Review of Beth

[NetMassimo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Beth" by S. R. Kent.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Beth by S. R. Kent is a science fiction novel about a girl hiding with her uncle from authorities for fear that their powers would be exploited. Elizabeth "Beth" Taylor is about to turn seventeen, but she can't enjoy life like a normal teenager. Tim Taylor, her uncle, tries to protect her from people who'd use them like tools, and this means that they have to move often. Beth is coming back to the trailer where they live when an Air Force team finds their home, so she can only see her uncle blow it up with him inside, in the hope that the soldiers think that both of them died. Beth runs away, lost in her pain. She meets Luke, a boy who's going through a rough patch, and he decides to help her.

Stories about someone on the run from some government agencies, even if they did nothing wrong, are far from new. It's a type of story that was already done in science fiction. In my opinion, what makes Beth different is the development of the important characters, including the villains. Beth's world isn't the only world made of secrets, as there's the NSA, and there's the United States Air Force Special Investigations Section, which is a cover for the investigation of people with superpowers. Some characters are not exactly what they seem, which means that their development goes through the discovery of their secrets. This includes Tim Taylor, who kept many secrets from Beth.

After losing her uncle, Beth is left with a few bits of information about her origin. Her only hope is that any lead she finds among those bits might help her. The consequence is that her story is also a journey of discovery and self-discovery. Any new information about her origin and her family helps her understand her powers, which means understanding herself.

All Beth wanted was to be a normal girl. The author shows that at the beginning of the novel, when she wanted to go to a ball with a boy, instead, she found herself on the run after losing her uncle, the only person who really knew her. Even when she's hiding, Beth shows that she's a teenager when she and Luke tease each other. Those are moments that allow her some relief, but most of the time, she's in danger.

I liked how the continuous revelations and surprises kept the story engaging even in moments when there was a lot of dialogue that slowed down the pace. Together with the rollercoaster of Beth's emotions, this made the novel never boring. Honestly, a few parts of the plot were predictable, and some plot developments happened very quickly, but in my opinion, those are minor flaws, as I found most of it well-constructed and surprising.

The novel is targeted mostly at young adults, as it's also a coming-of-age story, but I think it can be appreciated by older readers as well. I appreciated it for its twists and surprises. It contains occasional profanity, but nothing your average teenager hasn't heard many times. There's some mention of sex, but kissing is all that actually happens. There are some errors, but they didn't hinder my reading experience, so I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars. I saw that a sequel was published, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel. If you like stories of characters with superpowers, I recommend Beth.

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Beth
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[Gerry Steen]

If you rated this book 5 out of 5 stars, it must be a good one. It is nice to have a story where an uncle and neice have such a caring relationship. I feel for Beth who has lost her uncle while he was trying to protect her. The suspense must be incredible. Trying to evade the NSA and the United States Air Force cannot be an easy task. Beth must be extremely resourceful and wise beyond her years. At least she found Luke, someone she can share with and who has her back. I will enjoy reading this story. I am adding it to my bookshelves.

[NetMassimo]

If you rated this book 5 out of 5 stars, it must be a good one. It is nice to have a story where an uncle and neice have such a caring relationship. I feel for Beth who has lost her uncle while he was trying to protect her. The suspense must be incredible. Trying to evade the NSA and the United States Air Force cannot be an easy task. Beth must be extremely resourceful and wise beyond her years. At least she found Luke, someone she can share with and who has her back. I will enjoy reading this story. I am adding it to my bookshelves.

The tension following Beth's running and the many revelations about the characters and Beth's origin create a great suspense indeed. Thank you for your comment!

[Seetha E]

"Stories about someone on the run from some government agencies, even if they did nothing wrong, are far from new." True. It is evident from your review that the suspense was well maintained and other than the target audience, it seems capable of keeping older readers interested right through to the end. I appreciate when sci-fi novels incorporate a humane touch. This one seems to have that too. Thank you for your detailed review and your recommendation. I will be adding it to my reading list.

[Priya Murugesan]

I love science fiction, and characters with superpowers are an added bonus! I will surely pick this book up if I get a chance. Eager to read Beth's story! Thanks for your wonderful recommendations

[NetMassimo]

"Stories about someone on the run from some government agencies, even if they did nothing wrong, are far from new." True. It is evident from your review that the suspense was well maintained and other than the target audience, it seems capable of keeping older readers interested right through to the end. I appreciate when sci-fi novels incorporate a humane touch. This one seems to have that too. Thank you for your detailed review and your recommendation. I will be adding it to my reading list.

There are older characters that make up a sort of supporting cast around Beth. Some are good, some other are bad. Some of them are interesting because of their secrets and motives. Thank you for your comment!

[NetMassimo]

I love science fiction, and characters with superpowers are an added bonus! I will surely pick this book up if I get a chance. Eager to read Beth's story! Thanks for your wonderful recommendations

Have fun, and thank you for your comment!

[Maggie Johnson 2]

Characters really can make or break a book. I definitely agree that even if an idea has been done many times before, things like strong character development can make it unique and worthy of 5 stars. Thanks for your detailed review!

[NetMassimo]

Characters really can make or break a book. I definitely agree that even if an idea has been done many times before, things like strong character development can make it unique and worthy of 5 stars. Thanks for your detailed review!

Finding an original idea for a story is extremely difficult, while creating great characters requires writing skills. It's still not easy, but character development can be done. Thank you for commenting!

[Ruth Shirk]

I normally do not care for science fiction, but if this one has strong characters, I may check it out. I am 63, but I still enjoy coming-of-age stories. They often remind me of my daughters' during that stage of their lives.

[NetMassimo]

I normally do not care for science fiction, but if this one has strong characters, I may check it out. I am 63, but I still enjoy coming-of-age stories. They often remind me of my daughters' during that stage of their lives.

In this case, Beth might be suitable for your taste. Thank you for your comment!