Stranger

October 6, 2014
Told in alternating third-person narratives by teenage citizens of Las Anclas (a desolate future Los Angeles), this dystopian novel follows a town’s attempts to survive after a solar storm ravaged the world and mutated some of its inhabitants. The setting is both bizarre (deadly “singing” trees can kill humans) and familiar—the story has a “wild west” atmosphere as the town battles the elements and invaders with only basic weaponry. When Ross Juarez, a wandering prospector, shows up at the town’s gates half-dead and clearly hiding something, his arrival deepens the growing animosity between the Norms and the Changed. Soon, Ross has the attention of two of Las Anclas’s most eligible bachelorettes, the suspicions of the town’s leaders, and the eye of a bounty hunter who has been paid to capture him. The story’s characters and their tightly woven relationships are well developed, and Brown (All the Fishes Came Home to Roost) and Smith (The Spy Princess) provide plenty of narrative diversity, making each character’s entry feel fresh, distinctive, and unexpected. The buildup to the action-packed ending does not disappoint. Ages 14–up.

Starred review from September 15, 2014
Yes, it's another post-apocalyptic series opener, but it's infused with a generous spirit-call it a utopian dystopia. The small, walled community of Las Anclas bears little resemblance to Los Angeles, whose ancient ruins sprawl nearby. To Ross, a badly wounded prospector fleeing a powerful enemy, it's paradise compared to what he's used to-to its residents, not so much. Yuki misses the freedom of the wild ocean and dreams of escaping with Paco. Engineer Mia loves blowing things up, but she feels socially awkward. Felicite, the daughter of the mayor and defense chief, knows precisely what she wants: to make half of a power couple with Indra, Jennie's boyfriend. Jennie herself is delighted to be chosen as a Ranger, the town's elite defense corps; she'd feared that prejudice against the Changed, people like her who've acquired strange powers, made her a long shot. Mia and Jennie, best friends, find themselves attracted to secretive Ross. Characterization is rich and stereotype-free. For gays and lesbians, sexual orientation is neither more nor less a defining characteristic than it is for heterosexuals. Equally exceptional is the depiction of conflict. The confusing adrenaline rush of war is followed by PTSD, its lingering afterimage. The five dynamic narrators and action-packed plot deliver thrills while slyly undermining genre cliches. A first-rate page turner that leaves its own compelling afterimage. (Science fiction/fantasy. 13-18)

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July 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-Intrigue, feuds, hypocrisy, and a love triangle fill the pages of this dystopian tale narrated by a diverse cast of characters in alternating chapters. After a solar flare, all electronic devices are useless. A mysterious, wounded stranger wanders into Las Anclas (formerly Los Angeles) with a secret; Ross has narrowly escaped the diabolical ruler Voske, who desires a rare book that Ross possesses. Mia's family shelters Ross as he heals and receives warrior training from 16-year-old Jennie, Mia's best friend and the town's teacher. Both teens are attracted to the newcomer, and he can't decide between them. As the town slowly warms to Ross, likewise his barriers slip away as he enjoys life in Las Anclas. Authors Brown and Smith create a village in which flora and fauna exhibit flesh-eating powers and symbiotic relationships with select people. Some humans remain "Norms" while others are "Changed," and therein lies the only prejudice; no one looks askance at homosexuality and all races are appreciated. Some elements appear contrived and slightly pedantic: there is exactly one gay couple and one lesbian couple; the loudest critic of the Changed is secretly Changed herself; and the Norms and Changed unite in an epic battle against Voske. Despite these conventional components, Stranger is a fresh story with well-developed characters, fast-paced action, a fantastical world, and a hint of romance.-Laura Falli, McNeil High School, Austin, TX

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