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THE WILD ONES

A powerful feminist account of sisterhood, the longevity of pain, and the reclamation of power.

Belonging to neither the human nor middle worlds, the Wild Ones navigate the magical corridor of the Between.

These women have been victims of violence, exploitation, and betrayal. Paheli, the leader and original Wild One, survived sexual assault engineered by her opportunistic mother. Imbued with special abilities by the stars on their palms, the Wild Ones wander and delight in the magic of old cities, sensory wonders, and the freedom to live their lives while helping and collecting others who have experienced despair. They soon discover a dangerous truth: Taraana, the Keeper of the Between and the source of their stars, is being targeted by one who wishes to harvest his magic. His death would end their abilities as well as cause the collapse of the Between and magic itself. To intervene, Paheli must face years of trauma and risk her heart. Azad’s lush narrative weaves a digressive story that questions patriarchal notions the world (and time) over. Perspectives shift throughout, from Paheli’s voice and origin stories of the Wild Ones told in the first-person to the third-person collective of the Wild Ones. The prose is ornate and often purposely vague while also deliberately focused more on inner turmoil than external plot-driven threats, reinforcing ideas around the internalization of trauma and saving oneself. The internationally diverse cast, mostly people of color, includes queer people.

A powerful feminist account of sisterhood, the longevity of pain, and the reclamation of power. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-5344-8496-2

Page Count: 352

Publisher: McElderry

Review Posted Online: May 26, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021

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IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.

The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.

Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.   (Fiction. 14 & up)

Pub Date: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013

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POWERLESS

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

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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