School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-Drawing on her cultural heritage as a member of the Aboriginal Palyku people of Australia, Kwaymullina introduces readers and listeners to Ashala Wolf in a dystopic story that combines elements of realism, fantasy, and magic. The world as we know it has been destroyed, and what evolves from the ruins is a place where fantastic creatures exist as well as normal humans and humans with supernatural powers. Those with supernatural powers are classified by the government as illegals, perceived as a threat to the order of things. Ashala is considered the leader of a runaway tribe of illegals. When the story opens, she has been captured and is being interrogated in a detention camp; a machine delves into her mind to discover and display her memories. The narrative centers around whether or not Ashala can continue to lead and protect her tribe while under interrogation. Moving seamlessly between past and present memories and events, the story will have listeners riveted. Ominous, atmospheric music begins and ends each disc. Candice Moll captures the voice and nuances of a thoroughly likable, strong young woman living in challenging times. The work's pacing, intensity, surprises, and wonderful narration will leave listeners captivated and eager for more in the series.-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Kwaymullina's first American publication combines elements of Peter Pan, A Clockwork Orange, and the X-Men in an eco-fairy tale about children with "abilities" who run away to the Firstwood and live as the Tribe, in harmony with the trees and animals. They're hunted by corrupt and rule-obsessed adults from the cities, who lock the children up and torture them with the goal of stamping out their abilities and bringing all humanity into the Balance, an ideology born out of ecological apocalypse. Sixteen-year-old Ashala, leader of the Tribe, is one such captive, betrayed by Conner, the beautiful boy she fell in love with, who becomes her jailer. Something called "the machine" is used to rip memories from Ashala's mind and force her to betray the Tribe. Much of the story is told in these memory flashbacks, which are often evocative, realistic vignettes. It's only the larger moral setup that disappoints: the novel operates within a framework of rigid absolutism, with adult figures morally compromised or unequivocally evil, or both, while only children have the legitimacy of a genuine connection to the Earth. Ages 12-up. Agent: Tara Wynne, Curtis Brown Australia. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In this Australian import, Ashala Wolf is head of the Tribe, a group of refugees deemed Illegals because of their supernatural abilities, which the government claims threaten the world's fragile Balance. Some Illegals can conjure fire; others can heal or run preternaturally fast, fly, or alter memory. Ashala can Sleepwalk to make her dreams come true, but her real value is as leader of the Tribe -- so when she's incarcerated by an evil megalomaniac with a computer that steals memories, it's a grave threat to Illegals' survival. But Ashala's story isn't quite what it first seems to be, as we learn when she finally accesses memories she's succeeded in hiding from her opponent. Kwaymullina's convoluted political plot is buoyed by the freshness of her imagery: a forest called Firstwood, which is conscious of its inhabitants; lizard-like "saurs" that communicate telepathically; and the particular gifts and animal connections expressed by the Illegals. Ashala narrates her story with an earnest adolescent voice -- not quirky or vivid, but responsible, loyal, and wholesome. While Kwaymullina's prose style doesn't sparkle, this futuristic fantasy offers an admirable heroine and a thought-provoking situation. deirdre f. baker (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
It has been centuries since the Reckoning's floods restored balance to the world by destroying most of humankind. Government accords now control every aspect of society, and citizens are tightly controlled, especially those possessing unexplained telekinetic abilities. Ashala Wolf, leader of the Tribe, an escaped group of Illegals, uses her sleepwalking ability to monitor government activities and keep the Tribe hidden. After a reconnaissance mission ends in capture, Ashala is subjected to interrogations using a dangerous device that will extract her memories and reveal the Tribe's location. To save her people, Ashala must rely on her only ally in detention center 3 to escape, but can she trust the very person who betrayed her? This genre-blending story will satisfy a wide range of readers. While character development takes a backseat to the plot-driven narrative, the multilayered story will keep teens guessing until the end. This is well-trod territory with familiar themes, but the author draws upon aboriginal Australian creation stories to bring much needed diversity to the genre.--Hayes, Summer Copyright 2014 Booklist