A worthy end to an inspired, remarkable series.
Chute concludes her fantasy trilogy with a tale of humans and other beings united to save a multitude of worlds.
Archie Wellsley’s attempt to save his teen granddaughter, Ella, ultimately led his family to the parallel world of Jarr and its magical island, Jarr-Wya. Though Ella is still dying from cancer, which also robbed her of speech, she’s befriended nonhumans like the Steffanus, a winged, silver-skinned “she-race.” Unfortunately, the magic in Jarr, called Naiu, is slowly withdrawing, and its absence would mean the end of all worlds. Finnah, a living Star beneath Jarr-Wya, can stop Naiu’s retreat, but she, for whatever reason, wants a key that Ella owns—and she wants Ella to deliver it. While the various races, including rocklike Bangols and fire-inducing Olearons, debate who will journey to Finnah, Ella leaves with her Bangol love, Luggie. Everyone else must battle Senior Karish, who leads the Millia, vicious beings made of crushed seashells, who crave Finnah. As another enemy’s approach only compounds their predicament, Ella telepathically communicates with her mother, Tessa, to find a way to defeat the villains. Chute’s finale is practically overflowing with vibrant characters, and she imbues each of them with distinctive personalities (morally ambiguous Zeno and hard-boiled but compassionate Callisto). The story hums along, but characters’ quieter moments are the standouts. A highlight is tenderness between Ella and Luggie, during which she must remain cautious of his piercing nails and bladelike teeth. While the story notes Ella’s imminent sacrifice, the selflessness of numerous individuals, like those who sadly fight to the death, is impossible to miss. It makes for an uplifting tale, augmented by Chute’s memorable artwork.
A worthy end to an inspired, remarkable series. (maps, glossary, character family tree, acknowledgements, author’s note, author bio)Pub Date: April 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68463-045-5
Page Count: 384
Publisher: SparkPress
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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