The Boys of Fire and Ash

April 27, 2015
In this immersive fantasy, Urgle is one of the boys of the Ikkuma Pit, left alone in the ash of a volcanic caldera as babies; those who live through the night are taken in by "Big Brothers" and taught to survive. At maturity, they must leave the pit forever. When Blaze, a returnee from the outside, seeks refuge, he brings destruction with him, and Urgle's "Little Brother," Cubby, is taken away by bestial Tunrars. Urgle is unskilled, but he'll do anything to save his Little Brother. Together with Blaze and a tiny band of Ikkuma boys, he sets off to find the Beginners' High Temple, a cult with sinister plans for Cubby. The underlying creation myth that tries to explain why the tribe would abandon its male babies is somewhat hard to swallow, but the novel is urgently gritty, with rich worldbuilding and plenty of action. McIsaac's debut is at its best when it focuses on Urgle, a misfit among the discarded, cleaving to his quest in a world so alien to him. Ages 10âup. Agent: Alison McDonald, The Rights Factory.

March 1, 2015
A group of boys leave their primitive home to save one of their own in this dystopian debut. Urgle has grown up in the Ikkuma Pit, a volcanic trash crater, with his Brothers, a tribe of abandoned boys who have raised one another since infancy. Each member of the tribe vacates the pit on his Leaving Day, when he comes of age, and another baby is mysteriously left at the pit's edge to replace him. Urgle has never heard of anyone returning after leaving, so he is suspicious of Blaze, a wounded adult stranger who tumbles over the pit's edge one day. When the monsters who chased Blaze over the edge kidnap Urgle's little brother, Cubby, Urgle is forced to trust Blaze, as he is the only person who has knowledge of the outside world. Blaze and Urgle organize a ragtag rescue party, encountering several different communities on their journey to find Cubby, including a society of warrior women whom they recognize as their lost Mothers. How and why the women have abandoned their male children is the basis for an invented mythology with political ramifications that challenges everything Urgle believes to be true. The prose is rife with densely written descriptions, and the overlong action sequences can be confusing, but the compelling mythology and dystopian setting will appeal to genre readers. Fans of James Dashner, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Patrick Ness need look no further. (Dystopian adventure. 10-15)

April 1, 2015

Gr 6 Up-In the Ikkuma Pit, the Brothers stick together and look out for each other in a world with no mothers (or women in general) and it takes everything they have to survive. When their Leaving Day arrives, they go out into the world, never to return, and another young boy mysteriously appears to replace them. Urgle is a young man trying to keep himself and his "little brother" Cubby alive. He is suspicious about the outside world, and he is equally suspicious of Blaze, a Brother who has returned to the Ikkuma Pit after leaving. Blaze speaks of monsters who chased him over the wall and back into the Pit. When those same monsters kidnap Cubby and drag him into the outside world, Urgle, along with an unlikely group of Ikkuma brothers, embark on a journey to rescue Cubby and eventually find out what is waiting for them in the outside world. McIsaac's debut fantasy novel is fast-paced and heartstopping. Her world is fully formed (although it does take a while before the parameters of this universe truly comes into focus). The characters are fleshed out and feel authentic. This is a great stepping stone for those tweens looking for a postapocalyptic novel without diving head first into the violence and social mores of similar YA titles. There is a hint of romance, appropriate for the intended audience. VERDICT This self-contained story is an entertaining read that will be enjoyed by many.-Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 The Ikkuma Pit, sheltered from the outside world, is hot and filled with lava pots. It's where Mothers leave their baby sons and where Brothers grow up hating the Mothers who abandoned them. When a Brother turns 16, he takes his Leaving. That's the first time a boy ventures out of the Pit and into the unknown world. Urgle, nearing his Leaving time, isn't ready. Being ill-equipped in hunting and tracking, his nickname, Useless, is one he's heard for so long that he believes it. But when his Little Brother Cubby is stolen by an outside creature, Urgle, along with two of the Brothers and the only Brother ever to have returned to the Pit, sets out to find the child. They are repeatedly tested in their skills and their beliefs, selflessly fighting for those they love. Although their quest may sound familiar, the difference is the setup and how the boys' prejudices are challenged by people along the way, some of whom they never wanted to meet. Fans of Rick Riordan and Anthony Horowitz will want to read this action-filled debut novel that offers a new world to enjoy and a new underdog to root for.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)