The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare

Gr 7 Up—Teens who happened to catch the first book, The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, originally published in 2014 by Angry Robot's now-defunct YA sci-fi imprint, Strange Chemistry, will rejoice to learn that Diversion has picked up the series. In the previous volume, readers were introduced to Alex Wayfare, a young teen who has lived a life full of visions of the past. While this may sound exciting, Alex has no control over when and where her visions overcome her, meaning she is a social pariah at school and often spends too much time in the principal's office. It is not until the protagonist meets a mysterious boy that she learns that she is a Descender, a person with the power to travel between the past and the present, and so far Alex is one soul who has actually lived 56 lives. The second entry opens with Alex using her power to find a cure for her sister's terminal cancer. However, her progress is interfered with by other Descenders who want to stop her travels and can do so with the advantage of knowing many of Alex's moves before Alex herself decides on them. Recommend to teens who enjoy time travel and stories of possible reincarnation.