The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer Date of Publication: 2004 ISBN: 0786851481 Number of Pages: 267

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Science Fiction, Fantasy
THEMES: Appearance versus Reality, Good versus Evil, Life versus Death, Sacrifice and Redemption, Revenge, Coming of Age, Loyalty, Family, Friendship

SUMMARY:
Fourteen-year old Cosmo lives in the future in a place called Satellite City. Unwanted by his parents, Cosmo is sent to a state school called the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. The boys at this school earn their keep by testing dangerous products. The burns, bruises, and sores they get from the various tests convince Cosmo that he will eventually die.

Cosmo escapes and is saved from death with the help of a group of kids called “The Supernaturalists.” The Supernaturalists – Stefan, Ditto and Mona - patrol the streets of Satellite City at night hunting down supernatural parasites that up until now, only they could see. After his near-death experience, Cosmo too can see these blue creatures that feed on the life force of humans, and therefore he is allowed to join the gang.

As they learn to work together and perform daring missions against the creatures, they eventually discover that the parasites are not what they seem. They realize they are unwittingly part of a far more sinister government plan. As they seek to rectify their actions, the Supernaturalists are betrayed by the one person they trust. Furious, they are determined to even the score and tip the scales in favour of mankind, regardless of whether or not they will survive the experience themselves…

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• likes science fiction
• likes the underdog
• is appalled by supposed advances in technology that threaten our planet
• has a strong sense of justice
• likes action and unusual settings and events
• is a reluctant reader (though strong readers will like it too)
• likes Eoin Colfer
  

WHAT ELSE?
Eoin Colfer is also the author of the Artemis Fowl series, Spud Murphy, and The Wish List.

There is a death of a central character at the end of the story, and it is somewhat shocking and violent, but it is not exploitive.

RELATED LINK:
Author's Website