By Melinda Salisbury (author)
"Relatable themes of friendship, falling-out, trust and online safety are explored in this edge-of-your seat tech thriller centred on a sinister app."
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Interest Age 11+ Reading Age 8+
Globally-acclaimed for her richly-imagined YA fantasy novels, EchoStar sees Melinda Salisbury present a whip-smart tech thriller for our times. Super-readable and dyslexia- friendly, it tackles prescient topics, such as the dark side of new technologies and online safety, alongside exploring the timeless themes of friendship dynamics and the loneliness of falling out.
From the outset, Ruby’s voice rings through in engagingly authentic style. She’s funny, she’s driven and, in her words, “I really did live for Drama”. On that subject, Ruby and her best friend Deva have been offered places to attend a prestigious performing arts camp. So far, so exciting, except both girls have been told they can only go if their grades improve.
When Deva starts bagging impressive marks in every subject, she reveals to Ruby that her success is all down to EchoStar, an all-seeing, all-hearing AI app that “analyses what it hears or sees and tells you what to say and write”. Although the app was “originally designed to help people in social situations”, Deva has figured out “you can use it for other stuff”, such as being a tool to get good grades.
Though Ruby promises to keep EchoStar a secret, she becomes desperate to get hold of it for herself. Cue a painful falling out when Deva finds out, and worse when Ruby realises there’s more to EchoStar than meets its all-seeing eye.
With a fine twist in the tale setting the stage for the next instalment of this three-book sequence, EchoStar is a suspenseful, timely thriller.
Ruby Brookes and her best friend Deva have won free places at the Ash Tree Foundation Performing Arts Camp over the summer, but only if their school grades seriously improve. So when Deva suddenly starts getting high marks in all their subjects, leaving Ruby behind, she is confused and jealous.
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Until she finds out Deva’s success is down to EchoStar, a new app that’s helping her get ahead.
Ruby is desperate to start using it too, but there is much more to EchoStar than she has imagined. Because EchoStar is always watching and listening …
The first in a set of three standalone novels offering fresh, nuanced explorations into the dangers of new technologies. The second book AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help is now available.
'Smart, witty and utterly terrifying, EchoStar reminds us to always question what (and who) we let into our lives' - Simon James Green
'Perfectly creepy and filled with thriller-like tension. I loved that it felt so real and will really resonate with young people today!' - Netgalley Reviewer
Praise for Melinda Salisbury:
'A lush, magical writer – who isn’t afraid of the dark' - Rainbow Rowell
'An intoxicating combination of the ancient and modern, full of passion and rage' - Guardian Best Children's Books of the Year 2022 on Her Dark Wings
'Complex world-building and convincing protagonists... Startling plot twists will keep you gripped until the last page and impatient for the next instalment' - Booktrust on State of Sorrow
'Salisbury’s voice sings at the crossroads of classical and urgently modern… Her storytelling is tight and focused and moves at a breathless pace' - Sarah Maria Griffin
Melinda Salisbury is a British author who lives by the sea in Essex. She has always been an avid reader and loves to travel. She is the author of The Sin Eater's Daughter , The Sleeping Prince and The Scarecrow Queen
Her books have been published in 15 countries and nominated for numerous international awards and accolades, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the YA Book Prize, the Branford Boase, and the Carnegie medal.
When not writing, Melinda Salisbury is busy reading and travelling, both of which are now more addictions than hobbies.
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The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed ECHOSTAR is always listening... and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-12 years old
ECHOSTAR is always listening... features in the following genres: Dyslexia Friendly Books for Interest age 11+, Recommendations, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Teens, Science Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Thrillers, Adventure Stories, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
ECHOSTAR is always listening... was written by Melinda Salisbury and published by Barrington Stoke Ltd
ECHOSTAR is always listening... has 129 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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