Wildings

September 26, 2016
In a multilayered fantasy set in the world of Sparkers (2014), lawmakers segregate the magical kasir elite from the impoverished and powerless halan, even when it means breaking families apart. That’s how twins Rivka and Arik were separated, with strict orders never to see or speak about each other again. But the political tides are turning, and as Rivka launches a search for her brother, she is caught up in a radical plot to force the parliament to abolish Family Law. Glewwe’s city-state of Ashara is an immersive world with social divisions that are simultaneously familiar and foreign. The ghettos and mistreatment of the lower class hark back to the Nazi occupation of Jewish neighborhoods, the integration of a deaf halan boy into a kasir school recalls Brown v. Board of Education–era America, and the faceless Society—magicians with hidden identities who use brute force to keep the peace—evoke images of modern-day police in riot gear. Rivka and her friends are strong-willed, fiercely intelligent, and fearless as they set out to take down the status quo. Ages 10–up. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House.

September 15, 2016
After the revolution, the hard work begins.Four years ago Ashara overthrew its genocidal "kasir" (magician) leaders for a United Parliament of both kasiri and the "halan" underclass, but oppression--legal and otherwise--still continues. Rivka Kadmiel, of aristocratic kasir lineage, thinks little about prejudice until her twin brother, Arik, lacking magic, is declared a "wilding" and removed to a halan family. Rivka vows to find him again, but both law and society forbid her even to learn his new name. This follow-up to the well-received Sparkers (2014) examines the difficulty of completely eradicating systemic injustice. Glewwe portrays not only the corrosive (and mutual) enmity between kasiri and halani, but also the complex, layered intersections of class, nationality, ethnicity, and disability (but not, surprisingly, gender). Characters from the first novel reappear, although in irritatingly saintly guise, but the focus is firmly on Rivka. With her unacknowledged privilege, her stubborn, unconscious bigotry, her deliberate alienation from family and friends, and her tendency to evaluate every acquaintance for potential usefulness, Rivka is difficult to like. Still, her fierce determination and ferocious devotion to her twin demand respect, and she gathers friends almost against her will. The final confrontation between the bitter halani in Ashara's government and the children representing the city's future is inspiring in its depiction of the power of simple family love. Bittersweet but hopeful. (Fantasy. 10-15)

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October 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Rivka Kadmiel accompanies her ambassador father to Ashara for one reason: to find her lost twin brother, Arik. At age 10, Rivka passed her magic test, remaining in her kasiri (upper-class) family while Arik, a nonmagical wilding, was immediately placed with a halani (lower-class) family in the country of Ashara. Rivka works fiercely to locate her brother with the help of her new school friend, Caleb. Rivka shares class notes with Caleb, since he has hearing loss, and Caleb connects Rivka to Arik and other halani families. The strict "family laws" prohibit kasiri and halani from mixing, and Rivka's future with Arik seems uncertain unless the laws are overturned. She works with her brother and social activists Marah Levi and Azariah to legally reunite wilding families in an exciting courtroom battle. This sequel to Sparkers, Marah and Azariah's story, is not a stand-alone novel. Kasiri and halani terminology are not clearly explained from the beginning, although there is a glossary in the back. Glewwe writes Rivka's tale in first-person present tense, which seems choppy and awkward at the start but immediate and urgent in the final scenes. While Arik doesn't match Rivka for loyalty and bravery, Rivka's growing understanding of the function of law and her passion for creating a just society are inspiring. This is a thoughtful adventure, with magic seeping through the pages. VERDICT Don't hesitate to purchase this morality-driven fantasy where Sparkers has fans.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
Segregation laws separate magical and non-magical people (-wildings-) in Rivka's world. This injustice hits home when her twin brother fails the test for magic and is sent away. Yearning to be reunited with Arik, Rivka becomes a voice for children oppressed by the prejudice of adults. Glewwe's magical fantasy, a companion to Sparkers, celebrates the potential for young people to lead social change. Glos.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)