Transcendent

September 12, 2016
A young woman struggles with matters of faith and destiny in the wake of a horrifying terrorist attack on American soil. Seventeen-year-old Iris Spero discovers that she is the product of an immaculate conception (her mother is Mina, from 2015’s Immaculate), and possibly the next messiah. As she reels with the idea that her family has lied to her all her life, resisting the notion that she has divine powers or purpose, Iris’s identity is leaked to the public, forcing her to hide even as the world clamors for her to prove herself and heal those wounded by the attack. But Iris lacks faith in herself, let alone a higher power, and her road to self-realization is fraught with danger and doubt. Detweiler again presents an intriguing contemporary riff on Christian themes, but her heroine’s insecurity and indecisiveness grow tedious as she repeatedly rejects friends, family, and the truth. Iris’s drawn-out path to actually do something productive and an incidental romantic subplot lessen the impact of the emotional journey and actualization at the heart of the story. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

Detweiler (Immaculate, 2015) returns to explore the premise of another miracle incarnate (like mother, like daughter).Seventeen years after young Mina Dietrich endured the fallout of a virginal conception and in the wake of a harrowing domestic-terrorist attack on Disney World, Mina's daughter, Iris (named for the enigmatic figure who proclaimed her birth), not only learns about her extraordinary origins, but she also finds out that the world never forgot her. Angry cynics demanding that the white teen admit her fraudulence and fanatic zealots demanding she put their shattered world back together suddenly appear in equal measures of dangerous passion. With her life becoming steadily more unrecognizable, Iris flees only to land in the company of brown-skinned classmate Zane and his sister. As the siblings realize the enormity of Iris' situation and as Iris' certainty of her non-messiah normalcy is shaken, the trio discovers that even the most faithful good deeds come at a cost. The chilling plausibility of the actions and reactions of an America dealing with the murders of thousands of children is far more effective than Iris' introspective narration, which falls a little flat as she repeatedly goes to the brink of questioning her privilege and the position others have placed her in but never goes further than preoccupation with her own guilt. A fascinating answer to the ."..but then what?" that lingers at the end of Immaculate. (Fiction. 14-18) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2016

Gr 10 Up-An inspirational story about finding the strength to believe in oneself. Iris Spero is a high school student in New York City preparing to start her senior year when a terrorist attack on Disney World shakes the nation. Not long after the tragedy, a stranger arrives on her doorstep seeking help. This visit exposes a secret about Iris's existence that is nothing short of impossible. Hurt and feeling lost, she finds an unlikely friend and confidant in Zane, a cynical homeless teenager. Together they unravel the past and try to discover who they are while dealing with the growing pressure for Iris to produce a miracle. This thought-provoking follow-up to Detweiler's Immaculate does well as a stand-alone. The main characters are multidimensional and relatable, adding an authentic feel to this contemporary tale of magical realism. Romance is sprinkled throughout but is not a major theme. Instead, the focus is on familial and social issues that plague today's society. Although slow to start, the novel picks up momentum with each passing chapter, leading to a page-turning conclusion. VERDICT An excellent addition to any high school or public library, this book will attract readers of contemporary fantasy.-Melissa Poole, Clemson University Library, Anderson, SC

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