The Finisher

snicker9 - I am so glad I read this book again, because I had forgotten how much I loved it. This book is about Vega Jane, a girl who is almost 15 sessions(15 years), and has been taught that her world and community is the only one. Then everything changes. She sees her mentor running into the Quag, the most dangerous place , freely. Then her brother is taken away, her hospitalized parents vaporize in front of her eyes, and she finds that much of her life is comprised of lies. It did take a chapter or two in order to get to the language. The use different words, for example wugs mean people, sessions means years, and slivers means minutes. But the unique words really differentiate their world. I loved re-reading this book again and picking up on some of the little things. I loved how every little piece fit together at the end. David did a fantastic job of making up a whole new world. I would only recommend this story to older kids as there are violent scenes, and moments that would be scary for younger kids, but anyone older than 13-read this book! I can guarantee it won't be disappointing! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

January 20, 2014
Best known for his adult crime novels, Baldacci makes a detour into middle-grade with this wildly fanciful and darkly intriguing tale of a girl forced to fight for her life as she investigates the secrets of her tiny community. Fourteen-year-old Vega Jane works as a “Finisher,” creating goods she’ll never be able to afford and leading a hardscrabble life with her little brother. Like all other “Wugmorts,” they have never left the town of Wormwood, trapped there by the deadly Quag surrounding it. When Vega discovers a map leading through the Quag, she suspects there’s more to Wormwood than believed. Consistently using smarts, cunning, and improvisation, Vega proves herself a strong, admirable heroine as she’s thrown through time, uncovers lies and mysteries, and takes possession of magical artifacts. Her narration blends Wugmort slang with oddly formal speech and thought patterns, helping shape an enigmatic setting filled with unfamiliar terms, bizarre creatures, and memorable characters, as Baldacci pulls in elements of fantasy, science fiction, and myth. A cliffhanger ending leaves many explanations for future installments. Ages 10–14. Agent: Aaron Priest, Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency.