Across a Star-Swept Sea

September 23, 2013
Peterfreund (For Darkness Shows the Stars) dips into the classics again, this time mining The Scarlet Pimpernel for deeds of derring-do. The spy is Persis Blake, 16 and chief lady-in-waiting to the ruling princess of the island of Albion. Her parents conveniently distracted, Persis is free to quit school, spend unlimited money on her wardrobe (and disguises), and flit from party to peril, all while pretending to be “Albion’s loveliest, silliest socialite.” Her true cause is rescuing tortured aristocrats from the revolution gripping the neighboring island of Galatea. But on one expedition, the “Wild Poppy” returns with an unexpected refugee: Justen Helo, grandson of the most famous doctor on Galatea, gifted medic, and revolutionary. Such a celebrity must naturally be feted at court, where the risk he will uncover the Wild Poppy’s double life is dangerously high. The story teeters into hyperbole at times, and the political debates and info-dumps can grow tedious. Still, it’s a charming bit of light adventure, and the chance to revisit the elaborate world Peterfreund created in For Darkness is welcome. Ages 13–up. Agent: Deidre Knight, the Knight Agency.

December 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Persis is an airhead aristo who cares only for the latest styles and tending to her queen-or is she? The Wild Poppy is a renegade who rescues enslaved aristos from the clutches of revolutionaries-or is he? In truth, they are one and the same. The novel follows the adventures of Persis and "the league" as they attempt to right the wrongs inflicted by Galatean revolutionaries upon society. Persis might have carried on at the same pace-socialite by day, spy by night-if her path hadn't crossed with Justen's. He is grandson to the famous Persistence Helo, inventor of a treatment that saved many from suffering "reduction," but also proved to have unintended side effects. Once Justen enters Persis's life, seemingly remorseful for the dark direction taken by his people and ready to make things right, she is unsure if she can trust him. As she wrestles with her simultaneous distrust and growing admiration for him, all the while continuing her mission as the Wild Poppy, adventure and intrigue unfold. Persis's well-drawn world is one of genetically engineered pets and communication methods called palmports that require users to take supplements to sustain their functionality. It provides the backdrop for a well-paced story led by a strong and likable heroine. Readers will relish its tender moments, especially one shared by Persis and Justen in a star-swept cove, as much as its abundant moments of suspense.-Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2013
Peterfreund follows up her post-apocalyptic version of Persuasion (For Darkness Shows the Stars, 2012) with a gender-flipped Scarlet Pimpernel. On a Pacific island in a high-tech future, 16-year-old Persis Blake seems the epitome of a lady: beautiful, charming, stylish...shallow and stupid. The Wild Poppy, her alter ego, is clever, courageous and noble, crossing the sea to rescue aristos imprisoned by the tyrannical revolution. Dashing young medic Justen Helo claims to have turned against the revolution that betrayed his family's legacy--but can Persis trust him with her secret? Beneath the science-fiction veneer, the plot follows its source almost beat for beat, sacrificing some swashbuckling and suspense for lush scene-setting, secondary character development and a large dose of teen angst. The interplay between appearance and reality runs throughout: If the Poppy is a master of deception, every other player also wears masks, and everyone fails to look beneath the surface. Most, interestingly, are female, and while the different paths available for women to pursue heroism (and villainy) are subtly examined, the portrayal of their friendships shines. The narrative also raises thoughtful questions about class and gender bias, but it ultimately shrugs off the ramifications; feudalism is fine if the lords are nice enough, and though everybody rails against sexism, no one actively bothers to challenge it. While this title stands alone, cameos from the previous tale will please fans. A good bet for readers looking for strong female protagonists, characters of color or just an enjoyable romantic adventure with a science-fiction spin--especially if they haven't read the original. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.