Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Cathy Reviews: The Girl From Everywhere

My mother in law Cathy is back today sharing her latest review!

THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE
The Girl From Everywhere #1
Heidi Heilig
Young Adult/Time Travel
464 pages
Greenwillow Books
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Nix has spent her entire life aboard her father’s ship, sailing across the centuries, across the world, across myth and imagination.

As long as her father has a map for it, he can sail to any time, any place, real or imagined: nineteenth-century China, the land from One Thousand and One Nights, a mythic version of Africa. Along the way they have found crewmates and friends, and even a disarming thief who could come to mean much more to Nix.

But the end to it all looms closer every day.

Her father is obsessed with obtaining the one map, 1868 Honolulu, that could take him back to his lost love, Nix’s mother. Even though getting it—and going there—could erase Nix’s very existence.

For the first time, Nix is entering unknown waters.

She could find herself, find her family, find her own fantastical ability, her own epic love.

Or she could disappear.


CATHY'S THOUGHTS 
The Girl from Everywhere is Heidi Heilig's debut YA novel, one combining myth, time travel and historical fiction together in a single story. The book is packed with descriptive information and a compelling plotline. Our heroine is 16 year old Nix who travels through time and space aboard the ship, Temptation, with her father and a motley crew that they have collected over the centuries.
 

In this first book, the main plot is centered on Nix's father's desire to go back in time to when her mother was still alive. This causes contention between the two because Nix is unsure if this trip might literally be her last. There is plenty of angst between the pair even if they are time travelers and Nix secretly plots to run away. 

What is unique in this novel is the use of maps. For the Temptation to travel anywhere, there is lots of wheeling and dealing and historical intrigue in order to get a map. While the concept of the maps is very clever, it was also the most challenging aspect of the story for me personally. I wasn't quite sure exactly how all the time travel and transporting worked. It was a little confusing, but at the back of the book Ms. Heilig included an author's note that gave all the details of the myths and history that she had researched and incorporated. I wish I had known this was there and read it first, as I think it might have made some of the plot flow more smoothly.
 

Ms. Heilig does develop the characters with enough depth that we like and care about them. She has included a possible love interest for Nix, Kashmir. He is the best friend, but there are feelings there and we know there is more to come, which is great because this is the first book in the series. As the Temptation sails from Hawaii, we have to wait to see where the next map will take them.

Rating: 3.5/5


Find Heidi:


This book was sent to me by the publisher  free of charge for the purpose of a review
I received no other compensation and the above is my, or in this case Cathy's, honest opinion.

23 comments:

  1. The reviews for this have been so mixed, but I think I'll give this a try at some point because I enjoy time travel books if the time travel aspect isn't too complicated. The way it's done here sounds unique. Are there maps included within the book? I love seeing maps in my book!

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    1. Yes there are a few maps in the book. I did enjoy that aspect. It was fun and unique

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  2. I fell completely in love with this one from the first moment that time travelling was established more on the fantasy side than the science fiction with the maps! Great review Cathy!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the review. The time travel is definitely more fantasy than science fiction!

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  3. I've definitely seen this cover around but I haven't actually heard much about it so I'm curious, now, to pick it up. I might wait until the full series is out before diving into this one but thanks for putting it on my radar, Cathy--great review!

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    1. I understand about waiting until a few in the series are out and then reading them all at once. So much easier for the flow of the stories. :)

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  4. I truly struggle with time travel books because the time travel aspects can be so confusing. I was excited about this one, but I've heard about the love triangle and I despise those. I'm glad you were able to enjoy it overall, Cathy, despite some of the confusing elements.
    Wonderful review! :)

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  5. I think as the series continues the time travel issue will probably be less noticeable for me. I can see where there might be a triangle but I have my favorite and have my fingers crossed!

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  6. I've definitely been curious about this one too. Glad you did like it!

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    1. Such a different idea for a story. Hope you enjoy it!

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  7. Oh shoot, I was really looking forward to this one. While I don't quite understand all the logistics with time travel, I really liked how this one used maps and mythology in the story. I think I'll give this one a try and maybe lower my expectations for it.

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    1. Sometimes i think the best surprises happen when you have lower expectations. I hope you enjoy this story and just sail along with Nix!

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  8. I have a copy for this and I have heard good things. I will be sure to read the author's note regarding the map before going into this one. Thanks for the heads up on that, Cathy.

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    1. I think knowing the history and the myths would have allowed me to just be in the story and not overthink it. Enjoy!

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  9. I'm curious about the maps thing as it looks really intriguing but it also looks a bit complicated.

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    1. It is an interesting concept so just be open to the fantasy and enjoy!

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  10. To sail anywhere would be so cool

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  11. I really liked this one. The magical time travel worked well for me and I loved the idea of being able to use a map to get anywhere. I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

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  12. I ended up setting this one aside Jenny. I didn't like the time travel and truth be told I had recently read the Passenger which was so good. It tainted this one.

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  13. I really can't decide on this book. I've been reading so many polarizing reviews so I'm really conflicted. I can appreciate the originality of the time travel aspect though.

    Great review, Cathy.

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  14. I have this one so it really is only a matter of time before I pick it up and read it for myself. I find it so interesting that there is time travel! I love time travel books, as long as they are done well. Although it sounds like the how it works gets a little confusing in this one sometimes...

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