THE ANTIDOTE

A boy from a long line of paranormal healers fights the embodiment of illness itself in McCormick’s debut middle-grade fantasy novel.

Twelve-year-old Alexander Asclepius Revelstoke, a Seattle middle schooler, has the ability to sense things about people’s physical conditions. It’s true that his parents are doctors and that he’s grown up surrounded by the tools, books, and journals of their trade, but that doesn’t explain his unusual talent. When his parents become aware of his gift, they take Alex to visit his Grandpa Asclepius, who explains that although the power sometimes skips generations, “Revelstokes can see disease, can diagnose illness, without labs or x-rays. And not just disease. Injury, illness, anything wrong with the body.” It turns out that the Revelstokes also have an enemy, called ILL (“all in capital letters to emphasize his power,” Alex’s dad says), an evil entity who creates or worsens diseases and addictions. Asclepius’ father managed to shackle and weaken ILL, but he still has great power to harm others. It’s up to Alex to destroy ILL before he can carry out his plan to unleash a deadly worldwide plague. Alex has a few allies, but his strength, courage, and healing abilities will be tested to their limits. The story’s pandemic theme is impressively timely and resonant considering that McCormick’s book was written before the rise of the Covid-19 crisis. McCormick intriguingly links age-old diseases like leprosy with modern-day health dangers, such as hugely increased serving sizes of junk food—both of which were conjured by ILL. The suspenseful plot is well grounded in Alex’s growth as a healer and his growing maturity, as shown in his developing friendship with blue-haired Penelope, a new girl in town who was recently orphaned.

A high-stakes and exciting tale of good versus evil that thoughtfully reflects on modern maladies.