Was the Mayan prophecy about December 21, 2012, wrong or just late? In her YA sci-fi debut, Markowitz plumbs the depths of prophecy, conspiracy and teenage camaraderie to find out. Markowitz weaves threads of Mayan legend through a character-driven plot that cooks along without getting bogged down in minutia. She knows when to show detail and when to hold back. [She] keeps the teens believable and relatable.
As in the real world, parents are both central and tangential to the teens' plans; parental presence or absence is an important consideration for nearly everyone, although it can sometimes gum up plans at a critical moment. After all, if the Rajathanis don't remember to regularly call home as they fight to prevent the coming apocalypse, they're going to be grounded for life.
A page-turning adventure navigated by a winning team of teens.

An action-packed, cinematic work of Science Fiction, Book of the Sky God follows not one protagonist in particular, but rather offers a broader view of the apocalypse as a whole...[It] offers much more than just an interesting, fast-paced page-turner; in the complex characters and themes, the young adult reader can learn more about what it means to be a teenager, why one should always appreciate what one has, and how to handle the many challenges life presents.

When I read fiction, I like a good story that keeps me turning the pages, but holds something more than just suspense. The Book of the Sky Gods definitely does that! It is a story with a somewhat complex plot and rapidly unfolding events, so that I rarely wanted to stop reading when I had to. There was a delightful group of main characters, and they were all portrayed in an interesting, and engaging way. The series of events they went through was very entertaining! I particularly liked the theme of humanity's good vs. evil, as that was addressed in such a real but not frightening way--good for a book meant for young adults! I am passing it onto my 13-year-old son now that I am finished.

I loved reading the book of the Sky God. It grabbed my attention and imagination and kept it.

Even though the book is written and marketed as "young adult fiction/fantasy" , as a older adult I was entertained the whole way through, learned a lot about Mayan culture and history, not to mention whole different ways to think about the world and how all living things connect.

I'm not sure what I was expecting because of the young adult label, but I found the language and pacing just right for my tastes.

Through the story's five main characters, Katie, Nina, Henry, Ram, and Laila, you (or the young reader in your family) will certainly find at least one character to identify with and cheer for as they juggle the challenges of saving the world while navigating their own just a heart felt and immediate problems faced by teenagers everywhere. I've already offered to buy it for my two nieces, but I don't know whether they own Kindles. (Dang! Do I have to buy them Kindles?)

I don't know exactly how old the author is or how much time she spends hanging with high schoolers, but her ear for dialog is spot on. Listening to the five teens interact moves the plot along quickly, but it is an experience in eavesdropping, the tone is so believable.

The only thing that annoyed me about the book (and this is a compliment) was how, at the end of almost every chapter, the author included an irresistible teaser that I didn't have the strength to ignore. So rather than going to sleep at a decent hour, like an "older adult reader" should, I read on, making for a couple of bleary slow motion mornings.

I read the book on a regular Kindle and it was both a pleasure and an engaging adventure.

The teen novel genre is not one that I usually gravitate toward when I'm looking to stimulate my mind, however, I was recommended this book by a friend and I quickly got hooked. The book is enjoyable on a number of levels. First, the story itself is captivating. It draws you in as you try to figure out how things will unravel and what the connections are between the characters. Second, the subject matter is very interesting, and obviously prescient with the prospects of the 2012 Mayan prophecy being fulfilled in the near future (side note: after wading through the wreckage of Hurricane Sandy this month here in New York, there are more than a few people in my neck of the woods who seem to be taking this end-of-times prediction more seriously than they were a month ago... which is even more reason to buy and read this book... soon... ;). Third, the character development is outstanding and every chapter whets your curiosity as to how each character will be defined further and will evolve as the story moves on.

Book of the Sky God is a very engaging and exciting tale. From the very beginning the story draws you in with hints and subtleties that compel you to keep turning pages to see what happens next.

This is a great novel for adults and teens. There is a clever mix of modern reality (LOLs, cell phones, chat rooms, teenage confusion), fantasy, magic, and mystery. I highly recommend it!

This book takes a new look at the apocalypse in a new way I never would have thought about. I t takes the Mayan beliefs and turns them inside out and lets you follow multiple characters without getting lost. Though there is a lot of action and everyone is doing something they are not supposed to sometimes the reason is worth more than the cause it self.

This book takes a new look at the apocalypse in a new way I never would have thought about. I t takes the Mayan beliefs and turns them inside out and lets you follow multiple characters without getting lost. Though there is a lot of action and everyone is doing something they are not supposed to sometimes the reason is worth more than the cause it self.

Excellent book, i got easily hooked to the story, found the characters realistic and charming, and i appreciated the various wise comments on our survival in these troubled times. Loved it, and recommend it to both adults and youngsters. This should be printed and translated and distributed large-scale. And i don't say this often, but i definitely could and would see a film-version of this one... Great read!

What if the prophecies of the world ending in 2012 were true? What if the only thing standing between that and the demise of all that we know are 5 teenagers?

That is exactly what happens when the five teens struggle to save the world and manage their own life crises in a thoroughly engaging and fast paced adventure. Laced with Mayan culture, references and enough real-world issues to feel immediate and present, the author has woven a tale that will capture young and old alike.

Characters are well defined and presented, with conversations that flow as smoothly as those overheard in the mall and neatly intertwines those conversations with the action and the story flow. The book presents a simple treatise on working together and the connectedness of all things, past and present, animate and inanimate, and has enough of the fantastical to remove it only slightly from the concerns of the world we live in.

It quickly reveals just enough of the plot in each chapter, with a teaser for the next that makes this one book that was incredibly difficult to put down. The writing is smooth and accomplished, and the skilful combination of writing and plotting bring this story through twists and turns to a conclusion that is expected, but not quite. A great read for a snowy winter day, the combination of science-fiction, magic, paranormal, history and just ordinary teens will appeal to many.

I loved this book! I've actually already read it twice. I loved the reality of high school life mixed in with the excitement of gods and the deadline of the upcoming end of the world. The heroes were realistic, complicated, likeable and I loved the dialogue between Ram and his siblings the best! Although I am no longer a young adult, this book definitely kept me captivated the entire time and it was hard to put it down each night before bed! Such cliff-hangers!

I have rarely enjoyed fantasy books, and become frustrated with the intricate development of new realities and different worlds. Until now! The fantasy world is fascinating, the connection with Teotihuacan is a delightful surprise, and the characters are well drawn and engaging. The moral lessons are powerful yet not trite, and the use of language is superb. Read and enjoy!

Read the exciting conclusion to BOOK OF THE SKY GOD in Volume 2! You can order it online at
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Sky-God-Volume-2-ebook/product-reviews/B00MD084QW

I enjoyed this book thoroughly! It's a real page-turner, with a plot I couldn't predict and a very satisfying ending that wraps up all the loose ends quite cleverly. The writing has good pace, good tone and I was immediately engaged. Oftentimes, YA books are about a boy -- sometimes a girl -- who saves the world. What's different about Book of the Sky God is that there are five main characters, and the writer manages to make them all equally three-dimensional and interesting. I especially liked the sibling interactions. But the real reason I give this book five stars is that in addition to the fun story, the Book of the Sky God asks some deep questions. What is our responsibility to the other species of our planet? Are humans accountable for the environmental destruction we've brought about? What can we hope for in our next phase of evolution? I think readers of every age will find this book addictive.