Relic

Gr 8 Up—A fantasy-filled alternative U.S. history title set in the Colorado Territory in 1867. Sixteen-year-old Maggie's parents never returned from a trip to town, and her older brother just died in a fire from which she and her younger sister barely escaped with the help of an Apache teen. Maggie and Ella end up in a small town populated by prospectors. Relic prospectors. Fossilized unicorn horns, the bones of kraken, bits from griffins and werewolves, and trolls are buried in the mesas all around. People who are rich enough to own relics (like hacienda boss Álvar Castilla) or talented enough to harness their magic (like Moon John and Maggie) can gain advantages such as fire-starting or invisibility. Highly dangerous shadow relics are forbidden by law, but that doesn't mean they aren't available on the black market. Maggie takes a job as a waitress in a saloon and makes friends with Adelaide, a fancy dancer and occasional prostitute. She meets Landon, a cowboy who steals her heart, and she wonders about the fate of the Apache who saved her life. The writing can be predictable (hearts "burst," eyes "plead," feet "are rooted," and emotions "choked back"), but the story has enough inventive action and romance to keep teens interested. The ending offers a reveal that practically guarantees a sequel. Offer this one to older fans of Patricia C. Wrede's Thirteenth Child (Scholastic, 2009), another fantasy-filled alternative U.S. history. Fans of Westerns will enjoy the frontier atmosphere, if they don't mind the occasional appearance of ghost coyotes and magical goblin belts.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX