The second book in the Big Empty series, this novel finds the ragtag group of teenage survivors finally safe in Novo Mundum. Right away, they begin to spread out, each helping the last true community on Earth in whatever way they can. It seems like paradise; there's plenty of food, everyone is friendly with each other, everyone contributes, and Dr. Slattery, the resident doctor and community leader, is even working to find a cure for Strain 7.

But then Irene, honing her medical skills by volunteering with Novo Mundum's doctors, begins to understand something is very wrong, even though her other friends quickly find niches in the community. Keely goes on scouting missions to collect supplies. Jonah uses his skills to work on Novo Mundum's plumbing and electricity. Michael integrates himself with Liza, Dr. Slattery's pretty daughter. But Irene investigates.

And when their friend Diego is taken away for investigation after suspicions that he may have contracted Strain 7, things begin to add up in a terrifying way. Why are their rooms full of deathly ill subjects in the hospital's basements? Why are chips being inserted under the skin of Novo Mundum's members? And are the leaders of the world's last paradise really so saintly after all?

Managing to incorperate heavy suspense into the story, even though it lacks the journey of survival the first book brought, this sequel develops characters and relationships further.

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I enjoyed The Big Empty, but Paradise City just incited my ire. It started out well enough: the character point-of-views quickly narrowed down to two main settings, and both plotlines were interesting. One group is off scouting for important supplies, while the other remains in the community, trying to infiltrate a possible saboteur. The only things that got tiring were the constant switching back-and-forth of viewpoints (just make longer chapters if you want to alternate POVs!) and a bit of unnecessary girlfriend/boyfriend drama mess.

The majority of the book continued in this way, which was fine. But then, towards the end, it just got ridiculous. The internal issues in Novo Mundum turned out to be totally unbelievable and unrealistic to me, at least in the context of how the community and its members had been set up in the first book and then throughout much of the second. The melodramatic feel to much of the dialogue, including the overuse of italics stressing words and phrases, made it hard for me to take the book seriously as the conspiracy unfolded. The final straw was perhaps the ending. One line of the story was wrapped up about 3/4 of the way through the book, with another one starting but then being left to hang in its middle on the final page! This was a most unsatisfying second installment of a series that had shown some nice potential in its first novel. ( )

A pleasing continuation of a light, quick science-fiction series that should appeal to young teens - in particular those boys who are reluctant readers. Sex is alluded to (twice) but no details, nor is it the focus. The group introduced in Book One (The Big Empty) are now adjusting to being at Novo Mundum - the new world (community) run by Dr. Slattery. When Gabe (new character), Michael and Keely make a run out into the old America, mostly deserted, to find supplies for an electric fence and tracking chips, it is easy for the reader to wonder "hmmm". Takes the characters a wee bit longer, but not too long after an accident that ends with one of them dead. Book is at its strongest when the three mentioned above are out looking for the supplies. On their trip they run across a strange young boy whose been keeping the home fires burning 'till his grandmother can come & get him (he's been waiting two years). His parents are dead but - well, you'll have to read it for this sort of creepy part. The three do some daring cloak & dagger stuff to get the coveted supplies and later spend a night in a deserted mall (that's oddly still well-stocked but it's still fun). Again, this could easily be a TV mini-series that would be entertaining. ( )

This is a re-read originally read in 2010

When a virus wipes out most of civilization, a few chosen adults and teens are asked to join a secret community of survivors. This series deals with those kids, and a few that they have picked up along the way to Novo Mundum.

I really like this series. Much like the 'Gone' series but this to me is more believable in that it doesn't have all the superhuman powers. Don't get me wrong I love that series to just in a fantasy way. This series I could say it could happen 'Gone' series I couldn't.

Good book for Middle school-aged kids. It doesn't have a lot of depth and reads really fast without all the complex details that most younger readers get lost in, attention span being what it is at that age.

Not a book to be read out of series in order to understand what is going on. This book doesn't recreate much from the first book. Even so, if the first one is NOT available to you, it would be okay there are just some things that you wouldn't understand but would still be a good read. ( )