Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of Godspeed behind them for what they presume to be their new planet and new home, Centauri-Earth. But what they find is not as idyllic as they had imagined. Giant pterodactyl-like creatures are hunting their people, and toxic flora seem to be around every corner. Mysterious ruins are the first clue that flora and fauna may not be the only living things on Centauri-Earth. If Amy, Elder, and their crew want to survive, they will have to fight for their place on this new planet against whatever, or whoever, may have come before them. If they have any hope of building a colony and a future together, they will need to forge a peace within their own struggling ranks or everything they sacrificed to leave life on Earth will have been for nothing.

Shades of Earth is the thrilling final chapter in the Across the Universe trilogy, which begins with the Godspeed crew landing on the planet Centauri-Earth, only to find that they are not alone. Elder's leadership is in its infancy, and he struggles to find his place in the pecking order amongst the newly un-cryogenically frozen military leaders and scientists who were transported to Centauri-Earth on his ship. There are life and death struggles as the colony fights against unseen forces (and presumed aliens) who appear to want them all dead. There is a mercy killing that is lauded as brave after a man is mauled beyond hope of survival by a creature. As in previous books, teens will enjoy themes about ethics--this time regarding a planet whose natural resources are highly sought after back on Earth, and the extent to which a mega-corporation on Earth will go to to procure those resources, including genetic modification and cloning. There are undertones of racism between the Earth-born scientists whose group contains people from several different ethnicities and the Godspeed ship-borns, who have developed into a mono-ethnic people. Amy and Elder have a strong and supportive relationship, and have one vaguely referenced sexual encounter. Elder matures as a leader and makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his people. Occasional language is relatively mild (sh-t, b-tch, h-ll, a-s)--the majority of expletives are made-up curse words (frex, shite). All told, this final book is action-packed and a very satisfying conclusion to Amy's and Elder's journeys, both physical and emotional.

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