Masks

Gr 7–10—Encapsulating the best features of a good teen title, Masks is sure to resonate with readers. In Aygrima, the ability to use magic exists in a small part of the population, most notably in the absolute ruler Autarch, who is able to manipulate it in powerful ways. When young people turn 15, Masks are placed their faces, indicating their position and occupation in society. They must be worn in public for the rest of the individuals' lives and reveal any treasonous thoughts to the Watchers. When the Maskmaker's daughter, Mara, turns 15, she is hopeful that her Mask will make her an apprentice to her father, but the happy occasion becomes anything but when her Mask rejects her. Thrown out of the city and separated from her family, the teen is relegated to a terrible fate of working in the mines until she is rescued by some unlikely advocates who have formed an unMasked army. When Mara discovers that she has the power to to kill or to heal, she joins its forces. Her magical powers prove to be stronger than anyone anticipated, and Mara must learn how to master her gifts before hurting those she loves. With an intriguing setting and a suspenseful story line that will hook readers, Masks is the first of a promising new series.—Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC