Reviews for The becoming of Noah Shaw
Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Noah and Mara are ready to start their lives together, but when Noah begins sensing the violent deaths of other teens with gifts, the pair is pulled back into danger. This first novel in the Mara Dyer spinoff series is propelled by interpersonal conflict rather than high-stakes action, but fans of the original trilogy will enjoy catching up with its characters--and learning their shocking secrets. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
This first in a sequel series to the Mara Dyer trilogy brings Mara's beloved Noah to the fore."Gifted." "Afflicted." "Carrier." Depending on one's point of view, Noah Shaw could be any one of these. The white English 17-year-old possesses a gene that, when triggered, manifests as an extrasensory "gift" in the gene's carrier: Noah can heal injuries and experience the pain of others like him as they die. After the death of his estranged father, Noah uses his sizable inheritance to relocate with Indian-American Mara and their friends to New York. After Noah witnesses several Carrier suicides, he and Mara, along with her brother Daniel and their two bisexual friendsJewish, black Jamie and blond, white Goosejoin resources with others like them who might be able to help uncover the reason for the suicides. As secrets unfold, Noah's trust in Mara, who can wish people dead, begins to unravel. Noah, who narrates the story, is apparently supposed to be sardonically witty, but he merely comes off as dull and dry. The book opens with a sarcastic "Caveat Emptor" listing its flashpoint elements and telling readers, "If you need a trigger warning for that, you're reading the wrong book." Recounting of events of the previous series unfolds at an excruciatingly tedious pace over the course of the book, so those who haven't read that trilogy will feel utterly lost most of the way through. Fans of the Mara Dyer series will likely look forward to Noah's next adventure; others need not apply. (Suspense. 13-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Gr 9 Up-In this companion novel to Hodkin's "Mara Dyer" trilogy, the story picks up not long after the series end, with the point of view shifting from Mara's to Noah's. The novel opens with a funeral; upon the death of his father, Noah inherits the considerable Shaw estate. Unsure what to do with his newfound wealth and power, Noah packs up Mara and his buddies and goes to New York City. The teen's immersive visions of young people dying makes him conclude that a malevolent force is forcing teens with special abilities to commit suicide. Noah and his gang set out to find who is responsible. Without having read the previous books, this companion novel will not make much sense. How did these teens with superpowers get together? What are the dynamics among them? Perhaps because the narrative does not stand on its own, it is hard to develop an affinity for the characters. It is hard to distinguish between Noah and the other young men in the story. All of them come across as arrogant and profane (One sex scene takes place while a funeral is underway). Mara is portrayed as little more than a sex object. Noah's constant references to luxury brands and places such as the Gansevoort Hotels, the DUMBO tower, and Caol Ila whiskey wear thin. Drug use, underage drinking, and sex are mainstays in this novel. VERDICT Consider for purchase where the "Mara Dyer" trilogy is popular.-Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Noah and Mara's story picks up right where we left them at the end of Hodkin's Mara Dyer trilogy but this time, we get to hear Noah Shaw's side of the story. After Noah's father's funeral, Noah and Mara move back to New York, where those with gifts are mysteriously disappearing. To get to the bottom of the disappearances, Noah must dive into the research that his father conducted. Soon the research begins to reveal secrets that both he and Mara want to keep hidden, secrets that might force them apart. Fans of Hodkin's Mara Dyer series won't be disappointed by this first book in the Shaw Confessions trilogy, one that gives them more insight into Noah's mind. Much of the book relies on the momentum and characterization from the original trilogy, but by the end of the novel, it begins to evolve into something new and sets the stage for the books to follow. Hodkin continues to effectively build upon the dark, creepy world of Mara Dyer.--Shepard, Amanda Copyright 2017 Booklist
