Published Date: September 12, 2017
Publishing Co.: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
It’s my theory that if you’ve ever said the words, “Money doesn’t buy happiness,” then you’ve never been dirt-fucking-poor. Money can buy a lot of happiness. Maybe not all the happiness in the world but trust me, it takes a major weight off of your shoulders and puts you on the path to achieving what does makes you happy.
The Babel Corporation has selected poor teenagers from all over the world to compete for amounts of money they never imagined by going first to space, then onto a new planet. The trick is, they have to survive rigorous training and score high enough through these competitions to make it down to Eden, a planet inhabited by lifeforms known as Adamites, who like human kids but not so much the adults. The teenagers may still encounter trouble while down on the planet, mining a precious resource called Nyxia, the real goal for Babel.
Emmett Atwater was plucked from Detroit. Poor, dying mother with shit insurance, and a father working himself to the bone trying to make ends meet while raising a son and being the support of an ailing wife. When Emmett is offered a chance to make all right for his family, he doesn’t hesitate. All his other competitors are enemies, standing in the way of his goal. Until, a couple sneak behind his wall and make themselves friends instead of only competition.
Almost all of the kids know that Babel Corporation is much more sinister than their outward appearances, but with that kind of money and healthcare for family on the line, you can over look a lot.
This was a fair start to a YA science fiction trilogy. I think the part that will interest me the most will come in book two. Although, I’m not running off to pick up the next book. Time will tell if I continue the series.
cupcakesandmachetes 
Haha money definitely buys some happiness. I just bought a whole bunch of new miniatures and I’m so freakin happy man!!!!
Haha, exactly!
I so agree on the money thing!
Great review! I had this one on my list for a while, but never really been in the mood to actually buy/read it. I think sci fi is an autumn thing for me 😀
That’s totally understandable about it being a seasonal thing. Horror tends to be that way for me. Once in awhile, it will sneak in another time of the year but it’s rare.
I have this one on my list, too, and I’m glad it seems to be worthy my while. I’ve seen awesome memes about the “money doesn’t buy happiness’ shit that breaks it down REALLY well. It’s something people with lots of money say to people who have little to nothing, and they have no fucking room to talk. If money doesn’t buy happiness, give it to people who are dying without it in our shit dystopia. Oh you won’t? Yeah exactly.
Haha great point! Those same people will NOT give up their money.
I also very much enjoy, “Whoever said money does not buy not happiness, has never paid an adoption fee.” 🙂