Impostors by Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld, Scott. Impostors. New York: Scholastic, 2018.

Pages: 405

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Dystopian / Science Fiction

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Frey and Rafi are inseparable…two edges of the same knife. But Frey’s very existence is a secret.

Frey is Rafi’s twin sister—and her body double. Their powerful father has many enemies, and the world has grown dangerous as the old order falls apart. So while Rafi was raised to be the perfect daughter, Frey has been taught to kill. Her only purpose is to protect her sister, to sacrifice herself for Rafi if she must.

When her father sends Frey in Rafi’s place as collateral in a precarious deal, she becomes the perfect impostor—as poised and charming as her sister. But Col, the son of a rival leader, is getting close enough to spot the killer inside her. As the deal starts to crumble, Frey must decide if she can trust him with the truth…and if she can risk becoming her own person.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a four-book series and is set in the same post-apocalyptic world as the author’s Uglies series.

What’s good?

This is rapid-fire, action-adventure that takes place in a dystopian future. Frey must find her own voice after years of living in the shadow of her sister. The plot is intricate, but accessible, as politics and deception pit nations against each other. Frey must decide if she’s willing to risk everything to do what she thinks is the right thing. There’s a budding romance (the dreaded insta-love!), but it doesn’t interfere with the more important mission. The chapters are short with tension throughout. The pacing is swift with bursts of action and ever-present danger. It ends with a cliffhanger that promises more intrigue to come.

Best Part: Zura.

What isn’t good?

If you haven’t read the original Uglies series, you miss out on a lot of the world building. I’m not sure how much this changes the feel of the story since I’ve read them, but it seems like I had to do a lot of remembering. Since this is clearly a plot-driven story, the characters aren’t very fleshed out (perhaps with the exception of Frey), but with subsequent books in the series, hopefully character development will deepen.

Worst part: The cover.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

I’m excited to see where this new story in the Uglies universe will go. There was a lot of foreshadowing about Tally Youngblood that can only mean that she will return at some point. Although you don’t have to read the original series to understand Impostors, I highly recommend that you do as it gives context to what’s happening and why.

The Agony House by Cheri Priest

Pages: 256

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Mystery / Ghost story

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Denise Farber has just moved back to New Orleans with her mom and stepdad. They left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and have finally returned, wagering the last of their family’s money on fixing up an old, rundown house and converting it to a bed and breakfast.

Nothing seems to work around the place, which doesn’t seem too weird to Denise. The unexplained noises are a little more out of the ordinary, but again, nothing too unusual. But when floors collapse, deadly objects rain down, and she hears creepy voices, it’s clear to Denise that something more sinister lurks hidden here.

Answers may lie in an old comic book Denise finds concealed in the abandoned attic: the lost final project of a famous artist who disappeared in the 1950s. Denise isn’t budging from her new home, so she must unravel the mystery—on the pages and off them—if she and her family are to survive…

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is a mixed media novel with both text and graphic elements.

What’s good?

After Denise and her neighbor Terry find an old comic book, a mystery unfolds that may explain the noises and strange happenings that have been plaguing the old house. This is part ghost story, part comic book, and part murder mystery. The characters are interesting, and the plot is organized. The topic of gentrification is a theme, as is the Comics Code Authority, a regulatory body created in the 1950s. The mystery is intriguing, and the ghostly happenings are creepy.

Best Part: Terry.

What isn’t good?

The pace is slow. Things don’t really pick up until the end. The third person narrative creates a disconnect between the characters and the reader. While the characters are well-drawn, there’s no development throughout the story. Some of the dialogue is awkward and the voices don’t always sound genuine.

Worst part: Nothing is terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☻☻☻ (2.5/5)

Unfortunately, there was an awkwardness in the pace and dialogue that made it difficult to really buy into the premise of this ghost story / murder mystery. It was a quick and easy read, but it lacked storytelling finesse. I didn’t hate it, in fact it was a fun read, but there wasn’t enough substance to warrant a recommendation.

Priest, Cheri. The Agony House. New York: Scholastic, 2018.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Pages: 465

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy / Adventure

Notes for Parents: Contains violence (sometimes graphic), and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a duology. The second book is called Crooked Kingdom. The books are set in the same world as the author’s Grisha trilogy.

What’s good?

There is plenty of action in this alternative world adventure about a group of criminals tasked with abducting a scientist who holds a formula that turns people who already have extraordinary gifts into unstoppable weapons. The characters are very well drawn with excellent character development. The world building is strong. The pace varies, but the action is full of risk and tension and there are many heart-stopping moments. The plot is somewhat complex, but it’s easy to follow with many interesting subplots. Friendship, morality, trust, and grief are among the themes.

Best Part: Nina.

What isn’t good?

It was longer than necessary and there are too many characters, making them difficult to keep track of. Kaz was a strong character, but impossible to like. Nina and Matthias were an awkward couple whose relationship was annoyingly inconsistent. Inej, who is meant to be a strong, female character was adept but too reliant on others. Her relationship with Kaz was strange.

Worst part: There’s nothing terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

This is a typical “heist” story set in an alternate world. It has a good pace (in most parts) and plenty of twists and turns fraught with tension and danger. I found the relationships between the characters were awkward, but the characters themselves were very interesting. It was a fun read.

Bardugo, Leigh. Six of Crows. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 2015.