EDGE ANOMALY

Rabbit’s debut children’s fantasy novel fashions a bizarre world where young leaders emerge, fulfilling prophecies and changing their society.

Twelve-year-old Edge Anomaly resides with her mother, Mana, surrounded by nature in the land of North Crescent, and believes that they are the only Forax—anthropomorphic creatures with characteristics of mammalian animals—in existence. After unexpectedly meeting a birdlike Avian named Jessop, Edge starts to discover new information about her own past. Soon, she learns of a thriving city with strict rules, and roles, for various types of beings. Jessop befriends Edge and introduces her to Xalma, an Amph—the third variety of “sapien,” or creatures who can speak; Amphs begin their lives in water and transform into land-dwelling creatures. After a seemingly minor mishap, North Crescent descends into chaos and Jessop, Edge, and Xalma find themselves right in the thick of it. Edge and her new friends embark on a mission to restore harmony to their world, and along the way, they encounter hive-mind Insects, an omniscient being, and a Resistance group that counts the science-minded Mana as a member. Rabbit’s offbeat novel escorts readers into a world with linked, volatile relationships between various individuals and groups. Tween fantasy fans will quickly find themselves hooked as the drama and action rapidly unfold in the first few chapters. Strong narration, detailed description, and ample dialogue combine to establish a rich fictional world, whose minute details will force impatient young readers to slow down and make connections. At times, however, unnecessary backstory disrupts the narrative, and the inconsistent pacing makes it feel disjointed. Near the end, however, the intensity increases and the pacing appealingly quickens. As the flawed relationships of Crescent Island collapse, readers may see parallels in real-life human relationships and explore similar environmental concerns. The ending provides temporary respite from the action but leaves the future of Crescent Island open for possible future installments.

A fresh tale that often buzzes with creativity while delivering a strong message about interconnectedness.