Some Assembly Required

B.E.S.T. World #3

by Cory McCarthy

Join the boxmates of Liliput in this thrilling conclusion to Cory McCarthy's inclusive B.E.S.T World trilogy as the friends make startling discoveries both about themselves and the near-future world they live in.

When the boxmates' final adventure takes them from the iconic Tower of Power campus and deepscraper Resistance base to the larger-than-life Bixonic's Co. international space station, their augs are put to the test against a global corporate superpower.

Ace, Jayla, Gray, and Leo each face individual decisions that may chart the course of the rest of their lives. Will Ace decide he wants to fly or embrace his emotional genius? Can Leo learn to trust the feelings he can't predict? How will Gray reconcile his identity? Will Jayla use her tech wizardry to save them all?

Genres: Science Fiction

192 pages, ebook

Published October 31, 2023

About the author

CORY (previously Cori)
…earned degrees in poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. They have authored four acclaimed YA novels, with a middle grade series, young adult contemporary, and nonfiction picture book forthcoming. Cory coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with their spouse A.R. Capetta.

Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this third, and final, installment of the B.E.S.T World series, McCarthy once again drops the reader right in the middle of the action. Ace and his best friends are in different places, including the Bixonics headquarters in space, the ToP campus, and the underwater base of the Resistance. The diverse group teens continue to use their unique talents and augmented physical and mental capabilities to fight the evil forces in the Bixonics corporation. The quickly unfolding plot leads to a satisfying conclusion. McCarthy portrays her highly diverse characters with an empathic touch. Like the second book in the trilogy, this novel does not stand alone; readers will find several elements of the futuristic world, and the conflict between Bixonics and the Resistance, confusing without being familiar with the vocabulary and background provided in the first installment. Having said that, fans of the series should be pleased with the way loose ends are tied up. The main characters have matured throughout the trilogy and the groundwork laid for several sweet first-romances comes to fruition. Reflections about how technology impacts our lives, and the potential vs the dangers of artificial intelligence, make the story particularly timely.

Recommended for grades 4-7 where the first two books in the series are popular.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I jumped in at the end, but the world building and situation was fairly easy to pick up. There was some assumptions about my investment in the characters and some of the early bits of character interactions didn’t land as I was figuring out their previous relationship.

For example, in the first chapter, the brothers screw up because the younger one doesn’t trust the older one. I didn’t know if he was overly suspicious or if the brother was messing around. So that distracted me for the first few chapters. But the action kept coming and the special powers were cool.

[Megan Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m SO SAD this is the last one in the series! This trilogy has been so enjoyable and it’s not even my preferred type of story! THAT is how you know they’re good. They can be outside of someone’s preferences and STILL be captivating and engaging.

It was so great. It had such great resolution, even if the ending did feel slightly rushed. It was a great conclusion and one that was also befitting!

[Shaunesay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! I'm sad to see it end, but was satisfied with the ending and the hopeful futures for all the characters. I loved all the characters, and also OTIS. The diversity was great and also not the plot of the story, so it just is, which we need more of. I love Cory's work and am looking forward to more of it!

[Angie Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion to BEST world was just as enthralling as the rest. Join the crew as they work with the resistance to save the aug world. McCarthy has a way of reaching all the middle aged readers and the adult readers that love the innocence as well. I throughly enjoyed this series.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM