Illuminae
Readers rate it 4.2 (587 on Hardcover)
608 pages · Released 2015 · Knopf Books for Young Readers
Content report card
Illuminae parent’s guide: what’s inside
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
Educational value
A note for parents
Illuminae is a visually inventive sci-fi thriller that tackles serious themes including war, plague, and survival, with some violence and disturbing moments that push it toward older teens. The experimental format (told through transcripts, IMs, interviews, and illustrations) is engaging but the dark subject matter—including body horror, deaths, and psychological trauma—requires maturity to process. Strong character development and messages about resilience, sacrifice, and human connection balance the darker elements, making it suitable for confident readers 14 and up who enjoy complex, emotionally challenging narratives.
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From the publisher
"The planet Kerenza is attacked, and Kady and Ezra find themselves on a space fleet fleeing the enemy, while their ship's artificial intelligence system and a deadly plague may be the end of them all"-- "The planet Kerenza is attacked, and Kady and Ezra find themselves on a space fleet fleeing the enemy, while their ship's artificial intelligence system and a deadly plague may be the end of them all"--
Shelved under
- Loveable Characters
- A mix driven
- Strong Character Development
- Not Diverse Characters
- Weak Character Development
- Diverse Characters
- Plot driven
- Unloveable Characters
- Saghe
- fiction
- Adventurous
- tense
Books in The Illuminae Files
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ISBN 9780553499117 · Knopf Books for Young Readers