Annie Metcalf

Science Fiction & FantasyYA FictionYAFantasy

A debut that exceeds the hype

Review by Annie Metcalf

BookPage Teen Top Pick, March 2018

Tomi Adeyemi’s hefty fantasy debut—set in a kingdom with traditions and mythology reminiscent of Nigeria and greater West Africa—is an astounding feat of storytelling and world-building.

Seventeen-year-old Zélie is a divîner, one who is born with the ability to perform gods-given magic and easily distinguishable by their white hair. When their magic fully manifests, divîners can become maji—but that was before the cruel king of Orïsha ordered an anti-magic raid that killed Zélie’s mother. Since the raid, magic has disappeared, and divîners have been relegated to second-class citizens.

When hotheaded, impulsive Zélie and her nondivîner brother, Tzain, go to the market in the nearby capital, they end up helping a young woman escape the city guards. The girl turns out to be Amari, princess of Orïsha, who has discovered the reason magic disappeared—and a possible means to get it back. However, next in line for the throne is Amari’s older brother, Inan, who is determined to thwart the trio’s plan. But Inan has a secret of his own: There is a power awakening within him that connects him to the magic he fears and to his enemy, Zélie.

This epic is filled with fascinating landscapes, complex mythology and nuanced characters coping with a world on the brink of massive change. The royals must confront their power, privilege and the horrific deeds of the king, while Zélie and Tzain reckon with the psychological ripples of their mother’s death.

Unmistakably descended from traditional high fantasy, Children of Blood and Bone is perfectly positioned to join the ranks of sprawling speculative worlds for teens, bringing with it a much-needed Afrocentric perspective.

 

This article was originally published in the March 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Tomi Adeyemi’s hefty fantasy debut—set in a kingdom with traditions and mythology reminiscent of Nigeria and greater West Africa—is an astounding feat of storytelling and world-building.

Science Fiction & FantasyYA FictionYAFantasy

Where time is money

Review by Annie Metcalf

Jules Ember lives in Sempera, a land where time and blood are bonded into currency. Debts are paid with blood coins, leeching actual time from the lives of the poor and making the wealthy virtually immortal. Jules wants to help pay her father’s debts, but Papa is adamant that she not sell her blood for him. Desperate to save her only parent, Jules takes a job at Everless, the estate where she and Papa lived as servants until she was 7 years old. At Everless, Jules is back in the orbit of the owners, the noble Gerling family, especially the two Gerling boys, Roan and Liam. Roan and Jules were once playmates, and Jules believes Liam is the reason she and Papa were forced to flee Everless after a dramatic accident.

The estate bustles with preparations for Roan’s wedding to the queen’s ward, Ina Gold, an event that will bring the powerful queen of Sempera to the estate. Despite Papa’s cryptic warnings that Jules isn’t safe near the queen, inklings of a hidden past urge Jules into a tangled web of secrets among Sempera’s wealthy and powerful. As Jules discovers more about Ina Gold, the two Gerling brothers and her own past, she comes closer to a truth with far-reaching consequences for all of Sempera.

Author Sara Holland’s cliffhanger conclusion makes it clear there’s more to come in this story, which is exactly what readers will want. This fascinating world, built on the concepts of time and inequality, supports compelling characters in Holland’s intriguing—and sometimes chilling—debut novel.

 

This article was originally published in the January 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Jules Ember lives in Sempera, a land where time and blood are bonded into currency. Debts are paid with blood coins, leeching actual time from the lives of the poor and making the wealthy virtually immortal.

RomanceYA FictionYA

Is young love worthwhile?

Review by Annie Metcalf

When Claudia accidentally overhears the breakup fight involving her high school’s hottest couple—Paige and Iris—she’s mortified and terrified. Iris, who discovers Claudia “spying,” tells her to keep her mouth shut or else. Iris is known for being cold and mean, so getting on her bad side is an unfortunate way to start senior year. To make matters worse, when Claudia and Iris are paired on a class project and do poorly, they must audition for the school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for extra credit.

Cautious by nature, Claudia has held herself apart from her private school classmates for the past three years, preferring the company of her childhood best friend, Zoe. Iris has been dumped by most of her girlfriends, who obviously favored kind and enthusiastic Paige. But working together brings Claudia and Iris closer, and also brings Claudia into the orbit of the ridiculously charming Gideon Prewitt. With the help of her old friends, new friends and Gideon, will Claudia be able to learn that starting something new—even if it might end someday—is worth it?

Emma Mills’ Foolish Hearts boasts a strikingly large array of named characters, but this constellation of interconnected classmates, friends and family members is what makes Claudia’s universe so realistic. Mills skillfully portrays the tentative joy found in sharing a passion with a new friend, as well as the profound comfort of routines with old friends and family. With the themes of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream woven subtly throughout, Foolish Hearts is a detailed, convincing high school story about opening your heart to all kinds of love, and how to fight to preserve it.

With the themes of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream woven subtly throughout, Foolish Hearts is a detailed, convincing high-school story about opening your heart to love of all kinds, and how to fight to preserve that love.

RomanceYA FictionYA

A true-to-life love story that celebrates diversity

Review by Annie Metcalf

Jaya is a typical teenage boy interested in his guitar, the band Nirvana and trying to get a girlfriend. But he also has to navigate his wealthy parents’ turbulent marriage and violent fights. Plus, Jaya was born female, and his parents aren’t shy about their expectations for a perfect Gujarati daughter. The kids at school have mislabeled Jaya as a lesbian, rather than transgender. It’s not the easiest life, but Jaya knows he’s far more privileged than others on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Rasa is a young mixed-race girl whose mother pushed her into sex work before she disappeared, leaving Rasa to care for three little siblings. Alone, Rasa is manipulated into increasingly dangerous exploitation and emotional blackmail, but is determined to hide it for the sake of her siblings. When Jaya and Rasa meet by chance on a mountain trail, they begin to see the possibilities of true, supportive love. But will Rasa be able to free herself from her abusers, and will Jaya be able to handle his new girlfriend’s past?

In the second novel from Sonia Patel (Rani Patel in Full Effect), the island of Oahu bursts from the page in vivid detail—from devastating poverty to the real-estate boom, from unparalleled natural beauty to drug-littered bus stops. Jaya and Rasa are compelling characters in their own right, but when they finally meet, it’s as electrifying as Romeo and Juliet’s first dance. Patel has struck a balance of sensuality and youthful tenderness in their courtship, clearly conveying the difference between healthy and abusive sexual encounters. With an open-ended but hopeful final scene, Jaya and Rasa will appeal to teen readers hungry for more diverse—but still romantic—realistic fiction.

Jaya is a typical teenage boy interested in his guitar, the band Nirvana and trying to get a girlfriend. But he also has to navigate his wealthy parents’ turbulent marriage and violent fights. Plus, Jaya was born female, and his parents aren’t shy about their expectations for a perfect Gujarati daughter. The kids at school have mislabeled Jaya as a lesbian, rather than transgender. It’s not the easiest life, but Jaya knows he’s far more privileged than others on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Science Fiction & FantasyYA FictionYAScience Fiction

A ragtag group of teens take on time itself

Review by Annie Metcalf

Farway Gaius McCarthy is on the verge of becoming a Recorder like his mother—a time traveler who records history in digital data streams—when something goes wrong. His final simulated test is sabotaged, and he’s expelled from the Academy. Becoming a time traveler means even more to Far since his mother, Empra McCarthy, and her mission team disappeared years ago: He’s determined to find Empra somewhere in time. So when the opportunity arises to time travel outside of the law, smuggling historic objects for a wealthy dealer, Far doesn’t think twice.

A year later, Far and his team have pulled off multiple heists in their time machine, the Invictus. But on their latest mission to retrieve an invaluable book that sank with the Titanic, they’re waylaid by a girl who already has the book, and she's demanding a place on the squad. Far immediately recognizes her as Eliot—the saboteur from his simulated test—but he’s forced to agree to her terms. With the mysterious and determined Eliot on board, Far and his crew are pulled into a literal race against time that could change—or even erase—their past, present and future.

Invictus is a meld of historical fiction, sci-fi and heist story rolled into one thrilling tale. Graudin (The Walled City) brings readers into the heads of all five members of the Invictus’ crew, revealing sweetness and insecurity in the face of epic events. While the novel at first appears to be the story of one exceptional boy, much of the action is carried out by the female crew: Imogen, Eliot and Priya. Perfect for teen readers eagerly awaiting the next season of “Doctor Who,” Invictus is a head-scratching, fast-paced adventure with surprising emotional heft.

Farway Gaius McCarthy is on the verge of becoming a Recorder like his mother—a time traveler who records history in digital data streams—when something goes wrong. His final simulated test is sabotaged, and he’s expelled from the Academy. Becoming a time traveler means even more to Far since his mother, Empra McCarthy, and her mission team disappeared years ago: He’s determined to find Empra somewhere in time. So when the opportunity arises to time travel outside of the law, smuggling historic objects for a wealthy dealer, Far doesn’t think twice.
Science Fiction & FantasyYA FictionYAFantasy

Family secrets, with a magical twist

Review by Annie Metcalf

Twins Iris and Malina have a special gift, or “gleam,” but it must be hidden from the world. In their small town on the coast of Montenegro, this means the sisters had to stop using their witchy gifts when they became too strong. Iris is naturally aware of people’s scents and shapes—gleaning important information from her observations. Malina’s gift for hearing emotions as music allows the sisters to evaluate who is to be trusted, and who to fear. Over the years, Iris’ skills have deteriorated with lack of practice, and unfortunately, so has her relationship with the twins’ secretive mother, Jasmina. But when a vicious attack leaves their mother technically dead—yet mysteriously alive—the sisters must unearth the wild truth of their heritage.

Though the revelations about the twins’ background are somewhat murky, the power of their love—for themselves, their mother and their respective love interests—is movingly portrayed. A cliffhanger ending and layered, likable characters will leave readers eager for what’s next in this unique new series from debut author Lana Popović.

 

This article was originally published in the August 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Twins Iris and Malina have a special gift, or “gleam,” but it must be hidden from the world. In their small town on the coast of Montenegro, this means the sisters had to stop using their witchy gifts when they became too strong.

Children's & YAMiddle Grade

Buffy meets Goosebumps

Review by Annie Metcalf

Kelly Ferguson is a self-described “invisible”—a middle schooler several social circles removed from the popular kids—but she has a plan to change that. Since learning about the camp where popular princess Deanna spends her summers, Kelly has been saving up by doing every odd job she can find. Kelly is reluctant to try babysitting at first, but the promise of earning big bucks for watching Netflix all night is convincing. The only catch is that Jacob, the boy she’s babysitting, is adamant that there’s a monster under his bed. And he’s right. When Jacob is kidnapped by a group of scary creatures, Kelly gets swept along in the rescue efforts of a secret society of monster-fighting babysitters, sworn to protect the children in their charge. Together, Kelly and the babysitters must find Jacob, defeat an evil bogeyman and save the world from a never-ending nightmare, all before Jacob’s parents get home.

The first in a planned series of middle grade humor/horror books, Joe Ballarini’s debut is a cheeky romp full of truly disgusting trash monsters, a quirky and smart protagonist and the unique setting of a Rhode Island coastal town beset by mayhem. Kelly and her new companions are inspirational figures: sassy and determined in the face of the really scary stuff, despite their youth. Despite some awkward narrative moves (such as excerpts from video camera footage), A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting has more than enough charm to leave readers curious about Kelly’s next adventure.

 

This article was originally published in the July 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Kelly Ferguson is a self-described “invisible”—a middle schooler several social circles removed from the popular kids—but she has a plan to change that. Since learning about the camp where popular princess Deanna spends her summers, Kelly has been saving up by doing every odd job she can find. Kelly is reluctant to try babysitting at first, but the promise of earning big bucks for watching Netflix all night is convincing. The only catch is that Jacob, the boy she’s babysitting, is adamant that there’s a monster under his bed.

YA FictionYAGothic Fiction

A moody, gothic tale for teens

Review by Annie Metcalf

The new gothic horror series from Madeline Roux (Asylum) begins with House of Furies, a creepy orphan tale full of occult creatures and gore. Louisa Ditton has always been different, making people uncomfortable without understanding why.

After making her escape from an abusive school, Louisa is surviving by telling fortunes on the street when an old crone offers her employment at a boarding house. A wary Louisa accepts the position, and enters the strange world of the Coldthistle House. A full staff and its proprietor, Mr. Morningside, live at the grand house. When Louisa discovers the mysterious, dark purpose of the house and its inhabitants, she wants to leave immediately, but discovers she is supernaturally bound.

Louisa is also concerned about one of the boarders, a young man named Lee, and is determined to protect him from the staff’s odd brand of justice. The better Louisa gets to know Lee, the more convinced she is that he needs saving; the better Louisa gets to know her fellow staff, the more she suspects that Coldthistle is the first place she has ever belonged.

Though Louisa’s voice and the narrative pacing are a bit uneven, the eerie atmosphere and occult mythology of her world sufficiently propel the reader forward. The tale may have benefited from more proof of Louisa’s strangeness and loneliness, but the reveal of her true identity is indeed satisfying. For teens who won’t shy away from a dark, gory and gothic story, House of Furies is a promising beginning to a series that could go in fascinating directions.

The new gothic horror series from Madeline Roux (Asylum) begins with House of Furies, a creepy orphan tale full of occult creatures and gore. Louisa Ditton has always been different, making people uncomfortable without understanding why.

YA FictionYA

Cross-dressing and a cappella

Review by Annie Metcalf

Jordan Sun is a Chinese-­American junior at elite arts-­focused boarding school Kensington-Blaine, but she doesn’t have much to show for it. Her first years were spent wrapped up in an intense relationship that ended badly, so she has no close friends to lean on when she fails, yet again, to get a callback for a musical. As a theater student on scholarship, Jordan feels extra pressure to prove to her parents that Kensington is worth it, but her low singing voice keeps her from landing traditional female musical roles. Dejected and isolated, Jordan notices an open call for a tenor in the Sharpshooters, Kensington’s top all-boy a cappella group. Jordan is determined to find a place at school, even if it means months of deception and possibly extreme consequences. But life as Julian—the male alter ego she adopts for the Sharpshooters—is freeing in a way Jordan never expected, despite the complications.

Riley Redgate tackles big topics in her second novel, as Jordan unpacks the complicated interplay between her class, gender and friendships. Jordan’s insights on femininity and masculinity are effective. However, the exploration of her sexuality, which is supposedly fluid or bisexual, feels incomplete, especially since the romantic angle unfolds traditionally. With an amusing plot reminiscent of familiar teen movies, Noteworthy is a solid, realistic YA novel with enough new notes to entertain even avid readers.

 

This article was originally published in the May 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Riley Redgate tackles big topics in her second novel, as Jordan unpacks the complicated interplay between her class, gender and friendships. Jordan’s insights on femininity and masculinity are effective. However, the exploration of her sexuality, which is supposedly fluid or bisexual, feels incomplete, especially since the romantic angle unfolds traditionally. With an amusing plot reminiscent of familiar teen movies, Noteworthy is a solid, realistic YA novel with enough new notes to entertain even avid readers.

Science Fiction & FantasyYA FictionYAFantasy

A princess on a quest for her sister

Review by Annie Metcalf

Princess Anya has problems: Her sister, Morven, is devastated by the transformation of handsome Prince Denholm into a frog; her evil stepstepfather (yes, you read that right), Duke Rikard, is becoming a more evil and powerful sorcerer by the day; and it’s recently become quite clear that Rikard wants Anya dead. All Anya wants is to stay in her library and read about magic, but her unbreakable sister-promise to restore Prince Denholm to human form leads to an increasingly complicated Quest. 

Through the woods surrounding Trallonia, farther than she has ever traveled, Anya journeys with Ardent, a faithful royal dog; Shrub, a would-be thief transformed into a newt; and Smoothie, a river otter transformed into a girl. Anya’s list of tasks—and people to un-transform—grows, and Rikard is hot on their trail. Anya started out wanting to return to her solitary library as soon as possible, but the Quest opens her eyes to the deeper responsibilities of being a princess and, more importantly, a leader.

A master of creating beloved fantasy worlds, Garth Nix turns to the funny, whimsical and self-aware style less common in recent children’s fantasy. Shot through with the tone of adventurous fairy-tale riffs such as The Princess Bride, this novel is a rollicking breath of fresh air and a return to fantasy with room for fun and mischief.

 

This article was originally published in the March 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Princess Anya has problems: Her sister, Morven, is devastated by the transformation of handsome Prince Denholm into a frog; her evil stepstepfather (yes, you read that right), Duke Rikard, is becoming a more evil and powerful sorcerer by the day; and it’s recently become quite clear that Rikard wants Anya dead. All Anya wants is to stay in her library and read about magic, but her unbreakable sister-promise to restore Prince Denholm to human form leads to an increasingly complicated Quest. 

YA FictionYA

Proving your innocence after being found guilty

Review by Annie Metcalf

Mixed-race Mary B. Addison has lived in a group home since her release from “baby jail,” where she was held for six years. The other girls are like Mary—convicted of violent crimes—but she is the one they call “psycho.” Mary committed the most heinous crime of the group: When she was 9 years old, she killed the white baby her mother was babysitting. Allegedly.

Mary wants the opportunity to rebuild her life unfettered by her reputation. She is extremely smart, and wants to go to college and be a teacher. But because of the nature of her crime, many doors are closed to her. She can’t attend regular public school, and a career that would put her in contact with children is out of the question. Now that she has a loving boyfriend and a baby on the way, it’s even more important that she convince her mother to tell the whole truth about that night. But Momma isn’t trustworthy, and Mary is reluctant to divulge details.

With Mary’s first-person narration interspersed with excerpts from true crime books about her case and transcripts of interviews with detectives and doctors, Tiffany D. Jackson’s debut novel unfolds in meticulously layered detail. Mary and Momma are fascinating characters at the center of a sophisticated and morally complex plot. Though the unsettling outcome may disturb some readers, Allegedly is a mind-boggling story sure to entertain young thriller enthusiasts.

 

This article was originally published in the February 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Mixed-race Mary B. Addison has lived in a group home since her release from “baby jail,” where she was held for six years. The other girls are like Mary—convicted of violent crimes—but she is the one they call “psycho.” Mary committed the most heinous crime of the group: When she was 9 years old, she killed the white baby her mother was babysitting. Allegedly.

Children's & YAMiddle Grade

Three family tales woven through time and magic

Review by Annie Metcalf

In the Second World, Kinchen and her brother, Pip, live with their adopted grandfather, Old Ren, on the islands. Pip has the gift of talking to fish, but he cannot recognize faces and has trouble in social situations, so Kinchen is constantly shielding him. The Raft King, leader of the traveling nation of Raftworld, needs Pip’s talents to help with a mysterious plan. He tricks Kinchen and takes Pip to sea, leaving behind a Raftworld girl named Caesar. While Kinchen and Caesar make a plan to follow Raftworld and retrieve Pip, Pip finds he enjoys his new independence and the opportunity for adventure. Meanwhile, in the First World, a small group—including young Thanh and his sister, Sang—make the risky decision to escape war-torn South Vietnam in a small boat. And two centuries in the past, a pair of twins named Venus and Swimmer lead their people from danger to safety using their watery gifts.

H.M. Bouwman’s second novel is a magical journey through three tales of separation and reunion, family and friendship. Bouncing between the three main stories, A Crack in the Sea maintains momentum thanks to a consistent narrative voice and beautiful ink illustrations by Yuko Shimizu. With a whimsical but sage narrator, vulnerable but courageous characters and a remarkable conclusion, A Crack in the Sea is constantly engaging and enlightening. The extremely serious story at the heart of the novel, along with its sophisticated world-building, make this the rare middle grade book that could also appeal to higher age groups, including teens.

In the Second World, Kinchen and her brother, Pip, live with their adopted grandfather, Old Ren, on the islands. Pip has the gift of talking to fish, but he cannot recognize faces and has trouble in social situations, so Kinchen is constantly shielding him. The Raft King, leader of the traveling nation of Raftworld, needs Pip’s talents to help with a mysterious plan. He tricks Kinchen and takes Pip to sea, leaving behind a Raftworld girl named Caesar.

YA FictionYAHistorical Fiction

Marcus Sedgwick explores muddy morality

Review by Annie Metcalf

British writer Arthur Ransome returns to Russia as a reporter during World War I but finds his job description somewhat altered after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Having built relationships with a variety of Bolshevik leaders, including Karl Radek and Leon Trotsky, Arthur is able to pass valuable intelligence to British officials. The Bolsheviks also make subtle offers and attempts to gain Arthur’s assistance for their cause. But the strongest temptation is Evgenia, Trotsky’s secretary and the love of Arthur’s life. Arthur wants to remain in Russia to be with her, but must stay in the good graces of both the British and the Bolsheviks in order to do so. Arthur straddles this line as best he can, until the turmoil becomes too great. The Bolsheviks struggle to maintain control of a fragmenting country while royalists gather forces and reclaim territory. In order to get himself and Evgenia out of Russia, Arthur must navigate this dangerous no-man’s-land between warring sides one last time. 

In contrast to most young adult historical fiction—especially war narratives—Marcus Sedgwick’s novel is refreshingly oblique. There is no clear good or evil side, or even a definitive right and wrong, but simply a well-intentioned character using his best judgment to help himself and others. The fairy-tale theme highlights this sense of paradox: Multiple stories, or truths, may exist about the same thing. With a challenging three-part format, beautiful language and a unique adult male narrator, this dazzling novel based on true events should be the next historical fiction young readers reach for.

 

This article was originally published in the November 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

In contrast to most young adult historical fiction—especially war narratives—Marcus Sedgwick’s novel is refreshingly oblique. There is no clear good or evil side, or even a definitive right and wrong, but simply a well-intentioned character using his best judgment to help himself and others. The fairy-tale theme highlights this sense of paradox: Multiple stories, or truths, may exist about the same thing.

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