Tandem

Gr 7 Up—Sasha Lawson, 16, is pleasantly surprised to be asked to the prom by her longtime crush, Grant Davis. Things aren't always what they seem, though, as it turns out that Grant is actually Thomas Mayhew, a soldier from a parallel universe. He has taken Sasha to his world, Aurora, so that she can prevent war and bring peace to their people. Sasha is an "analog," or physical double, for Princess Juliana, who disappeared just before her impending nuptial to Prince Callum. The marriage will bring peace to the rival nations. Sasha is told that as long as she goes along with the engagement and acts like Juliana, she will eventually return to her own universe. Even though Thomas essentially kidnapped Sasha, she begins to develop strong feelings for him. Sasha is not as independent as some female protagonists in comparable titles but she is no codependent drama queen either. This is a quick, fun read. The characters are well developed and multilayered. The main villain is obvious and the "bad" guys are not as fleshed out but that will not deter readers. The main story is Sasha's but the slight peppering of other perspectives are fascinating and will pull readers in and have them eagerly awaiting the sequel.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY