[Book Review] SUN By Tere Liye

There was no time to lose worrying about things. We had reached the point of no return, and there was no possibility anymore to change our plan. We just needed to focus and go foward. (page 292)

Author	Tere Liye
Publisher	Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Published	First published in Indonesia, in 2019. Second print: July 2019
Page	368 pages; 20 cm
ISBN	9786020627519
Translation by	Gill Westaway

Book details:

Blurb:

His Name is Ali, he’s sixteen years old, he’s in Class 11. If only his parents would let him, he ought to have been doing his senior year of a doctoral programme is physics at one of the best universities. Ali doesn’t like his school or his teachers in his classmates. He finds it all boring.

But since he found out that there’s something odd about two of his classmates, me and Seli, his boring life become fun. I can dessapear and Seli can produce lightning.

Ali himself has a small secret too. He can turn into a giant bear. The three of us go on adventures to the most amazing places.

His name is Ali. He’s known for a long time that the world is not as simple as it seems. And above all, he knows that ultimately friendship is the most important thing of all.

The third book of “Earth” series.

This is the third book from the series “EARTH.” The original book published in 2017 by Gramedia Pustaka Utama under the tittle “MATAHARI.” First published in Indonesia, in 2019 by Gramedia Pustaka Utama. I was excited that one of my favorite series finally translate in english, hopefully the people who love Harry Potter series all around the world can read and enjoy this book.

RAIB. This one, with the long hair, from The Moon Clan

SELI. From the Sun Clan.

ALI, the messy hair and the dim face. But he’s actually a genius. It was him who made the flying capsule which passed through the ancient passageways, from the Earth Clan. Goodness know how the world of lower being someone as clever as Ali. He’s already mastered the technology of two clans.he wal always so enthusiastic about science, technology, and such things. “I was only asking, Seli. That has become my task in this team, to ask the questions, to think, to confirm, because you two are just too busy with your lightning or disappearing tricks—(page 99).

The Chracters in this book:

Raib
Seli
Ali
Miss Curly-Locks or Miss Selena, can disappear and Math teacher.
Av, the librarian in the Moon Clan’s Central Library, and old man dressed all in white, with white hair and a white beard, carrying wodden stick. His face looked friendly and agreeable.
ILY: Ilo and Vey’s first born. His body was tall, his physique was strong, he was still young maybe just three or four years older than Raib, Seli & Ali. His face was handsome, with dark eyes.
Seli’s mum
Seli’s dad
The uncrowned
Whitey
Faarazaraaf (Faar)
Marsha Laar or Laarataraal
Kaareterak or Kaar as chef
Meeraxareem or Meer as Scientist in Star Clan
City Board Secretary

Setting: Star Clan, Faar’s house—green valey, Lazard Restaurant,

What Ra, Seli and Ali doing in Star Clan? “They just wanted to go on an adventure and see a lots of things. They’re not the slightest bit concerned with the political interest, the disputes, the difference of opinion among this clan. They deserve to be supported by anyone who still love goodness.

My fave scene

I laughed, wiping my cheeks once again. Ali never lost his sense of humour, whatever situation we were in. “Thank you, Ali.”

“what for?”

“For being a member of our team. I also couldn’t do anything without you ….” –(page 348)

Knowledge:

This series always interesting for me. This is fiction, but I always have sama new knowlodge from this book.

“Do you still remember the explanation about the eel that can produce electricity, Ra? Seven eighths of the eel’s body its tail. In that tail there are small batteries on small horizontal and vertical plates. There are a lots of them, more than five thousand. The electric charge of each battery is small, but if all the batteries are linked together in a row or series, that can produce a charge of up to 600 volts. From that arrangement of batteries, the eel can emit electricity.

“In Seli’s hand there are millions of batteries in the form of organic cells. When those batteries are connected in a series, Seli can release lightning. Seli has those batteries because her body has inherited the design which makes this possible. She has a certain genetic code. The same with your body, Ra. You can desappear, because your body has a genetic code like a chameleon which ‘can disappear, but with an ability which is multiplied many times. Actually, all the powers of Moon Clan or the Sun Clan have a scientific explanation.” (page 349)

Now I had been able to understand something. I was in fact always doubting the powers that I possessed. So far nobody had guided me or taught me. But I was sure of one thing. I loved the power that made me able to disappear. (page 372)

Read: book review the things you can see only when you slow down

My favorite Quote from this book:

Stop thinking about those negative thoughts. (348)
Sometimes I fail. That’s true. Goodness know how many times I’ve blown something up in the basement. But that doesn’t stop me. Every time I come to a dead end, I need to forget about the important experiment, put aside the things that were not useful, half baked, but I’m not going to stop. Because I love it, it’s my passion, my hobby, my dream, my inspiration, or whatever other words there are to describe it.—ALI (Page 371)
Each person has their own respective adventure, so make your adventure one is which you do the very best you can. (page 372)
I do the best I can., and the rest will happen of its own accord. (page 372)
Even though I sometimes failed, I kept on trying again and again and again. Because this was something which I really loved, that moment when I put the palms of my hands over my face, and then my body would disappear. (page 373)
I know what you’re thingking, Ra. Whatever you decide, I’ll stand by you. (page 389)

This story continuous to STAR.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tere Liye was born in Lahat, on May 21st, 1979. He is the sixth of seven children. Aside from being a writer, he works as professional accountant. He wwent to elementary and junior high school in South Sumatera, then continued to senior high school in Bandar Lampung. In 2012 he graduated from an Accounting Department, Faculty of Economics in University of Indonesia. He published 17 novels with Gramedia Pustaka Utama, namely: