[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
After her mother was killed, Rue’s long-absent father whisked her away to Ghizon, a secret, magical land. She doesn’t want to be there. She didn’t want to leave her younger sister. But she had no say in the decision.
A year later, Rue sneaks back to her old neighborhood to see her sister, Tasha. She knows the rules – she can’t talk to her, won’t touch her. She’ll drop her gift on the stoop, and hide in the shadows. All that matters is that Tasha knows she loves her and hasn’t forgotten their life together.
But when Tasha’s life is in danger, Rue breaks all the rules, using her magic to save her sister. And the might of the power players in Ghizon comes crashing down on Rue’s head. And Tasha is in the line of fire.
But in one moment, before Tasha was rescued from that accident, before Rue used her magic, something strange happened. And Rue is determined to dodge her troubles in Ghizon, protect her sister from destructive forces from both worlds, and find out what really happened that day.
Review
I enjoyed this fascinating fantasy novel that merges a magical land with contemporary American settings. I felt like the beginning was slow; it took a lot longer than usual for me to feel like I had a grasp on this story and this world. The author does what everyone recommends – she starts in the middle of the action. But the world-building and backstory-building take time to develop. By the halfway point, though, I was hooked.
I loved Rue! Unlike in many YA novels, she is not a protagonist trying to figure out who she is. Despite the surprises of this magical world and a father she doesn’t know, she is exceptionally grounded and secure in her identity. She knows her value and her values, and everything she does operates from that core.
I loved how the two pieces of the story merged together – the things in Ghizon and the things in Rue’s old neighborhood. The big questions of the story are resolved by the end – no cliffhanger. But there is still some justice that needs to be served in the sequel.
The racial pieces of the story – Rue and her father being the only Black people in Ghizon, the ways they are treated there, the ways her old neighborhood is abandoned by law enforcement, etc. – are handled really well. There’s a conversation between Rue and her best friend in Ghizon about dealing with the repercussions of racism in the story that bears re-reading. It’s painful, but it is also a necessary conversation for allies to wrestle with. I think this book would be a great book club selection – for teens or for adults – so the racial issues of the story could be applied to the racial issues of contemporary America. (And just to enjoy a good fantasy story!) Fantasy fans should not miss this one! (Language, violence, TW: racism)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥*
*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read