Heather’s Bookshelf: Stonechild
Author: Kevin Albin
Released: 06/14/20
Genre: YA Fantasy
“You had only to look into history to see that the so-called statue-worthy people were not always good, nor were they always responsible for the things we remember them for. Sometimes the achievement or sacrifice had been made by someone else.”
“Stonechild” introduces Molly Hargreaves, a fifteen-year-old living in London with her brother, Charlie, and her conservationist parents.
When Molly’s parents take a job in South America, they decide to leave the kids at home. Charlie invites Molly to dinner in the city with his new girlfriend. Their plans get interrupted when a crowd erupts around a statue come to life. Winston Churchill, Florence Nightingale, and Sherlock Holmes are just a few of the statues come to life.
The statues declare they contain the consciousness of the human form passed on and that they have come to life to save the planet. They report major changes must be made or the planet will die- and soon. While most everyone seems to believe them, Molly distrusts their intentions. She sets out to find the truth.
Will Molly & her brother find out the truth or will they be too late?
Trigger Warning: violence, murder, death
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s written for a YA audience but the historical aspects and content could certainly be enjoyed by an adult audience as well. While a fantasy book, the historical aspects (especially in reference to those inhibiting the statues) are frequent with some more obvious references and others I had to look up. My absolute favorite was learning more about Edward Jenner and the important role he played in vaccination and modern medical science. I’ve had the privilege to visit London on several occasions and enjoyed reading about all the familiar sculptures as well as the places around the city that Molly traveled through. The story is told mostly through Molly’s POV. Written as a fifteen-year-old, she often comes off as younger in her reliance on her brother and through some of her communications. However, her skepticism, insecurities, and second-guessing seem absolutely age-appropriate. She and her brother were both well-developed with ancillary characters like Gee-Gee and Amber providing additional depth to the tale. The journey until the reveal of the statue’s intentions was full of intrigue and adventure with the underlying mystery tying it all together. I also enjoyed solving Sherlock’s riddle alongside Molly and how the answer tied back to history. However, I found the resolution to be a bit abrupt and unconvincing. There’s a bit of a cliff-hanger at the very end of the book that may self-correct my concerns if there’s to be a sequel. I, for one, am all for it!
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A YA Fantasy with strong historical aspects. An abrupt ending feels slightly unresolved but a cliffhanger leaves the story open for a possible sequel.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Kevin Albin
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Find it for purchase here
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