City of Villains

October 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-Fifteen-year-old Mary Elizabeth is still mourning the shocking murder of her parents and sister when she witnesses "The Fall." Everyone in the Scar is familiar with this event, when a 160-story building suddenly vanished in a flash of blue light. More than 3,000 people were inside, and they vanished too. Out of grief and confusion, people took sides-the Magicalists thought the Fall was a sign that magic needed to return, while Naturalists felt it was a sign that magic was rejecting them. Two years later, Mary Elizabeth now lives with her Aunt Gia and is an intern for the Monarch City police department. She is crazy about her boyfriend James Bartholomew, even though he is part of the shifty Neverland Crew. The city is in turmoil. When a wealthy classmate disappears, Mary Elizabeth is excited to be selected by the chief to work the case. The young sleuth becomes entangled in a web of more missing teens, a deadly lake, and finally-the disappearance of James. She must race against time to protect those she loves. Mary Elizabeth is a credible narrator and many teens will admire her tenacity, though other characters are not as fleshed out, and there are few physical descriptions. The plot is quick and not too complicated. Fans of the Disney villains will get a kick out of this reincarnation. VERDICT A glimpse of the dark side of Disney with a tenacious heroine and fast-paced suspense; a great choice for reluctant teen readers.-Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elem. Sch., Gastonia, NC

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December 15, 2020
A teen's sense of justice leads her into dark and unexpected places. Mary Elizabeth lives in the Scar with her Aunt Gia, living life to the fullest with her boyfriend, James; his Neverland boys; and her best friend, Ursula. While Mary balances attending school at Monarch High; partying at Wonderland, a local club for minors; and her internship with the police department that solved her parents' murders, tensions rise between Legacy, the Scar's original inhabitants who have a magical lineage, and Narrows, privileged incomers without magic. When the mysterious Mad Hatter strikes, leaving grisly presents for the police, and a wealthy Legacy student disappears, the police chief puts Mary and a young officer on the case in search of answers and justice. The Scar is a complex and realistic setting where Legacy struggle with collective trauma, social unrest, and inequity while rich Narrows families are buying up and building on Legacy land that holds spiritual significance and reshaping the high school to be less inclusive. Themes discussed include politics after the Death of Magic and the co-opting of Legacy culture by Narrows as well as the importance of chosen family. The appearance of familiar characters will draw readers into this story that delves into society's darkness. Mary is pale-skinned with red hair; ethnic diversity in the cast does not correspond with Legacy versus Narrows status. A twisty and entertaining magic-filled mystery that mirrors real-life issues. (Fantasy. 12-16)

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