  | Fledgling (Keepers Records Of Revolution) Author: Ali, S. K. | |
| Price: $25.38 | ||
Summary:
Raisa of Upper Earth has only lived a life of privilege and acquiescence. Ever dutiful, she accepts her father's arrangement of her marriage to Lein, Crown Prince of the corrupt, volatile lands of Lower Earth. Though Lein is a stranger, Raisa knows the wedding will unite their vastly different worlds in a pact of peace.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (08/15/24)
School Library Journal (+) (00/10/24)
Booklist (+) (10/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 10/01/2024 *Starred Review* One link to rule them all: it’s the goal of the Guardians of Upper Earth as they work toward the Enlightenment, which will leave the minds of Lower Earth open to government manipulation via scalplink. The narration begins with Raisa, from Upper Earth, who is the bride-to-be set to solidify the alliance with Lower Earth and ensure the Enlightenment occurs. Nada and Musaid follow as primary POV characters—Nada is the jailed princess of Lower Earth conspiring with the revolutionaries against the royal wedding, and Musaid is from the Underground, like other servants of Lower Earth. As the seemingly simplistic dystopian revolution plotline gains complexity and nuance, additional POVs are added as needed, although not all enter into the regular narrative rotation. This is largely effective due to the conceit that the narratives presented are as written by the recordkeeper of the second revolution. Accordingly, the story is divided into 11 parts, with the first 9 dedicated to slowly setting up the dominoes that quickly and calamitously topple in the final 2 parts. However, despite the pacing, characterization is secondary to the plot, which may cause some difficulty with reader buy-in. Ultimately, this is a duology to watch; if the sequel accomplishes what this first entry promises, it will be the modern follow-up to the conversations begun in Lois Lowry’s The Giver. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
