Praise for THE LOST CODE: “A smart dystopian adventure packed with mind-blowing fantasy and characters you’ll love.” - Michael Grant, bestselling author of the GONE series
“A captivating road trip of the heart.” - Susane Colasanti, Bestselling Author of When It Happens
Praise for THE LOST CODE: “The high-stakes narrative moves forward with momentum, and a romance between Owen and Lilly is gracefully unveiled.” - Publishers Weekly
Praise for THE LOST CODE: “The broad strokes of conflict and characterization make this a movie-ready action flick at heart; with an easy romance and a social world primarily built on well-trodden summer camp tropes, it’s a lighter alternative to the bleak post-apocalyptic waterworld of Bertagna’s Exodus or Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker (BCCB 6/10) and an accessible entree to the dystopia trend.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for THE DARK SHORE: “The twists at Desenna are expertly executed, surprising while illuminating, and...pack emotional sucker punches. Readers will beg for the follow-up to this tense, well-plotted sequel.” - Kirkus Reviews
“Kevin Emerson’s Exile offers a pitch-perfect depiction of rock fandom and band life. But its genius lies in Summer’s faith in what she knows to be untrue: the impossible promise at the heart of any great song or first love—that a defining, electric moment can last forever. Funny, tragic, and true.” - Daniel Ehrenhaft, author of Friend is Not a Verb, Dirty Laundry, and Drawing a Blank (and Tiger Beat's guitarist)
“This engaging read steeped in music, romance and mystery opens a promising trilogy.” - Kirkus Reviews
“EXILE is a witty, fun read that will appeal to a broad audience. Even though the novel is told from Summer’s perspective, the author weaves in subplots that feature strong male characters. The plot moves quickly, hooking the reader from the very first page. Masquerading as a novel about bands and romance, the story integrates mystery and betrayal to create depth in each character. As the mystery unravels, the reader is drawn into the world of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll. Each puzzle piece leads the reader to realize the destructive nature of fame and how corporate greed makes people expendable. Although it contains 320 pages, reluctant readers will gravitate to the interesting characters and well-developed plot. Educators and librarians should add this novel to their shelves.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“If you’ve ever put together random words and said, ‘That would make a great band name;’ if you’ve ever followed a band or a dream or your heart, no matter what anyone else says; or if you’re just in the mood for a great love story, a suspenseful mystery, and an inside look at the L.A. indie music scene all in one toe-tapping, page-turning mix, this book is for you.” - Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA
“Kevin Emerson’s Exile really gets to the heart of where our passion, love, and obsession begin for rock n’ roll. Exile is about creating music, and it’s also about romance, mystery, longing, and loss. Along with Summer and Caleb, the music itself is a main character. This book will be music to the eyes, ears, heart, and mind of any reader.” - Becky Anderson, Anderson's Bookshops
“A standing ovation for Exile! Kevin Emerson rocks out a story filled with twists and turns, harmony and heart, mystery and emotional mayhem. I can’t wait for his encore.” - Elizabeth Eulberg, author of Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality
“I was immediately drawn into Summer’s unique narrative (plenty may dream of being rock gods, but few want to manage them) and Kevin Emerson’s blend of tension, drama, and swoon had me finishing the last third in one sitting. I shouldn’t have been surprised to read that Emerson is a musician; the love and need for music is a constant heartbeat throughout the novel. If more books like Exile are on the horizon, I hope that the newest YA craze will be realistic fiction.” - Melanie Gillespie, Joseph-Beth Booksellers
“Emerson’s seasoned music references and deep knowledge of the business (including its slimy side) will draw readers in, but it’s the emerging conspiracy theories that give the book its edge-and provide the perfect setup for the sequel.” - Publishers Weekly