IGIST

Told from alternating perspectives, IGIST follows Emi's quest to enter the prestigious Intergalactic Institute of Science and Technology and achieve her dreams to embrace a career in science like her mother.  What makes this novel unique is the available app that allows you to read the novel with interactive elements.  Each time you finish a chapter, you collect coins that can be used to unlock character profiles, avatars and backdrops.  This format leads to short chapters with illustrations that are sure to catch the interest of readers.

IGIST has a rich cast of alien races, sharp plot twists and the app adds an extra level of shiny to the experience.  The art is especially well done.  If you are looking for a futuristic adventure, check out IGIST.

This was so interesting! Emi's character was amazing and the school setting was so well done. the author's writing really drew me in and I can't wait for more books by this author!

3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to a 4 because I liked the app.

Overall, the plot is not unique, but it's one that works. Girl wants to go to a science school in space (top science school in universe) to cure the Earth of a plague that killed her mom. No earthling has been admitted in over 20 years, but through sheer determination and stubbornness and a little bit of daring, she makes it but then feels like she has to prove herself to everyone there. There are other things that happen, but in the end, she does prove herself, but not without tragedy and loss. What I liked about this were the side characters who helped her along the way, despite her protests. What I didn't like about this was how long it took her to finally realize it's good to work as a team. She was even mean about it sometimes. It was a good ending, but I wish she had realized earlier she needed to work with others. Despite her annoying attitude, though, I enjoyed the story and it was interesting enough to keep me going. The science would probably be too high a level for most middle schoolers, but I think it would be fine for most teens or young adults, as long as science fiction is your thing. That was one of the things I really did enjoy about this. 

The app was pretty cool, but the publisher told me that if I had the hard cover, I could use the app to make the illustrations come alive even more, so I'm looking forward to it (they're sending me a copy). It was also fun collecting the badges along the way and see my progress with the story. Navigation was pretty easy, but I wish there had been ways to highlight notes or take screenshots.

Overall, if you're a sci-fi fan and you enjoy a bit of science in your reading, this story is worth checking out.

This book is a very interesting one, a sci-fi with a corresponding phone app. I've never read anything like it and I ended up really enjoying it. I would recommend this book to anyone who might, like me, enjoy sci-fi but not jump to the genre every time. It's a very enjoyable read.