The Daybreak Bond Paperback – September 11, 2018

The Daybreak Bond is a utopia-turned-dystopia story, a very popular genre these days. What I especially liked about this one is that it's actually uplifting rather than depressing. (Also, it's not a bloodbath or a horror story like many other books of this genre.) The values upheld in this book are (I hope) universally acknowledged to be honorable, and any person reading this book will be edified by the wholesomeness of it.I also like that it raises important and relevant questions about responsibility among friends, inequality of wealth/education, and ethicality of human genetic engineering. Plus, it is well-written with a flowing plot and heartwarming ending. I chose a 5-star rating because I feel nothing in the book warrants taking away any stars.In short, The Daybreak Bond is a good clean utopia-turned-dystopia book that is also interesting, exciting, and uplifting.

What is the balance between science and nature? When d0es science not realize there are boundaries as to what make us humans and what makes us designed. Follow the Firefly Five as they explore and discover the limits of science and the human bonds of friendship.

Since I won this from Goodreads and it is a sequel, I first read book one, “The Firefly Code.” I didn’t know much about the story going in, and this was also the first book I’ve read by this author. I was surprised at the rather heavy subject matter and at how skillfully it was handled, especially for a middle-grade book; the duology is definitely as applicable to adults as to older kids and teens, and it is particularly germane to contemporary social issues and concerns despite being set a few generations in the future.Picking up where “The Firefly Code” left off, Megan Frazer Blakemore’s “The Daybreak Bond” details the journey of the Firefly Five on their mission to save their friend Ilana from being scuttled. The two books coalesce together seamlessly, as if they were one long novel, although there are some subtle reminders peppered throughout the narrative to keep readers up to speed in case it has been a while since they read book one. “The Daybreak Bond” is even more intense than its predecessor, taking on the moral and ethical considerations that come with genetic engineering and being natural or designed. The Firefly Five, and particularly the main character Mori—from whose point of view the story unfolds—begin to understand the implications of their utopic existence in Old Harmonie and that the control of Krita stretches farther than they realized and impacts many beyond their own city. The repercussions of privilege and the failure to take responsibility when things go wrong become more evident when they interact with a trio of kids from “outside”, underscoring the ripple effect that results from power and supremacy. Ultimately, the story focuses on challenging the status quo and on remaining true to oneself in a society that emphasizes conformity, despite the consequences.

After figuring out that Ilana is in danger, the Firefly Five have snuck out of Old Harmonie and are on their way to MIT to find the one woman they think will help. All their lives they've been told that outside Old Harmonie is full of danger and disease. They are entirely unprepared for the journey, but they have each other and a determination to do what they must to help Ilana. Can five sheltered kids make it out in the real world?This was kind of surprising in the way it turned out. I'm not going to spoil it, but just say it isn't exactly the typical middle grade expected conclusion. Big chunks of this book are more of a survival story, which isn't always high on action. For that reason it was a little harder to get into. I like how this book explores the ethics of cutting edge science and how sometimes the science gets developed before people really stop to consider the ethics. It is good stuff to ponder. Overall, this series is a "safe" dystopian option for middle grade kids, in that it doesn't have any fatalities. It poses some interesting questions and has some mystery elements to keep kids reading.Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. One injury with some blood.