (after Pendragon of course). I think that this is a perfect book for a young boy who is hesitant to read. I just loved this story so much and recommend it to everyone. ( )