Book Review

The Adventures of Sarah Ann Lewis and the Memory Thieves, Joshua C. Carroll

Yes I frequently browse YA fiction. That's where some of more original story ideas have been coming from for the last 20 years. This is a fairly new book too, just released last year. Like many other YA books it follows a "chosen one" type of base in a hidden world setting but this one also features blending genres. For example, A Wrinkle in Time blended sci-fi and religion/mythology. The original Pern trilogy infused science fiction into fantasy. Sarah and the Memory Thieves' plot attempts to tie together science fiction, fantasy, and varying supernatural/religion/mythological elements into its multiverse. It's a very tricky and ambitious project. It's a little unsettling to try to take in at first but the pacing helps smooth out the ride. And it's not a vehicle to bash humanity or be disrespectful towards religion. It's just the story of a girl who wants to help rescue her grandfather and discovers her place in the hidden organization by way of her family's involvement. She's thrust into a position of importance as the only person besides her father that can operate the portal to the multiverse that contains the different beings. It's simplified but explain in a way that feels plausible.

What's most fun about it is that it takes place in the 1980's. Technologies that sound like 3D printing and such are futuristic and the only phones she can find when the trouble starts are the one in her house that she can't enter and the one in a neighbor's house that she doesn't trust. The author sets up the forward to connect to the story to make it seem like he's relating real events, which is a creative twist I've always enjoyed.

I liked it. It's indicated that sequels will follow and I think I'll look out for them. It's not the best of the newer YA fiction I've ever read but it's intriguing I'd like to see how it fleshes out.