A Loop in Time
by Rowena Wright
Published by Finial
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Alex McGilvery
A Loop in Time is Book One of the Polis Series. Rowena Wright has set her story in post-9/11 New York. You are introduced to Sophia who is about to be a single mother, having lost her husband in an unspecified war far away. The baby is Ericca--the heroine of the book.
Ericca grows up in a world that is parallel to the usual world, but also contains a blanket named Spike that is populated with famous faces. Two of those faces pop out of the blanket and argue math and philosophy with Ericca and each other. Other characters are not just what they appear. Some are mysterious and intriguing and some are mysterious and threatening. There are people who are more ordinary, but who also have a great effect on the growing heroine.
The fact that this is a first book in a series may be the reason for some of its complexity. I found it difficult at times to keep track of characters and plot, though my perseverance was rewarded at the end of the book. You will learn about Egyptian mythology and quantum computing, as well as other odd bits of information along the way. A book that leaves one a little smarter is always enjoyable.
The characters are well drawn. Even minor players are well rounded, and the main players, both good and bad, are a mixture that makes them more appealing. A part of the complexity mentioned above is due to the author's care in creating believable characters.
If Rowena Wright can build upon the foundation laid in A Loop in Time, the rest of the Polis Series will be well worth reading.
Armchair Interviews says: First in a very promising young adult series.
Author'sWeb site: http://www.polisgames.com