REVENGE

A charming fantasy about two ruling families from a place called Yonder.

Lilyannie, or Lily, goes about her days assuming that she is a normal girl in a normal town. Bored by school, she frequently ditches class to explore or simply get away from her teachers. In an ordinary town she would be considered a truant, but Lily is from Yonder. And while the folk of Yonder encourage their youth to explore their freedom, they are also sternly warned: Do not go into the forest. The mysterious land that lies on the border of Yonder is only for the 20-years-old-plus crowd, but the call of the forbidden territory compels Lily to explore. She attempts to sneak into the forest and is spotted by guards. She assumes that she is captured and resigns, but then a boy, William, appears and leads her to a door, surreally placed in the middle of the forest, that seems to go nowhere special. Lily passes through with William, finding her way through the looking glass. True to genre, the ordinary young girl discovers that she is anything but average. Lily learns from the mysterious William that she has the ability to turn inanimate objects into birds–a trick, despite its supreme oddity as a superpower, that comes in handy. Lily further discovers that the destinies of her family and Yonder are inextricably intertwined. Though William has several revelations for her, it’s the secrets he keeps that compel Lily and the reader onward. There are epic battles with hydras and confrontations with magicians, all the standard fare for lovers of young-adult fantasy, but the world of Yonder doesn’t materialize properly at times, given that the presence of e-mail and telephones doesn’t jibe with the alternate universe of the book. However, Lily is a wonderful character, and Li’s writing is thoughtful and enjoyable. The book’s surprise ending will leave readers reeling–and wanting more.

An appropriate fantasy for young readers who love spunky heroines and magical settings.