Ricochet

Gr 7 Up–Ever since she can remember, Tati has had inexplicable seizures and visions of a tunnel of light that she can’t seem to pass through. It isn’t until Tati gets inconclusive results back from a DNA test that she begins to think of it as more than just a medical mystery. She soon learns that the tunnel is a gateway to a parallel universe and there are three other versions of herself (Ana, Tanya, and Tatyana) who are trying to seek the same truth—that they were part of a genetic experiment led by their own biological father. What begins with an interesting premise and some pulse-pounding moments ends up falling short in the execution. Plot inconsistencies are hand-waved away (for example, another character explains to Ana that the reason she only has access to three out of the infinite possible multiverses is in her father’s files to read later). The science isn’t explained, which may frustrate more die-hard fans of the genre. Perspective chapters rotate among Tati, Ana, Tanya, and Tatyana and character voices aren’t as distinct as they could be, which may cause confusion. A rushed ending complete with a deus ex machina after several chapters of build-up will leave readers feeling unsatisfied.