Thanks for coming to see me; but by the time you read this, it will be too late. No one will have started to panic, yet; but in less than two months nothing will be the same. What came first, The Chicken or the Egg Flu? I wish it mattered. But let’s just say, maybe go back to wearing a mask, bathing in sanitizer, and avoid birds and eggs for a bit…
I did not kill my brother. I did quite the opposite, really.
It’s the year 2052. Stevie Henry is a Cherokee girl working at a museum in Texas, trying to save up enough money to go to college. The world around her is in a cycle of drought and superstorms, ice and fire … but people get by. But it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
When a mysterious boy shows up at Stevie’s museum saying that he’s from the future -- and telling her what is to come -- she refuses to believe him. But soon she will have no choice.
One of my favourite things about current fiction, across every age group, is how openly they deal with cultures and representations we never used to get. I don't know enough about Cherokee, Choctaw and the other tribes mentioned to know if the representation here is accurate, but as the author is Cherokee I believe it is.
Although I’m not from the cultures represented in the book, I am from a culture which suffered in similar ways. This allowed me to appreciate the story's portrayal of Stevie’s heritage and the challenges she faces in preserving it. The author’s depiction of a future shaped by environmental and social upheavals is both unsettling and compelling, offering a vision of resilience and hope amidst destruction. This narrative resonates with anyone who has faced the loss of cultural identity and fought to reclaim it. I love the idea that the time travellers came back to reclaim works of art and items of cultural importance to tribes and groups; the thought that in the future, art and culture will matter this much is very powerful.
One of the standout aspects of The Art Thieves is its clever storytelling. The author skillfully weaves together elements of dystopia, speculative fiction, and indigenous futurism, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and engaging. The depiction of the year 2052, though bleak, is balanced by glimpses of a better future—an aspect that provides a hopeful counterpoint to the darkness of the present. By 2052 everyone is numb to climate disasters, but beyond that, in Adam's time, we may be fighting to protect the world and each other.
Another highlight of the book is the portrayal of friendships, particularly Stevie’s relationships with her friends. YA literature often excels in showcasing intense, meaningful friendships, and this book is no exception. Stevie’s bond with her ride-or-die friends Jess and Loren is heartfelt and authentic, offering a strong emotional core to the story. These relationships add depth to the narrative and make Stevie’s journey all the more relatable and compelling. Jess and Loren's story, while more in the background, helps add to the theme of hope in despair.
However, not everything in the book hits the mark. Adam, the mysterious boy from the future, comes across as somewhat bland and underdeveloped. His role as Stevie’s love interest feels generic, and because he’s unable to reveal much about himself or his mission for most of the story, he remains a shadowy figure. (I feel unfair saying that, because he genuinely couldn't tell her much for most of the book, but it is how he felt to me.) This lack of character development made it difficult for me to invest in their relationship fully, and I found myself wishing for more depth and complexity in his portrayal.
Additionally, there were some unresolved plot points that left me feeling frustrated. Stevie’s suspicions about her parents were hinted at but never fully explored or confirmed, leaving a significant part of her backstory incomplete. Similarly, the fate of Levi, a character whose journey was central to the plot, was left ambiguous. These loose ends detracted from the overall satisfaction of the story’s conclusion and made it feel somewhat incomplete.
Overall, The Art Thieves offers a clever and engaging narrative that explores important themes of cultural survival, environmental catastrophe, and hope for the future. While the story’s strengths lie in its inventive plot and strong depiction of friendships, it’s let down by underdeveloped characters and unresolved plot threads that leave the reader wanting more.
Despite these flaws, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy YA dystopian novels, particularly those interested in stories with strong friendships and explorations of indigenous futures. It’s a thought-provoking read that, while not perfect, offers a unique perspective on a world that feels all too possible, and offers hope for the future for its' teen audience.
One of the standout aspects of The Art Thieves is its clever storytelling. The author skillfully weaves together elements of dystopia, speculative fiction, and indigenous futurism, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and engaging. The depiction of the year 2052, though bleak, is balanced by glimpses of a better future—an aspect that provides a hopeful counterpoint to the darkness of the present. By 2052 everyone is numb to climate disasters, but beyond that, in Adam's time, we may be fighting to protect the world and each other.
Another highlight of the book is the portrayal of friendships, particularly Stevie’s relationships with her friends. YA literature often excels in showcasing intense, meaningful friendships, and this book is no exception. Stevie’s bond with her ride-or-die friends Jess and Loren is heartfelt and authentic, offering a strong emotional core to the story. These relationships add depth to the narrative and make Stevie’s journey all the more relatable and compelling. Jess and Loren's story, while more in the background, helps add to the theme of hope in despair.
However, not everything in the book hits the mark. Adam, the mysterious boy from the future, comes across as somewhat bland and underdeveloped. His role as Stevie’s love interest feels generic, and because he’s unable to reveal much about himself or his mission for most of the story, he remains a shadowy figure. (I feel unfair saying that, because he genuinely couldn't tell her much for most of the book, but it is how he felt to me.) This lack of character development made it difficult for me to invest in their relationship fully, and I found myself wishing for more depth and complexity in his portrayal.
Additionally, there were some unresolved plot points that left me feeling frustrated. Stevie’s suspicions about her parents were hinted at but never fully explored or confirmed, leaving a significant part of her backstory incomplete. Similarly, the fate of Levi, a character whose journey was central to the plot, was left ambiguous. These loose ends detracted from the overall satisfaction of the story’s conclusion and made it feel somewhat incomplete.
Overall, The Art Thieves offers a clever and engaging narrative that explores important themes of cultural survival, environmental catastrophe, and hope for the future. While the story’s strengths lie in its inventive plot and strong depiction of friendships, it’s let down by underdeveloped characters and unresolved plot threads that leave the reader wanting more.
Despite these flaws, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy YA dystopian novels, particularly those interested in stories with strong friendships and explorations of indigenous futures. It’s a thought-provoking read that, while not perfect, offers a unique perspective on a world that feels all too possible, and offers hope for the future for its' teen audience.
The Art Thieves publishes on 8th October, 2024. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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