Official Review: Sunshine at the Academy by MF Blake

Please use this sub-forum to discuss any fantasy or science fiction books or series.
Forum rules
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
Post Reply
User avatar
CaitlynLynch
Posts: 445
Joined: 07 Apr 2017, 18:22
Currently Reading: Conquering Writer's Block and Summoning Inspiration
Bookshelf Size: 3245
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-caitlynlynch.html
Latest Review: The Hand That Feeds You by Amos Cartell
Reading Device: B01AZ7LQ00

Official Review: Sunshine at the Academy by MF Blake

Post by CaitlynLynch »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sunshine at the Academy" by MF Blake.]
Book Cover
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


Every year, each of the humanoid races of the 634 planets of the United Universe selects two young representatives to send to the Academy. The best and brightest of their people, these students are destined to become the future diplomats, ambassadors and politicians tasked with the continuing security and harmony of the UU.

This year, Sunshine Blue Mountain is one of the two representatives sent from the planet Baatar, a formerly warlike people now living a peaceful, pastoral existence. The most similar world to Earth of every planet yet discovered, Baatar is different in one crucial way - the meteor crash which wiped out Earth’s dinosaurs never happened. Evolving alongside such terrifying predators, Sunny’s people became the most renowned hunters in the galaxy, known for their speed and endurance.

Consistently underestimated because of her appearance as a small, pretty blonde, Sunny is nevertheless determined that she won’t be pushed around by bullies. Forbidden by her race’s strict laws from feeling anger or fighting except in self-defence, she must use all her ingenuity to survive and thrive in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Academy, especially when her attraction to a warrior prince from the most hostile planet in the United Universe threatens to derail everything she has worked so hard for.

Sunshine At The Academy by MF Blake is a YA novel intended for ages 13 and up, and I think teenagers would really enjoy and relate to Sunny. Desperately homesick, Sunny is still determined to make the best of her situation.

It would be easy to see Sunny as a 'Mary-Sue', that over-powered character who can do no wrong, to whom everything comes easily and everyone adores. However, Sunny really doesn’t fit that mould; while she makes friends easily, she also has plenty of enemies who view her as competition to be defeated, and her struggles are beautifully detailed in the story. We hear from Sunny herself that she has difficulty with certain academic subjects and has to spend just as many hours studying as any other of her classmates.

I found Sunny’s efforts to reconcile her natural instincts with the Baatarian’s strict non-violence laws really intriguing, and certain revelations from her fellow Baatarian student River made me think that there are some interesting secrets about her background even Sunny does not know about. Since Sunshine At The Academy only covers the first of her four years of study, I have no doubt that Sunny’s adventures in the rest of the series will prove fascinating reading.

The book is well written and edited, and I found no significant structural or story issues. Perhaps the only thing I found disappointing was the lack of diversity; while the author’s explanation for how humanoids had generally become the dominant life-forces on their respective planets was plausible, I thought that the rigid adherence to male and female sexualities was something of a missed opportunity. Sunny and Gideon’s appearances as ‘white’ humans, and clearly the most superior physical specimens among their classmates, also smacks of racial superiority, especially as ‘white’ is a gene variation which carries no particular evolutionary benefits.

This is a well-written YA book I think most teenagers would find enjoyable. However, those from more diverse backgrounds and sexualities may find little to identify with in the protagonist’s situation. For this reason, I am rating this book 3 out of 4 stars.

******
Sunshine at the Academy
View: on Bookshelves

Like CaitlynLynch's review? Post a comment saying so!
User avatar
KAHILU ARMANDUS
Posts: 1
Joined: 03 Dec 2017, 01:24
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by KAHILU ARMANDUS »

For the title of the book go in hand with the content of the story. The age group which is selected is the best as at that age every child is keen to know and to experience what it feels like being send at an academy to explore their talent and skills.
User avatar
Hildah Mose
Posts: 120
Joined: 11 Nov 2017, 22:06
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 10
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hildah-mose.html
Latest Review: And Then I Met Margaret by Rob White

Post by Hildah Mose »

This book sounds like a good read. I like strong willed female protagonist and I am sure I can identify well with sunny. Good review.
User avatar
kandscreeley
Special Discussion Leader
Posts: 11683
Joined: 31 Dec 2016, 20:31
Currently Reading: Believarexic
Bookshelf Size: 486
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kandscreeley.html
Latest Review: The Elf Revelation by Jordan David

Post by kandscreeley »

This actually sounds like something that is right up my alley. I love young adult books like this! I think I might have to put this on my (ever growing) to read list! Thanks for the great review!
A book is a dream you hold in your hands.
—Neil Gaiman
User avatar
Marissa Michael
Posts: 1106
Joined: 25 Oct 2017, 06:42
Currently Reading: Carrie
Bookshelf Size: 585
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marissa-michael.html
Latest Review: Heartaches 3 by H.M. Irwing
2024 Reading Goal: 5
2024 Goal Completion: 60%

Post by Marissa Michael »

Everything comes with a price. I think I can relate with Sunny the female protagonist. Good review!
"Read in order to live." ~Gustave Flaubert
"Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
User avatar
Lincolnshirelass
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1509
Joined: 30 Oct 2017, 04:36
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Lincolnshirelass »

This sounds fascinating, and a really interesting review - wonder if there are echoes of 'Naughts and Crosses' here.
An Eye for an Eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

Mahatma Gandhi
User avatar
inaramid
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1222
Joined: 04 Nov 2017, 11:22
Currently Reading: Siege and Storm
Bookshelf Size: 144
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-inaramid.html
Latest Review: The Fourth Kinetic by Brady Moore

Post by inaramid »

Great review! I don't really understand how humans could have still evolved as a dominant species if the dinosaurs have not been wiped out, and I hope the book explains that satisfactorily.
User avatar
Gunnar Ohberg
Posts: 153
Joined: 13 Nov 2017, 18:08
Currently Reading: The Nix
Bookshelf Size: 48
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gunnar-ohberg.html
Latest Review: Lemoncella Cocktail by Rene Natan

Post by Gunnar Ohberg »

This book sounds like Ender's Game meets The Hunger Games ("The Ender Games," maybe?). Since I already know both of those stories, this sounds like an easy one to pass.
User avatar
Mercelle
Posts: 1348
Joined: 31 May 2017, 03:44
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 10262">The Wisdom and Peace of the Teachings of the Tao Te Ching</a>
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 204
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mercelle.html
Latest Review: The Future of Finance and Money by K. Braeden Anderson

Post by Mercelle »

The moment you touched on race issues, I frowned a little. Although this sounds like an interesting story, the author's inclination shows a lack of imagination.
"The minimum requirement for a dream is a safe place to lay your head."
~OluTimehin Adegbeye
User avatar
Whitney Marchelle
Posts: 254
Joined: 10 Oct 2017, 12:16
Currently Reading: Clan and Conscience (Clan beginnings Book 6)
Bookshelf Size: 46
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-whitney-marchelle.html
Latest Review: Superhighway by Alex Fayman

Post by Whitney Marchelle »

The name of this character is the best sunshine blue mountain. That is a first for sure, but it weirdly works in this story. Lol
User avatar
Amanda Deck
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 587
Joined: 02 Jun 2018, 21:00
Currently Reading: A Sight For Psychic Eyes
Bookshelf Size: 113
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amanda-deck.html
Latest Review: Winds of Fall by Alberto Mercado

Post by Amanda Deck »

White skin does have a benefit in areas where there isn't much sunshine. And it's a bit strange that you take a point off for not having all different kinds of people in the book...

Other than that, I wonder if the law against being angry eventually somehow causes people to evolve into an inability to feel anger. Would that reaction be channeled into another form of expression, one possibly more helpful than anger? Then it eventually wouldn't even be felt as anger. How fundamentally can teaching and culture actually change humans?
Post Reply

Return to “Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books”