An exciting adventure.
On the brink of dystopia, a girl and a mechanical dragon help defend democracy in an alternate future Washington, D.C.
Sassy prep schooler Prudence Wu smuggles banned media into Incorporated territory in order to supplement her meager scholarship. Though there are warnings of wyverns, war machines used during the Partition Wars, Pru cons her way past Barricade walls during a job and ends up on the run. A chance encounter with a frightening beast leads to her waking in her dorm with a blacked-out memory and a dragon mech imprinted on her mind. In anime-like fashion, with the help of her well-connected best friend and highly placed allies, Pru reluctantly agrees to pilot the dragon Rebelwing. The author deftly flies between levity and heartbreak, cracking jokes and inserting astute historical and political commentary into a setting where survivors of wars past struggle with fears for the future. Interludes featuring student chat boards and newsfeeds offer a fuller picture of events, however sometimes they are jarring, especially when they appear in the middle of action scenes. This will appeal to fans of mecha anime; young, fumbling romance; and stories about superintelligent teens trying the save the world. Prudence is ethnically Chinese, and the diverse supporting cast includes Korean, Latinx, and queer characters.
An exciting adventure. (Science fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-3509-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
Ultimately, the density of this series opener pays off; the countless little details culminate in a satisfying resolution...
A graffiti artist finds purpose in this most urban of urban fantasies.
Beth, 16, flees expulsion, a broken friendship and a dysfunctionally grieving father straight into the arms of a ragged warrior. Filius Viae is the Son of the Streets, the only child of the goddess London. Filius was born into an eternal battle between the spirits of the city and their nemesis, the god of ceaseless growth. Beth joins the battle out of restlessness, but she stays for herself and her growing love for this strange other London of weevils and cockroaches, Pylon Spiders and feuding Lampfolk. The richly drawn setting evokes China Miéville's Un Lun Dun (2007); though Beth isn't as richly drawn as UnLondon's Deeba, she has her own scruffy charm. Her victories come through cocksure bravado, boldfaced cheek and the assurance that she's got nothing to lose. Beth's coming-of-age is presented in uneven, symbolic prose that sometimes overreaches, littering her tale with overwrought metaphor, but it also rises to poetry in its loving affection for London's filth and scars. A slow and dragging buildup is redeemed not just by the well-paced climax, but by the emerging heroism of the most unexpected characters.
Ultimately, the density of this series opener pays off; the countless little details culminate in a satisfying resolution with no destined heroes, only individuals struggling along the best they can. (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7387-3430-9
Page Count: 480
Publisher: Flux
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
Some teen readers will accept the slightly shallow plotlines and characters thanks to the (relative) novelty of the format;...
Told with second-person narration, Clark’s teen debut immerses readers in a freshman scholarship student’s social dilemmas at an uber-exclusive prep school. Chapters end with classic Choose Your Own Adventure–style scenarios, allowing readers to navigate various plotlines.
Liberally sprinkled with pop-culture references (“In the immortal words of Beyonce, don’t you ever get to thinking you’re irreplaceable”), designer clothing brands (Marc Jacobs, Cartier) and slang (“chunder”), the teens’ voices are potentially appealing, if a bit caricatured. Predictably, many of the possible decisions center around potential romantic interests. “You” will often find yourself torn between your perfect crush, who happens to be your best friend/roommate’s boyfriend, a “Top Five senior stud” wannabe musician and your semi-nerdy best friend, Walter. Few readers will be surprised that choosing Walter results more consistently in happiness, though many may be dismayed that Walter frequently must first undergo a “bona fide hottie” makeover transformation. More troubling is Clark’s casual treatment of substantive issues. The real consequences of a student’s romantic entanglement with a teacher (and the student’s subsequent jealousy-fueled arson) are never addressed. A victim of rophynol-assisted date rape does eventually seek medical treatment, but the psychological impacts of her experience merit only a few brief sentences.
Some teen readers will accept the slightly shallow plotlines and characters thanks to the (relative) novelty of the format; most will give it a miss. (Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-59643-816-3
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 11, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
