Editorial Content for Six

Parker Banks is the new kid in school and he's not having a very good time. His British accent makes him a target for bullies, he has no friends and his little sister, Emma, has adjusted seamlessly. To make matters worse, his scientist father has been working long hours every night because he is on the cusp of a technological breakthrough, and Parker hates living in the same place his mother died three years earlier.

But then everything changes: Parker's father is kidnapped by his company, leaving only a cryptic message about a man named Solomon Gladstone behind. Parker, along with Emma and fellow school outcast Michael, have to figure out Dr. Banks's message and find this mysterious Gladstone.

Emma has the biggest heart, and it was wonderful to see a character with a disability be given her own distinct personality that had nothing to do with her hearing. 

As they learn more about their father's company, they discover the terrible truth about a top-secret project called SIX, and that their search for Dr. Banks might just turn otherworldly.
This book was definitely a page-turner. After a certain point, with so many car chases, kidnappings and break-ins, you can't help but want to keep reading until the end. There's a lot of action and a lot of suspense in this book, and a couple of truly heartbreaking moments.

The characters are all great, though Emma and Michael are the standouts. Emma, who is deaf, is just as feisty and fiery as a little sister ought to be. She's also made it her mission to care deeply about social and environmental issues, adopting and caring for stray birds and even a pig. Emma has the biggest heart, and it was wonderful to see a character with a disability be given her own distinct personality that had nothing to do with her hearing. Michael is also a great character as the resident techie for the trio. He's a master at computers, but not exactly brave. Through his friendship with Parker and Emma, he learns to trust himself and stand up for himself when the time comes.
Though it reads very fast and the plot is engaging, the book does feel a little unfinished at the end. It seems like a set-up for a sequel, as there are some unanswered questions and the major characters feel some unease in the last few pages. It definitely suggests that something major will happen in the next book, and while I'm excited to read more, I wished we could have gotten some more answers in this book.

But overall, SIX Is a fun book with likeable characters and an original premise. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes action-packed science fiction.