Elusion

by Claudia Gabel, Cheryl Klam

Overview

The mind-blowing beginning of a futuristic series about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

A new technology is sweeping the country. To enter Elusion®, you need an app, a visor, and a wristband, and you'll be virtually transported to an exotic destination where adventure comes without the complications or consequences of real life. When there are accusations that Elusion is addictive and dangerous, Regan is determined to defend it and is pulled into incredible new worlds to discover deeply buried truths—and to make the ultimate choice between love and loyalty. . . .

Full of thrilling mystery, romance, and intriguing technology, this Inception-inspired thriller is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Matched by Ally Condie, and Partials by Dan Wells, and is continued in the sequel, Etherworld.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062122421
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/24/2015
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	377,246
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam are the authors of Elusion. They met when Claudia edited Cheryl's previous novels, Learning to Swim and The Pretty One. Claudia works as an editor in New York, but she's also the author of several books for tweens and teens, including the In or Out series and the mash-up Romeo & Juliet & Vampires. They liked working together so much that they decided to write a bunch of things together, including movie proposals and TV sitcom scripts. And then one day they had the idea for Elusion, and the rest is the future.

Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam are the authors of Elusion. They met when Claudia edited Cheryl's previous novels, Learning to Swim and The Pretty One. Claudia works as an editor in New York, but she's also the author of several books for tweens and teens, including the In or Out series and the mash-up Romeo & Juliet & Vampires. They liked working together so much that they decided to write a bunch of things together, including movie proposals and TV sitcom scripts. And then one day they had the idea for Elusion, and the rest is the future.

Editorial Reviews

A tense read full of twists, mystery and romance. Be ready for a mind-trip! ELUSION will leave you breathless!

Sophie Jordan

Alluring, tense and mysterious, ELUSION will pull you into its reality and you won’t want it to let go. With plot twists you’ll never see coming, you won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.

Elizabeth Norris

01/20/2014
Gabel (Romeo & Juliet & Vampires) and Klam (Learning to Swim) team up in this near-future tale of the seductive virtual world of Elusion, which people can plug into and escape the realities of a seven-day work schedule and pollution so bad oxygen masks are needed to venture outdoors. Regan Welch’s father invented Elusion and died in a mysterious accident, leaving her best friend, computer prodigy Patrick Simmons, and his Orexis corporation to develop the next generation of high-definition “Escapes.” Regan is a staunch defender of Patrick and his technology, despite allegations that it’s harmful and additive, until a series of cryptic clues from her late father, a number of teens turning up comatose, and hunky bad-boy Josh make her question Elusion’s safety. A predictable love triangle (childhood friend vs. Josh and his “devastatingly beautiful amber-colored eyes”), heavy exposition, and Regan’s obliviousness bog down the story’s second act, though corporate intrigue and a dangerous venture into the virtual realm enliven the cliffhanger ending. Ages 14–up. Agent: (for Gabel) Christy Fletcher, Fletcher & Company; (for Klam) Esther Newberg, ICM. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Elusion is a virtual world where the problems of living in the pollution-ravaged Detroit of the future fall away. Regan is the daughter of Elusion's inventor. Her father created Elusion to keep the beauty of Earth's past alive. But since his death, it has been tweaked to be a kind of fun-house attraction, and some people will do anything to make the ride last longer. Regan has to decide who to trust as she investigates the danger that may wait in Elusion. It is impossible to write about this book without it sounding like a voiceover from a movie trailer—and Elusion is certainly going to make a great movie. As a book, however, it falls a little flat. The science fiction aspect is excellent. Elusion comes alive in the writing and future Detroit is practically a character itself. The problem lies with the characters. Regan is conflicted over her friendship with Patrick, who has taken over her father's work, and her new relationship with Josh, a misunderstood bad boy. She wants to uphold her father's legacy and she wants to help her mother. She really has the weight of the world on her shoulders. So much so that she does not seem to have an actual personality. The secondary characters—childhood best friend turned maybe more; new hot guy; high school nemesis; and the concerned but clueless mother—have all been seen before. While there is not much new here, that does not mean that it will not be popular. The setting and the “science” are so well done that in spite of the clichés, fans of near-future distopian stories are going to eat this up. Reviewer: Barbara Fecteau; Ages 12 to 18.

Voya Reviews, April 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 1) - Barbara Fecteau

03/01/2014
Gr 8 Up—In this grim sci-fi tale, Earth is destroyed by pollution and technological progress. "Elusion," a virtual reality technology that transports users to "escapes," which mimic untainted landscapes, was created by Regan Welch's father and his teen protégé, Patrick. In a world where work and school take place seven days a week and air quality is so poor that oxygen shields are often required, Elusion was meant to offer recreational getaways from the abysmal daily grind. However, Regan's father is killed in an accident, and reports surface that Elusion may have life-threatening side effects. Patrick's feelings for Regan begin to shift, especially when his friend Josh becomes a romantic rival who encourages her to take a deeper look at Patrick, Elusion, and Orexis, the company responsible for its development. Given the current reliance on smartphones, readers will have no trouble believing that virtual escape is addictive. Orexis falsifying data and endangering users to protect their bottom line is sadly also realistic. These elements, combined with the teen romance, ground the book's more fantastical aspects, such as Patrick's redesigned trippy escapes and Regan's experiences within upgraded Elusion. Unfortunately, the young scientist's characteristics and actions take on a cartoonish quality. The occasional use of swear words makes this better suited for older readers. Pithy dialogue and a cliffhanger ending will leave fans in high anticipation for the sequel. Perfect for collections where sci-fi tempered with romance flies off the shelves.—Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

School Library Journal

2014-01-04
This series debut features a smart, surprising teaser of a plot that keeps readers off balance—in a good way—to the last page. Regan missed her dad even before his tragic death. Elusion, the form of virtual reality he developed with her best friend, Patrick, took most of his time. Now, Elusion's launch is a bittersweet triumph. For an hour, users are immersed in a beautiful Escape, forgetting life in a polluted Detroit subject to damaging acid rains, where oxygen masks are essential gear when outdoors. Not everyone is thrilled with Elusion. Regan's classmate Avery is making damaging claims that though regulators have approved it as safe, Elusion's highly addictive, putting users who've figured out how to stay longer at serious risk. While Regan rejects this, her attractive new friend, Josh, takes it seriously, and Patrick's evasions don't help. There's something wrong with Elusion, and it's been carefully covered up. The more Regan and Josh investigate, the worse it looks, causing Regan to question her dad's role as well as Patrick's. Exactly what's behind the euphoria Elusion generates is unknown, but as her father tells her when he turns up in an Escape, it's dangerous. Regan's appealing though—minor quibble—perhaps a tad too rational when responding to the reality-twisting scenarios that are thrown at her. An ingenious, compulsively readable cure for the blahs. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

Kirkus Reviews