The 48

August 1, 2018
Those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it, but what about those who learn history for the sake of changing it?The court of Henry VIII is a dangerous place to be. Between the king's outbursts, the queen's nervousness, and Cromwell's conniving, it's a hard place to relax. But redhead Charlie and his identical twin brother, Alex, who is gay, aren't there to relax. They are there to prevent Henry VIII from marrying Lady Jane Seymour, thus preventing the swell of Catholicism that follows her subsequent death. The twins are actually from the future, where they work for The 48 as Assets, people who are sent to different periods in history to alter timelines according to the wishes of the Termination Order Directorate. The assignment is risky, but Alex and Charlie feel up to the task--until they realize that deception and disloyalty have followed them from their own time period. Hosie (The Devil's Banshee, 2016, etc.) paints a picture of Tudor England with a carefully detailed brush, bringing the sights and sounds to the forefront while juggling a complex plot and several subplots filled with twists, turns, and torture. The characters, who all present as white and are of varying social classes, fully embody the language and spirit of their times.A fast-paced, well-researched, clever tale of loyalty, torture, and the power of persistence. (author's note) (Science fiction. 14-18)

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October 8, 2018
Hosie folds elements of science fiction into a story set in 1536 England that features the alternating perspectives of three teen protagonists: Lady Margaret, a lady’s maid to Queen Anne Boleyn with secrets of her own, and twins Alex and Charlie, members of “the 48,” a time-traveling secret police force. The brothers voyage to 1536 on a mission to “eradicate religion from the ages” by preventing the marriage of Jane Seymour and Henry VIII and the subsequent rise of Catholicism. In this effort, Alex and Charles, along with an accidental third time traveler, Alice, cleverly infiltrate the court. Hosie fills the story with court intrigue, gossip, romance, and action. Additionally, she offers substantial background on the future world in which Charles, Alex, and Alice normally reside. Hosie’s teen characters are somewhat lacking in authenticity; the voices of Charles and Alex seem to belong to adult men. Fans of time travel stories will enjoy this unconventional blending of present-day ideologies and past politics. Ages 14–up.

September 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 Twin brothers Alex and Charles work as newly trained Assets as part of The 48, a select group trained to sustain mankind. On their first mission, they are sent back in time to the English court of Henry VIII to prevent the king's marriage to Jane Seymour. When several mishaps occur on their mission?a fellow Asset accidentally travels with them, death threats appear, assassination attempts are made?Alex and Charles quickly realize that someone is trying to prevent them from succeeding in their mission. Award-winning author Hosie is back with a historical fiction novel for young adults, similar to her Return to Camelot series. Told from the three perspectives of Alex, Charles, and Lady Margaret?a lady's maid to Queen Anne Boleyn?the story borrows heavily from history to intertwine fact and fiction into one fascinating tale. Once acclimated to the alternating perspectives, readers will be completely captivated by the mystery and history in this adventure and swept away by the thrilling suspense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)