This book really started off strong and from the very beginning I had an uneasy feeling about everything that was taking place. From the family waking up in a strange place that isn't all that strange at all, to the eery discovering that they are not alone, being watched, being tended to, it set up for a wild ride from the first couple of chapters.

As the book progressed and things got even more uncanny and strange you couldn't help but feel for Xavier as he goes through this odd life, seemingly alone (besides his family), and loses most of the things he holds dear to him, it's heartbreaking and frustrating to read through his eyes. Until one day suddenly he's not alone. I admit, that when the second family arrives, Xavier's initial reaction to them was a little frustrating to read, his feeling of entitlement while understandable was still a little much for me, but over all it was easy to see why things were the way they were.

I think for me the turning point came when it became that the second family and rally the overlying message of the book was to be a bit of commentary on conspiracy theorists, and while it is a YA book, which often seek to prove a moral point, I felt that the politics of the book were a little heavy handed in the back half of it. That said, it was still a really enjoyable book with a plot twist at the end that was a little predictable but good.

The open ended-esque of the conclusion of the book really finished it with that eery and unsettling tone that it set at the start of it and closed it off in a way that felt satisfying.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. It kept me engaged and interested in following through to the end to find the answers to all the questions it presented at the start of the book.

It seems that Kenneth Oppel can write excellent books in any genre and for any age group. Not only is this YA speculative fiction/survival thriller engaging, but during this turbulent time in our world's history, I think it will feel very relevant to a wide range of teens.

The Best of All Worlds will keep readers guessing, keep them reading, and -- by the end -- give them lots to think about and discuss. It would be a great pic for literature circles and/or book clubs.

I expect this book to do very well and will do my best to help make that happen.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

This had me hooked from the premise - waking up in a dome, no idea how you got there, and then three years later, another family turns up. Oppel has taken a familiar idea delivered in a new way.

A very quick 250 pages that felt overall well-paced, considering it spans nearly four years. The introduction of conflicting ideas and ideals between the two families was well done, and broken up with relatively chaste yet realistic horny teen boy thoughts. I was kept guessing til the end, and am still left wondering now... What on earth happened?

Concept was great, writing mechanics were serviceable but not anything special. So, all in all a perfect summer read for reluctant teens!