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VELVET UNDERCOVER

A slow-burning tale of espionage and deceit that explores the complexities and moral uncertainties of war.

A British girl with a brilliant mind is recruited into a shadow organization to extract an unnamed spy—and hopefully learn about her missing father.

Samantha Donaldson, an exceptionally bright 17-year-old living in World War I–era England, has unparalleled skills with languages and ciphers. She was taught by her ambassador father, whose recent disappearance she finds suspicious. Sam is recruited into La Dame Blanche, an organization of spies, mostly women, and told she will be planted in the kaiser's palace to extract Velvet, a spy whose true identity is unknown but is believed to be in danger. Now known as Sophia Thérèse, Sam must learn to navigate the mores and nuances of royal life in the palace. While trying to locate Velvet, she learns of an additional and even more sinister threat: a deadly chemical weapon. Soon, Sam's understanding of war ceases to be black and white as she learns how far some would go—and how easily they would kill—to further their own agendas. Brown's richly envisioned historical thriller moves at a languid pace, with careful attention to period details. Faced with red herrings and double agents, Sam must use her knowledge and savvy to maneuver through a world rife with ambiguities where lives lurch in a precarious balance.

A slow-burning tale of espionage and deceit that explores the complexities and moral uncertainties of war. (Historical fiction. 13-17)

Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-06-232127-5

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2015

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THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE NORTH AMERICAN TEENAGER

Despite some missteps, this will appeal to readers who enjoy a fresh and realistic teen voice.

A teenage, not-so-lonely loner endures the wilds of high school in Austin, Texas.

Norris Kaplan, the protagonist of Philippe’s debut novel, is a hypersweaty, uber-snarky black, Haitian, French-Canadian pushing to survive life in his new school. His professor mom’s new tenure-track job transplants Norris mid–school year, and his biting wit and sarcasm are exposed through his cataloging of his new world in a field guide–style burn book. He’s greeted in his new life by an assortment of acquaintances, Liam, who is white and struggling with depression; Maddie, a self-sacrificing white cheerleader with a heart of gold; and Aarti, his Indian-American love interest who offers connection. Norris’ ego, fueled by his insecurities, often gets in the way of meaningful character development. The scenes showcasing his emotional growth are too brief and, despite foreshadowing, the climax falls flat because he still gets incredible personal access to people he’s hurt. A scene where Norris is confronted by his mother for getting drunk and belligerent with a white cop is diluted by his refusal or inability to grasp the severity of the situation and the resultant minor consequences. The humor is spot-on, as is the representation of the black diaspora; the opportunity for broader conversations about other topics is there, however, the uneven buildup of detailed, meaningful exchanges and the glibness of Norris’ voice detract.

Despite some missteps, this will appeal to readers who enjoy a fresh and realistic teen voice. (Fiction. 13-16)

Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-06-282411-0

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2018

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AN EMBER IN THE ASHES

From the Ember in the Ashes series , Vol. 1

Bound to be popular.

A suddenly trendy trope—conflict and romance between members of conquering and enslaved races—enlivened by fantasy elements loosely drawn from Arabic tradition (another trend!).

In an original, well-constructed fantasy world (barring some lazy naming), the Scholars have lived under Martial rule for 500 years, downtrodden and in many cases enslaved. Scholar Laia has spent a lifetime hiding her connection to the Resistance—her parents were its leaders—but when her grandparents are killed and her brother’s captured by Masks, the eerie, silver-faced elite soldiers of the Martial Empire, Laia must go undercover as a slave to the terrifying Commandant of Blackcliff Military Academy, where Martials are trained for battle. Meanwhile, Elias, the Commandant’s not-at-all-beloved son, wants to run away from Blackcliff, until he is named an Aspirant for the throne by the mysterious red-eyed Augurs. Predictably, action, intrigue, bloodshed and some pounding pulses follow; there’s betrayal and a potential love triangle or two as well. Sometimes-lackluster prose and a slight overreliance on certain kinds of sexual violence as a threat only slightly diminish the appeal created by familiar (but not predictable) characters and a truly engaging if not fully fleshed-out fantasy world.

Bound to be popular. (Fantasy. 13 & up)

Pub Date: April 28, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-59514-803-2

Page Count: 464

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2015

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