Category: 4 Star

Excellent

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Rose by Meredith Finch and Ig Guara

Rose, a Young Adult graphic novel written by Meredith Finch and illustrated by Ig Guara, is the first book in a new fantasy series.

Being both an illustrator and a writer, I was enticed to finally review a graphic novel. I wasn’t disappointed, however, I admit, the style took some getting used to.

Synopsis:

Rose survives a decimating attack on her village by a villainous sorcerer, Drucilla, who has sent her army to rid her kingdom of rebels and opposing magic. Rose’s mother is one of the victims in the massacre. This event is the catalyst that propels Rose on a mission to avenge her mother and her village.

Rebels halt the impulsive and inexperienced Rose, and take her into their care. Rose has always toyed with her magical abilities, but when the rebels discover her powers, they are sure that she is the one to become the legendary Guardian who leads their fight against Drucilla. But Rose has serious doubts that she is one of the famous Guardians who team up with Khats, enormous and powerful feline warriors who bond telepathically with their human partners.

The rest of the story centres on the emergence of Rose’s magical powers and her search for Thorne, her Khat. Drucilla and her army race to squash Rose’s and the rebels’ efforts to oppose her.

Pros:

  • The illustrations done by Ig Guara are amazing. Guara does not add the colour; another artist, Triona Farrell, finishes them off. As an artist, this surprises me, but the effects are brilliant. I love how the colours and backgrounds blend and change with the mood and subject matter.
  • This genre lends itself to readers going back again and again to notice different facets of the illustrations. The book is an art piece to be enjoyed more than once, and on different levels.
  • The old plot of the weak and scared overcoming the powerful and wicked is gratifying, albeit a bit trite.
  • The pacing is quick and exciting. Teens will enjoy the imagery that is also dramatic in its delivery.

Cons: 

  • The ending is abrupt and a bit unsatisfying. It reminded me slightly of the end of the first Star Wars movies. (After a significant victory by the rebels, Luke has realized his powers and has bonded with his new family of resistance fighters.) In Rose, there is no major victory at the end, merely a continuation of the fight.
  • I feel the writing is not as strong as the illustrating. The stereotypical bad guys weren’t as layered as I’d like. The rebels were more developed, but I felt Rose’s character needed more development. She basically morphs from scared girl to determined warrior. She could have used a few weaknesses to up the ante.

Final Impression: 

Meredith Finch is a well-known writer (Wonder Woman, Little Mermaid) and Ig Guara a fan favourite artist (Batman: Arkham Knight, Blue Beetle, The Ravagers). So I was looking forward to a good romp with this new series. Overall, the experience was very positive and I would consider reading more. But I’m used to reading books with a solid beginning, middle and end. I didn’t appreciate investing the time to read, then being denied a more satisfying ending. I will definitely look for more from Ig Guara, and Triona Farrell!

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The Forever Man by Eoin Colfer

The Forever Man is book #3 in the middle grade fantasy Warp Trilogy written by well-known Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series.

 

Riley, a fifteen-year-old, lives in Victorian London as a magician. In book #1, he defeated his murderous master Albert Garrick, with the help of Chevie Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent who travelled back in a time pod.

Garrick, who had been banished in a wormhole for two hundred years, vowed to return and seek revenge on Riley. Garrick returns in book #3 with wormhole caused mutations that enable him to seem immortal.

Garrick lures Riley (and Chevie) to a prison under false pretences to see Riley’s long-lost brother. After the three are swept inadvertently into another wormhole, they end up in a puritan village in 1649. Due to the wormhole spitting out many horrific mutations to the village in the past, the villagers are fearful and Garrick is known by previous visits, as the witch hunter and protector.

Chevie is caught and is to be burned at the stake for being a witch, but Riley breaks free from his entrapment. With the help of a few new characters, Pointer (an FBI mutant who is a dog), Fairbrother Isles (another FBI agent), and the ghost of Professor Smart (the scientist who created the wormhole), Riley devises a plan to save Chevie. But they also must save humanity before Garrick destroys the wormhole.

 

 

Pros

 

  • As in the previous two books in the trilogy, Eoin Colfer’s incomparable style pulls the reader in with his wit and the lure of fast-paced action.
  • Garrick is a well-developed antagonist, and I found myself fascinated/horrified at his actions, as I would have been watching a black widow catching a bug in slow motion. He reminded me of Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the joker in Batman, The Dark Knight.
  • The romantic attachment between the Riley and Chevie is at the core of the story, so the reader is more invested in the outcome.
  • Each character he introduces is unique and identifiable.

 

Cons

 

  • By this time, I was more or less used to the omniscient POV, although at times I still found it irritating to be jumping back and forth so quickly between the heads.
  • This story is classified as MG, however I feel that there was too much violence and the style was slightly confusing for most readers of that age group.
  • The scientific details on the wormhole and how humanity was going to be obliterated by the destruction of the wormhole was not clearly explained. I never did quite understand that.
  • Chevie in this story seemed to lack her zeal and powerful persona that she possessed in the previous books. She was more or less just a maiden in distress that needed to be saved. I was disappointed in her role.

 

 

Final Word

 

I quite enjoyed this final book, and I feel of the three, it was the best.  I still enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series better, but this was a close second. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Eoin Colfer, but I would caution that it is a bit more dark and technical to be regarded as MG.

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Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson

Sometimes, life gets too hard. How can the remnants of a family hold on to what was good?

In Miracle’s Boys, Jacqueline Woodson answers the question: how does a kid survive losing both parents before he’s reached adulthood? That question must pass through every child’s mind at some point in their growing-up years. I remember asking those questions around the age of ten. Who would take care of me? Would I ever be happy again?

Winner of the 2001 Coretta Scott King Author Award, the novel is told through the eyes of Lafayette, the youngest of three boys. Laf had lost his father years before and barely remembers him, but his mom died from insulin shock, and he didn’t know how to save her. He and his brothers, Charlie and Ty’ree deal with their grief and sense of helplessness in three different ways.

Ty’ree, the oldest, sacrifices his college scholarship to take a job and support his brothers so they can remain a family. Charlie already angry over his father’s accident, finds his “family” in gang activity, and ends up in a boys’ prison for armed robbery. Lafayette, has withdrawn into himself, keeping an emotional wall between himself and the rest of the world.

While Charlie has been gone for two years, Ty’ree and Laf manage to find a quiet, comfortable relationship, but once the still-angry Charlie returns, the boys have to figure out a new dynamic. Lafayette calls him “Newcharlie” because this middle brother is not the kindhearted boy from years before. Still, Laf has hope that something will change for the better.

The story progresses as each boy faces his fears and the obstacles of living in the inner city. Can Ty’ree keep Charlie in check, or will he lose his brother once and for all to the state? Can Charlie resist the temptation of the gangs, or is he willing to trade in his anger for acknowledging the pain of his loss? Can Lafayette get Charlie to remember what a great big brother he used to be, and can Laf ever get rid of the guilt for his lack of action when his mother was dying?

Pros

  1. The setting gives young readers an accurate view of the inner city without getting too graphic.
  2. Regardless of setting, all readers identify with the problems of family. How siblings relate to each other is a key component to the plot and theme.
  3. Woodson does a superb job in getting the reader to eagerly flip to the next page, and the next, and the next.

Cons

Woodson covers a lot of social issues in a small space which leaves us with a sense that some problems got solved too easily. But then again, the book is aimed at young readers, as one reviewer pointed out. Miracle’s Boys serves as an introduction to a complex society.

Discussion Questions

  1. If you had to depend on an older brother to take care of you, how do you think you would try to help out?
  2. Why do you think Charlie was the only brother who reacted in anger? (Hint: this becomes clear by the end of the book.)
  3. How was Lafayette able to steer away from the gangs in his neighborhood?

Conclusion

The novel is worth reading to discover what works out for the boys—and what doesn’t.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance Photo: Amazon.com
Hillbilly Elegy is the biography of man raised in poverty who overcame adversity to graduate from Yale law school.
 

Synopsis

J.D. Vance is the grandchild of hillbillies from Kentucky who emigrated to Ohio with the promise of good jobs in a steel mill. He was raised by a single mother with addictions and a string of failed relationships. A feisty grandmother kept J.D. from being a statistic of working class white families throughout our country. Instead of ending up in a cycle of poverty, addiction, and abusive relationships, J.D. is a success story. He deferred a college education to enlist in the Marine Corps and graduated from Ohio State in 2.5 years while working sometimes three jobs. He entered the Ivy League as a Yale law student. Now equipped with a good job and happily married to a Yale law classmate, J.D. is an inspiration and mentor to future generations of at risk youth. Hillbilly Elegy is his story.

Pros:

  • No matter where you stand politically, you need to read Hillbilly Elegy.
  • The story is inspiring and eye-opening to the plight of the white working class. While this demographic takes heat as receiving “white privilege”, they do not share many of its advantages.
  • Hillbilly Elegy is a frank and often raw portrayal of what it’s like to grow up poor and white in Midwestern America.
  • J.D. offers a perspective that rises above political talking points. He is an admitted conservative. But the book offers both praise and criticism to all sides of the issues of poverty, opportunity, and how to give all Americans the opportunity to succeed. As a result, it’s never a diatribe against the other side or propaganda for his side of the argument.

Cons:

  • Not exactly a “con” as much as a disclaimer. Hillbilly Elegy is a New Adult book. The subject matter is not appropriate for younger audiences. Not only because of the raw language/innuendo (see other con) but because the subject matter is best for older teens and adults with good critical thinking skills. This is a book that screams for self-assessment/discussion afterwards. Consequently, it’s not light reading.
  • There is a lot of rough language including numerous F-bombs. The language is never gratuitous except maybe a chapter later in the book. The author coaches himself through a social situation with “elites” by telling himself several times to not be an “A******”. I listened to the author read the book. The language may not be as jarring in print. But there is enough that I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.
  •  Really, the language was the only negative

Recommended Audience:

In conclusion, I would recommend Hillbilly Elegy to adults and mature teens. This is not a book to read for entertainment’s sake, but one to offer insight into the problems plaguing the working class in America. Most of all, there’s a hopelessness and desperation in this community as well as broken families, addiction, a cycle of poverty, and waning opportunities.

Final Word:

This was a deeply personal book for me. I went through most of my life oblivious to those suffering around me. As a result, It’s not often  a book sucker punches me with such self-awareness.

The first day of my professional life began in J.D.’s hometown (Middletown, OH). My trainer described himself as “a Tennessee Ridge Runner” (i.e. hillbilly from Tennessee). I reflected on that time. Did J.D. walk by me? A faceless tween in the public library. At the time, I didn’t care about students in a crumbling steel town. My goal to learn what I needed and move onward and upward in the company.

Before then, I was raised in a city not too different from Middletown, OH, I was a middle class kid surrounded by working class peers. I think back to my school days and wonder which of my classmates grew up like J.D. I’m sure some went to bed hungry. Some likely hid from abusive parents. Or played grownup because their parents were addicts or absent. As a student, I was long on ambition and low on empathy.

As an adult, I’m can see how privileged we are and try to pass that insight onto my children. I want to help those in my community who I think might have it a bit harder than the rest. After reading this, I’m even more inspired to look for ways to mentor the J.D.s of this generation. 

 Discussion Questions
 
  1. Do you believe in “white privilege”?
  2. What are obstacles poor white people have in common with minorities in a similar situation?
  3. Think about a child in J.D.’s situation and brainstorm ways you could help a child like him.
  4. How do you think as a country we can help improve the lives of the working class?
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Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett

 

Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett is a well-written dystopian\science fiction novel for middle grade set in a world of “haves” and “have nots.” It was recently published by Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing (L2L2)  on September 23.

 

SYNOPSIS (from Amazon)

Fourteen-year-old Fear learns she was a parachute baby, dumped over the edge of the Gliding Lands as an infant. Fascinated by the floating cities in the sky before, now she’s desperate for answers.

But a slave isn’t likely to get those answers.

When her abusive Downer family throws her from their hovel, Fear takes refuge with a family who shows her love for the first time. Surely they can’t be trusted. Years of abuse and molestation has taught her that.

Then her brother discovers where she’s hiding and tries to kidnap her. Fear will never let him touch her again. Her new family conceals her at the Fallen, a ranch that hides parachute babies from the Uppers who discarded them.

Just as she’s beginning to embrace yet another home, Fear’s new little sister, Happy, is kidnapped and taken to the Uppers’ temple harem. Fear must go against her namesake, find a working hoverpod, and journey to the dreaded Gliding Lands before the little girl’s innocence is ripped from her forever.

Can she save Happy in time?

And will she find answers to the burning question of why anyone would throw her away?

PROS

  1. The first-person point of view is extremely well written and engrossing. Ms. Fugett shows excellent command of her writing craft and manages an interesting story.
  2. The story world of “Downers” and “Uppers” is thought-provoking for varying ages and reading levels. The concept of “haves” and “have nots” isn’t new to literature, but the story offers enough of a twist to distinguish it from other dystopian novels.
  3. The idea of a toxic foster family is presented in a straight-forward manner without being graphic and frightening to younger readers.
  4. The portrayal of a loving family existing outside of conventional two-parent family systems is commendable.

CONS

  1. This book will not openly engage male readers. That doesn’t make the book awful, but I was disappointed that the concepts of rape and abuse from the victim’s side weren’t presented in ways that would draw in male readers. Opportunities to present such ideas in engaging ways is always welcome, but broaching it to male readers is an important opportunity.  Since Ms. Fugett is such a good writer, my hope is that she will consider broadening her content and her appeal across gender lines.
  2. Since I do enjoy speculative fiction, I was disappointed that the setting wasn’t promoted enough, and that it took half of the book before the reader is given a substantive glimpse of the story world. That is one of the drawbacks to an extremely well-written first-person viewpoint. Giving the reader a much clearer view of the world in a way that is natural to the unfolding of the story is difficult.
  3. The biggest of my objections is the way that the topic of abuse and rape are handled. Ms. Fugett wasn’t graphic or disrespectful by any means.  The topics are difficult at best, but also important. There is no reason that the topics can’t be broached in an age-appropriate story. Since Fear is only fourteen, I’m not completely sure the topic was dealt with as well as it could. I don’t wish to imply that Ending Fear promotes anything inappropriate or is graphic,  but I was hoping for more substantive material. I will leave the final conclusion to readers.

COLORING BOOK

There is a companion coloring book available. I am not one to color pictures, but if you are, please feel free to click on the “COLORING BOOK” if you are.

 

CONCLUSION

The book is well-written and interesting, but will probably only appeal to female readers. I do wish the title character Fear would have been written a little older so that talking about abuse and rape could have been given much more context and greater spotlight.  I recommend parents read this book first to decide if their children are at an age where they are ready for the content and it’s implications.

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The Skin i’m in by Sharon G. Flake

Synopsis

If people aren’t taunting Maleeka about her dark skin then they get at her about her homemade clothes or her good grades. She’s learned to find a way to survive by keeping her head down.  That is until  a new teacher, whose face is blotched with a startling white patch, shows up to teach.  But when the students mock Miss Saunders she doesn’t it let her bug her. Maleeka can’t help but wonder how this new teacher can truly love her flawed skin. Or why she thinks that Maleeka is so special.

Pros:

  • lots of white space on the page which makes it accessible for all types of readers.
  • looks at a topic/situation that not all teens may deal with (racism within the black community).
  • deals with bullying, peer pressure, being unique and loving yourself without becoming a bully yourself.
  • authentic African American voice without resorting to gratuitus language or overly lewd descriptions.

Cons:

  • does have some mature themes: Maleeka talks about some students “locking lips” in the hallway, smoking (including the main character once), drinking and partying in one scene, two boys try to force their affection on Maleeka and when a friend comes to help they beat him up.
  • the slang and writing are authentic which may be a pro or a con. I loved stepping so completely into another world. Others may find the reading of it a little rough or coarse.

Final Word:

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy enough to read but dealt with some dark subjects which may not be for everyone. The rough moments in the book all have a purpose in the plot line and give a glimpse into Maleeka’s (and many other black girls) life. I rated this as a teen book due to its mature content but the reading level is closer to Middle grade as is the protagonist.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How is Maleeka’s life similar to your own? How does it differ?
  2. Compare Maleeka’s life with that of the slave girl, Akeelma, that Maleeka writes about.
  3. Do you think Maleeka dealt well with the bullying she experienced? How might you deal if you were in her place?
  4. Describe a time when you didn’t feel comfortable in “the skin your in”. Also describe how/if you resolved it.
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Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

Hunter is the first in a YA fantasy trilogy set in post-apocalyptic America.
 

Synopsis

They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.

Monsters.

Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.

To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.

Joy soon realizes that the city’s powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they’re in—to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.

When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them…

Pros:

 
  • The premise is unusual. Unlike most post-apocalyptic fiction, this one has fairies, dragons, red caps, goblins–all your basic fantasy creatures, and they’re all evil. Coupled with cool technology, all the aspects meld together to make a fresh sort of dystopian fiction.
  • The story is rich in conflict – personal, familial, political. All of these work together to create a rich mystery that a reader will keep turning the pages to uncover. 
  • The characters are likable, especially Joy. You root for her and her menagerie of magical dogs (which are really cool).

Cons:

 
  • The writing is clunky in places. But story is king, and this is a great story. Despite my inner editor wanting to reword things, I pushed through to the end, but this and the following are the reason I’m rating the series as 4-star instead of 5-star.
  • My chief complaint is the anti-Christian overtones. “Christers” are responsible for the nuclear war that toasted humanity. Apparently some went rogue and thought the advent of the Rapture needed some help. (OK, that could be plausible with some deranged fanatics, BUT…) Christians are depicted as ignorant, misogynistic, and misguided. Worst of all is the implication and their end-times beliefs were both wrong and misguided. While the main character makes friends with a Christer, she is seen as the tolerant one. He’s portrayed as a good, moral guy with misguided belief. You really like his character despite these “flaws,” but all three books in the series take potshots at Christianity.

Final Word

 
I enjoyed the series, despite its anti-Christian barbs. The third book, advertised as the thrilling conclusion, left a few unanswered questions so I could see another book being added at some point. If it were, I would read it.
 

Discussion Questions

 
  1. Do you think books that are anti-Christian should be avoided? 
  2. Have you ever been confronted by friends or strangers who have made jokes or insulted your faith? What did you do?
  3. Do you prefer fantasies where creatures such as dragons, vampire, and fairies are good or bad? Why?
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Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Set in 1934 Oklahoma, Out of the Dust inspires its readers with the indomitable human spirit in the midst of tragedy.

Once upon a time, thirteen-year-old Billie Jo had talent as a pianist.                Once upon a time, the family farm provided for their needs. Now, the crops have failed, the government has stepped in to “help,” her mother is dead, and her hands are burned, almost useless. Billie Jo can’t forgive herself, nor can she forgive her dad for his seeming apathy in the midst of their tragedies. She runs away.

Set in 1934 Oklahoma, Out of the Dust inspires its readers with the indomitable human spirit in the midst of tragedy. Billie Jo and her father heal over a period of almost two years, and she learns the meaning of home, however imperfect.

The story is written in free verse, something I normally wouldn’t care for, but in this novel, it works. The depth of Billie Jo’s hurt is told in a matter-of-fact style, an anecdote here, a wistful little episode there. Both story and form earned Karen Hesse the 1998 Newbery Medal.

Pros

  • The details provide an excellent sense of daily history during the Great Depression.
  • By the end of the story, Billie Jo (and the reader) are left with a sense of hope. Life has its seasons. She survived the worst she’s ever known, and it looks like a season of blessing is heading her way.

Cons

  • This story is marketed toward children eleven to thirteen years old. I’d raise the age by another year. Fifth-graders may have a hard time with the graphic word pictures of Billie Jo’s burned hands and the burns that her mother didn’t survive.
  • While I enjoyed the free verse style, others may not.
  • Discussion Questions
  1. Because of the Great Depression, many people who had made a good living on their farms became poor. What are some of the ways people reacted to the changes in their lives?
  2. The fire was an accident. Why did Billie Jo feel guilty?
  3. Why did Billie Jo run away from home?
  4. Do you think Billie Jo will be happy with her new stepmother?

 

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Sleepers by Darcy Pattison

Sleepers is the first in The Blue Planets Trilogy—notice the plural in Planets.

Based on the premise that Earth is not the only planet that can sustain life as we know it, the people on Rison, another blue planet, need to evacuate because their world is ready to implode. They seek refuge on Earth and propose a workable arrangement. The Risonians have gills, as well as lungs, and are perfectly capable of living underwater. They could reside on the ocean floor while Earthlings continued on the surface of the planet. As with any public project, opinions abound, and debate is fierce.

Fourteen-year-old Jake Rose, half-human and half alien, now lives on earth with his human grandparents while his mother, who is the Risonian ambassador to Earth, works to arrive at a peaceful compromise for both parties. Jake accidentally discovers that Earth’s elite ELLIS forces are trying to sabotage Mt. Rainier in hopes an eruption can be blamed on the Risonian aliens. Although he doesn’t realize it immediately, Jake himself may hold the key to prevent ELLIS from destroying their own planet. Meanwhile, Risonians have their own darker factions, and in the midst of interplanetary tensions, a mysterious illness affects some creatures and not others.

Pros

  1. Truly science fiction, Darcy Pattison offers her readers an entertaining education on volcanology, astronomy, and anatomy. The idea of a person with both gills and lungs fascinated me.
  2. Mysteries and suspense abound. Why does Blevins hate the Risonians? Why are seals dying in Puget Sound? Why has Em disappeared? Are there other Risonians already on earth—Sleepers? Will brown matter destroy earth in the same way that it destroyed Rison? Will Jake and his biological father be able to stop the saboteurs?
  3. The story is complex. Yes, the villains do evil things, but as Jake investigates them, he learns more of their history, which allows the reader to sympathize with Blevins and Hill.
  4. Pattison offers a romantic interest for Jake, the final ingredient to mix into a great YA story.

 

Cons

  1. Pattison gives no graphic details, but the moral ambivalence regarding Jake’s mom’s relationships with Blake Rose on earth and Swann Quad-de on Rison bothered me. This detail might go over the heads of some middle grade readers, but others will have questions, so parents, be prepared with an answer! Pattison, who is a Christian, provided me with one answer: not all cultures share Christian beliefs, Rison being one of those cultures.

 

Discussion Questions

  1. If you had both lungs and gills, where would you prefer to live? On land or under the sea?
  2. Mr. Blevins had to face consequences for his previous, dishonest actions. Was he right to be angry and seek revenge? Why or why not?
  3. Name one thing you learned about volcanoes through this novel.
  4. Is there really such a thing as brown matter? Do a little research and prove your answer!

 

 

 

 

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Secondborn by Amy A. Bartol

Secondborn is the first in a YA dystopian series that was offered as a Kindle First Read for July 2017. Fans and readers of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series will enjoy this book. May not be appropriate for younger YA due to sexual content (see Cons).
 

Synopsis

 

Firstborns rule society. Secondborns are the property of the government. Thirdborns are not tolerated. Long live the Fates Republic.

On Transition Day, the second child in every family is taken by the government and forced into servitude. Roselle St. Sismode’s eighteenth birthday arrives with harsh realizations: she’s to become a soldier for the Fate of Swords military arm of the Republic during the bloodiest rebellion in history, and her elite firstborn mother is happy to see her go.

Televised since her early childhood, Roselle’s privileged upbringing has earned her the resentment of her secondborn peers. Now her decision to spare an enemy on the battlefield marks her as a traitor to the state.

But Roselle finds an ally—and more—in fellow secondborn conscript Hawthorne Trugrave. As the consequences of her actions ripple throughout the Fates Republic, can Roselle create a destiny of her own? Or will her Fate override everything she fights for—even love?

 

Pros:

 
  • I enjoyed the storyworld. The Fates have a similar feel to Divergent’s different classes. That all the buildings are cement trees is fascinating. 
  • The story is rich in conflict – personal, familial, political. I’m interested to see where the series will go.
  • The main character is likeable despite her upbringing. You root for her and respect her at the same time.

Cons:

 
  • Oversexualized for my taste. The first time Roselle kisses a boy she happens to get naked with him in a shower. The scenes are a bit steamy (pun intended). They don’t have sex in the story, but I wouldn’t want my younger YA daughters to read this.
  • There’s a gap of several months in the middle of the book. The effect is jarring. I would have preferred a transition chapter or something.
  • Our heroine is on the unbelievable side. She’s basically indestructible, gorgeous, and amazingly intelligent all at the same time.

Final Word

 
I enjoyed the book. It was a solid read and I might pick up the next one(s) when it comes out, but it won’t be my first choice among the myriad of cleaner dystopian YA in the marketplace.
 

Discussion Questions

 
  1. What is your birth order? Would you be a firstborn, secondborn, or something else? Which do you think is the best position? 
  2. What do you think of Roselle’s relationship with her mother and brother? How might things have turned out differently if her mother showed her more compassion?
  3. Which of the Fates would you most like to be in and why?