A Thousand Pieces of You

Gr 9 Up—An engaging first book in a new trilogy by the author of the popular "Evernight" series (HarperCollins) that focuses on the possibility of multidimensional travel and its implications. The novel grabs readers from the first page: Marguerite Caine is hot on the trail of her father's suspected murderer. She and two graduate assistants are able to travel between dimensions using "Firebird" lockets that her scientist parents developed—the theory being that one can only jump into a dimension where a version of oneself already exists. Travel is risky, as there is always the possibility of becoming stuck away from one's "home" dimension (or worse). The various dimensions are interesting once readers suspend disbelief as to how quickly the characters are able to adapt to a new environment simply by applying a small amount of research. It's easy to be swept up in Marguerite's confusion over her romantic feelings for two of the characters and in the mystery as to who is truly behind the crimes against her family (for nothing is as it seems on the surface). As Marguerite unravels the truth and discovers more about herself with each leap, further questions arise: Is it ethical to hijack another body—even if it's an alternate version of yourself? Are there cycles of betrayal? Does fate really exist? Background information is weaved seamlessly in this well-blended mix of adventure, sci-fi, and romance that will appeal to a wide audience.—Sherry J. Mills, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MO