Before he knew about the Roses, 16-year-old Jack lived an unremarkable life in the small Ohio town of Trinity. Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high-schoolers. Then one day Jack skips his medicine. Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before. And it feels great until he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts. Soon, Jack learns the startling truth about himself: He is Weirlind; part of an underground society of magical people who live among us. At the head of this magical society sit the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the White Rose, whose power is determined by playing The Game a magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death. The winning house rules the Weir. As if his bizarre magical heritage isn t enough, Jack finds out that he s not just another member of Weirlind he s one of the last of the warriors at a time when both houses are scouting for a player. Jack s performance on the soccer field has alerted the entire magical community to the fact that he s in Trinity. And until one of the houses is declared Jack s official sponsor, they ll stop at nothing to get Jack to fight for them.

Jack is a typical sixteen-year-old-good friend, average soccer player, living in Ohio with his mom who works too much. When he skips his medicine one day, the unthinkable happens: Jack is much stronger and faster and feels as if he is truly alive. Only now there are wizards coming out of the woodwork, seeking alternately to woo and kill Jack. Because of the stone implanted in his chest during infancy, Jack is a warrior expected to duel to the death on behalf of one of the wizarding houses. Quicker than he would like, training begins for the most momentous event in his young life, and Jack must decide whom he will serve and how he will survive. Twists and turns abound in this remarkable, nearly flawless debut novel that mixes a young man's coming-of-age with fantasy and adventure. Fast paced and brilliantly plotted, Jack's journey is physical, mental, and emotional as he discovers his own identity and makes tough choices that impact others. Original, well-drawn characters are frequently revealed to be more than they appear, and Chima's writing richly portrays the mounting tension as Jack's options are methodically taken away. Readers of all ages will find in Jack a hero, who seeks above all to make the right choices regardless of the cost to himself (reminiscent of Harry Potter and Frodo Baggins). The resolution is clean but not idealized and fortunately leaves the door open for a sequel. VOYA CODES: 5Q 5P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Hyperion, 426p., Ages 11 to 18.

Categories:

• Teen & Young Adult
  
  
  • Romance
    • Fantasy