The Final Six by Alexandra Monir

Author: Alexandra Monir
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date of publication: April 2018

When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, a science genius from California, are two of the twenty-four teens drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the contestants must endure in this competition.

For Leo, the prospect of traveling to Europa—Jupiter’s moon—to help resettle humankind is just the sense of purpose he’s been yearning for since losing his entire family in the flooding of Rome. Naomi, after learning of a similar space mission that mysteriously failed, suspects the ISTC isn’t being up front with them about what’s at risk.

As the race to the final six advances, the tests get more challenging—even deadly. With pressure mounting, Naomi finds an unexpected friend in Leo, and the two grow closer with each mind-boggling experience they encounter. But it’s only when the finalists become fewer and their destinies grow nearer that the two can fathom the full weight of everything at stake: the world, the stars, and their lives.

I generally enjoy reading science fiction, especially YA dystopian Sci-fi.  The Final Six seemed like it would be a really fun book to read.  The synopsis sounded really intriguing.  Unfortunately, the actual book didn't live up to the synopsis.  Essentially, climate change has messed up the weather across the world causing major storms and ruining many cities and killing millions of humans.  Their only hope is a group of six of the smartest teens in the world.  They will be traveling to Europa, Jupiter's moon, in an attempt to colonize.

One of the things I always look for in any Sci-fi is possibility.  Could it really happen and is it believable?  I know it's fiction, but I have to at least believe the events could be a possibility.  That is where the story failed for me.  The 24 candidates who were chosen to compete were given two weeks of training before the final six were chosen.  How in the world, could you expect to send six teens into space with only two weeks of training?  That wasn't remotely believable.   The world building was lacking and made no sense.  All we are told is that the evil humans caused climate change and now the weather is unpredictable.  Honestly, it was a bit preachy. The "science" made no sense and was too vague.

This book was just chalk full of YA tropes that made me roll my eyes.  The romance was insta-love and really kind of cheesy.  The characters were forgettable and extremely cliche.  The reveal of the mystery Naomi is trying to figure out was very underwhelming.  To be honest, I felt like that story line was useless as it made no difference to how the book ended.  Speaking of the ending, it was a cliffhanger.  Oh, and they spent the entire time on earth.  I don't know if there will be a sequel.  I can't imagine this is a stand alone with that ending.  But, I'm not sure I'll read the next one to see what happens next.  This could have been so much more, but in the end it missed the mark for me.