Into the real

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Into the real

Title :

Into the real / Z Brewer.

Title:

Into the real

Author:

Brewer, Z

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

423 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

ISBN:

9780062691385

Production / Publication Information:

New York : Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2020]

Summary:

"In this gripping, genre-defying YA novel from New York Times bestselling author Z Brewer, three teens--one who presents as genderqueer, one who presents as female, and one who presents as male--are caught up in three very different stories of survival. But those stories intersect as the teens start to realize that they might in fact be a single, singular "they," alternating among worlds--and that accepting themself might be the key to defeating the monsters that plague them in all three."--Publisher's description.

The first Brume is a waking nightmare, overrun by literal monsters and cutthroat survivors. For Quinn, who is openly genderqueer, the silver lining is their friendship with Lia-- and that there might still be hope for salvation. The second Brume is a prison with no bars. Forced to "sort out" their sexuality with other teens at Camp Redemption, Quinn must also figure out why presenting as female has never felt quite right. The third Brume is a war zone. For Quinn, who presents as male, leading the Resistance against an authoritarian government is difficult, since even the Resistance might not accept them if they knew Quinn's truth. Three Quinns. Three Brumes. Three realities. Which world contains some deeper truth? -- adapted from jacket

Language:

English

Genre:

Psychological fiction.

Dystopian fiction.

Transgender fiction.

Young adult fiction.

Subject Term:

Gender-nonconforming people -- Fiction.

Transgender people -- Fiction.

Identity (Psychology) -- Fiction.

Teenagers -- Fiction.

Multiverse -- Fiction.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Ipswich Public Library	YA FIC BREWER, Z	32122002989485	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Lawrence Public Library	FIC BRE YA	31549004822044	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Methuen - Nevins Memorial Library	YA BRE	31548003324119	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library	YA F BREWER	31990004944588	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

In this gripping, genre-defying YA novel from New York Times bestselling author Z Brewer, three teens--one who presents as genderqueer, one who presents as female, and one who presents as male--are caught up in three very different stories of survival. But those stories intersect as the teens start to realize that they might in fact be a single, singular "they," alternating among worlds--and that accepting themself might be the key to defeating the monsters that plague them in all three.

Three Quinns. Three Brumes. Three realities.

The second Brume is a prison with no bars. Forced to "sort out" their sexuality with other teens at Camp Redemption, Quinn must also figure out why presenting as female has never felt quite right.

The third Brume is a war zone. For Quinn, who presents as male, leading the Resistance against an authoritarian government is difficult, since even the Resistance might not accept them if they knew Quinn's truth.

As Quinn starts to realize that they might be one person alternating among these three worlds and identities, they wonder: Which world is the real one Or do they all contain some deeper truth

Reviews (4)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 8 Up--The work of understanding one's own identity, including gender, is explored in this genre-blending novel. Quinn, their parents and brother, girlfriend Lia, and sidekicks Lloyd and Caleb seem to be caught in several alternate realities that unfold from each into the next and back again, as Quinn proves to be both an unreliable narrator and a character whose intricate interior evolution becomes the real story. One setting is a dystopian fantasy in which Quinn and company must fight against monstrous and sinister beings; another is a pray-the-gay-away "camp;" and a third depicts a home life that ranges from loving to cruel. As in Greek mythology, successive moments seem to contradict anything that just happened previously, and all the characters are written to expose them as both forces of good and forces of evil, from Quinn's kaleidoscopic account. Dialogue and tender and tumultuously violent scenes are recounted in flowing prose, though Quinn's interior monologue is written with wooden sentences, making it less compelling. VERDICT Every book indeed has its reader(s) and teens who are contemplating the constructs of their identity will appreciate Quinn's company.--Francisca Goldsmith, Lib. Ronin, Worcester, MA

Publisher's Weekly Review

In Brewer's (Madness) speculative tale of identity, 17-year-old Quinn exists in three iterations within the municipality of Brume, their gender presentation varying across story lines. Each of three plots, told in alternating first-person prose, find Quinn navigating their identity, interpersonal relationships, and external threats while gradually becoming aware of their other existences and considering how each might be connected. A genderqueer- presenting Quinn faces human-eating monsters after the death of their accepting family. A female-presenting Quinn agrees to reside at a conversion therapy camp that she later discovers employs torture. And a male-presenting Quinn leads a resistance against a white supremacist--led America--a resistance whose soldiers cling to homophobia and binary gender roles. Shifts between realities can be jarring at first, and aspects of the military reality, such as unclear reasoning behind why an unskilled youth commands more experienced soldiers, weaken it substantially. Though readers sensitive to queer pain may wish to steer clear, the clearly wrought threats and anguish that the Quinns face from those closest to them feel hauntingly familiar. Ages 13--up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Oct.)

Kirkus Review

Fractured among three worlds, a genderqueer teen faces monsters as they struggle to solve a paradox. Seventeen-year-old Quinn exists in three alternate realities. Each provides distinct traumatic trials--flesh-eating monsters, conversion therapy, and civil war. In all of the realities, Quinn grapples with defining their gender identity and rejection due to their queerness while longing for Lia, a cisgender girl. In one life, Lia is viciously transphobic while proclaiming support for other queer identities. As Quinn awakens to the connection among the realities, they must decide which one they want to inhabit. The human characters default to White; although Quinn's resistance army claims to fight White supremacists, no people of color play a role. The fighters espouse blatantly sexist and homophobic views, and as their hero, Quinn champions a peaceful compromise with fascist enemies and wrestles with internal discomfort over not speaking up against their soldiers' blatant bias. In one reality, the sacred Indigenous practice of burning sage is carried out by White characters for protection from monsters. Despite the fast-paced action, explicit violence, and suspenseful appeal of the premise, the novel feels flat, with long expository passages disrupting the flow. Perhaps because the characters play different roles in Quinn's life in each reality, they feel distant and underdeveloped, lowering the emotional stakes. An ambitious undertaking weakened by its execution. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Who is Quinn? Perhaps the more important question is which Quinn is the real Quinn? This story explores the concept of parallel dimensions by portraying the struggles of the protagonist, Quinn, in three separate scenarios. The first is a postapocalyptic struggle against mysterious monsters who have beset the small town of Brume. The second is the more personal conflict of teenage Quinn stranded in a strict religious reeducation camp. And the third follows Quinn the revolutionary leading a scrappy resistance in defying a totalitarian military force known as the Allegiance. In all three scenarios, Quinn must balance responsibilities to family and friends with a burgeoning genderqueer identity. Brewer creates a very interesting narrative composition, juxtaposing three radically different story lines. There is a little something here for all YA audiences, though the postapocalyptic strand has the strongest world building and characters. Readers should be forewarned that some graphic violence--both physical and emotional-psychological--is depicted. Those OK with that should definitely check out this unique story featuring a questioning genderqueer protagonist.