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June 15, 2018
Not even time itself can stop Camryn Kingfisher from saving the universe and the people she loves in Hughes' debut novel.Two weeks after an explosion that killed 5,000 people at the Fort Wells Army Base, Agency for Scientific Advancement Division, Camryn wakes up in the hospital. No one else survived the blast except a teenage scientist who calls himself Quint. He remembers nothing about his past before the bomb, and, to make matters more complicated, only Camryn can see him. Although Quint is Camryn's sole ally against the Agency, which is accusing Camryn's dead mother of terrorism, he also has motives of his own. This stand-alone, high-action, science-fiction thriller starts with a bang and never slows for a beat. Camryn, who has Panic Disorder, learns to manage her anxiety to accomplish her goals by acknowledging her feelings rather than fighting them. Major characters are assumed white except for Dr. Evette Lila, a black woman who threatens to dox Camryn unless she cooperates with the Agency. A simmering romance with Quint tests Camryn's beliefs when she discovers the true identity of the Agency bomber. Overall, plot twists, flashbacks, and alternate timelines keep the story full of surprises.A wild, fast-paced ride full of unexpected turns. (Science fiction. 14-18)

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July 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Camryn Kingfisher is a 16-year-old girl with a panic disorder and a psychiatrist mother to walk her through it. Being too panicked to make her way to her mother's office on a U.S. army base saves her life when there's an explosion, resulting in her mother's death. The Agency blames it on Camryn's mother and accuses Camryn of being part of the conspiracy. She abandons her father and races to avoid vicious mobs while she searches for answers. Camryn's wounds heal too quickly; her home, intact hours before, has fallen into disrepair; and her brother is different each time she sees him. Plus, she can't explain a handsome specter-if that is what he is-who calls himself Quint and can't move more than ten feet away from her. What keeps readers turning pages-even when the story becomes super dense-is the thrill of Camryn finding hidden strength and leaping hurdle after hurdle. The ending combines a unique mixture of banality and wonder. Hughes achieves a compelling story, authentic characters, and enough mystery to captivate teens without losing them in the science. The figurative writing enhances the action, and humor allows for needed lighter moments in the midst of hardship. VERDICT This tale deserves a prominent place on sci-fi shelves.-Janet Gross, Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MA

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