Transcendence

April 23, 2012
In a departure from Omololu’s debut novel about hoarding, Dirty Little Secret, her sophomore outing is a romantic if initially slow-moving story about reincarnation. Sixteen-year-old Nicole “Cole” Ryan has inexplicable visions. For six chapters, the book is a slice-of-life, first-person narrative about a contemporary cello-playing prodigy from San Francisco—except for Cole’s recurring memories of various time periods in the past (rendered in italic passages), which can be triggered by anything from a location, like the Tower of London, to physical contact or a smell. Cole herself isn’t the most engaging of heroines, though she is realistic in her prickliness and indecision. She withholds herself from family, friends, and even her new crush, Griffon. However, once Griffon reveals that he knows the secret of Cole’s visions, the plot takes off. Cole and Griffin are Akhet, people who remember past lives, and while most Akhet are out to save the world, a group of rogues are out for revenge. As the romance and mystery finally unfold, this becomes an intriguing read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency.