The Explosionist (Hardcover)

by Jenny Davidson (Author)
Key Phrases: woman constable, spirit photography, Great-aunt Tabitha, Miss Chatterjee, Miss Henchman (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—It's 1938, and in the world that 15-year-old Sophie inhabits, England fell to Napoleon at Waterloo, scientists work together with spiritualists, and hydrogen-powered cars move people around Scotland's streets. An unsettling session with a medium sets Sophie on edge, but her Great-Aunt Tabitha's vehement opposition to IRYLNSY, a program for women that her aunt founded, confuses the teen more than the cryptic message about a pending journey that she received. The medium's sudden death prompts Sophie and her friend Mikael to investigate, and they are soon plunged into a turbulent political battleground, one that threatens the future of Scotland and the rest of the world. Without stretching credulity too far, readers should be able to accept the odd blend of modern and primitive technology in the text; it seems odd that fuel-cell technology exists, but dynamite remains the most powerful explosive known. Sophie and Great-aunt Tabitha's antagonism toward one another regarding the morality of IRYLNSY lacks the depth necessary to draw readers into the debate; Davidson herself seems almost convinced that turning promising young women into emotional Dumpsters for men is entirely appropriate. With an uncertain resolution that all but demands a sequel, the book will appeal to fans of alternative historical fiction, who will be waiting for the next installment. Blending physics, politics, and possibilities, Davidson's novel also holds some appeal to fringe historical and mystical readers.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
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Product Description

A series of mysteries.

An explosion of truths.

The Explosionist: Someone sets off a bomb outside fifteen-year-old Sophie's boarding school, but no one can figure out who.

The Medium: Soothsayers and séance leaders are regular guests at her great-aunt's house in Scotland, but only one delivers a terrifying prophecy, directed at Sophie herself.

The Murder: When the medium is found dead, Sophie and her friend Mikael know they must get to the bottom of these three mysteries in order to save themselves—even as the fate of all Europe hangs in the balance.

Set in a time of subversive politics, homegrown terrorism, and rapidly changing alliances, The Explosionist is an extraordinarily accomplished debut novel for teens that delivers a glimpse of the world as it might have been—had one moment in history been altered.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061239755
• ISBN-13: 978-0061239755
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #662,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, thought-provoking fantasy novel, August 3, 2008

By	Mother Brown - See all my reviews

This is a fast-paced, exciting, intelligent book, highly recommended to all adult readers of fantasy literature, as well as to actual teenagers or ten-year-olds. It has certain things in common with Diana Wynne Jones (it's set in an alternate universe, in which the Battle of Waterloo went the other way; like Jones, Davidson is at times very funny); with Philip Pullman (obsession with the idea of the north, though there are no polar bears; it's a novel-of-ideas, though rather less pompous about it than Pullman); and J. K. Rowling (it is, among many other things, a classic school story, about friendship and growing up; Davidson acknowledges her debt to Muriel Spark). There is also an element of feminist dystopia about this world, a little Atwood-ish: our heroine discovers the horrible truth that girls in her city are being subjected to a procedure to eliminate their capacity to have feelings of their own, in order to make them more useful helpmeets for men in times of war. The novel is a meditation both on gender relationships, but more fundamentally, on the need for emotions, and the part played by feelings in personal identity. Despite her obvious learning and allusiveness, Davidson has succeeded brilliantly in creating a world of her own, which is convincingly like and unlike our own. Sophie is an appealingly opinionated heroine (who has strong views about, for instance, the superiority of icing to cake, as well as an excellent working knowledge of chemistry). This a very readable novel, whose characters and ideas will linger in the mind. Highly recommended. Buy it for any child/ teenager who has an interest in history, Scotland, Scandanavia, murder stories, spiritualism, science, terrorism, or ethics. But also buy a copy for yourself!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Alternative Historical Fiction Novel for Teens, July 10, 2008

By	kristena - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The Explosionist is set in 1938 Edinburgh, Scotland. The main character is Sophie, a fifteen year old student at boarding school. Unlike a traditional historical fiction novel, this book is what has been deemed "alternative history" and presents the reader with a parallel universe in which 1938 Scotland has fuel cell automobile technology, an Institute that re-programs the brains of young women so they can serve high ranking officials without any emotions, and other advanced inventions.

Spiritual mediums are commonly used by government, police, and private citizens to speak to the dead and receive messages. Sophie even discovers that she is a medium and uses her insights to uncover a slew of mysteries surrounding recent bombings, a murder, even what goes on behind closed doors to reprogram women as young as sixteen.

Several prominent historical figures are mentioned such as Freud, Pastor, Houdini, Nobel, Kelvin, Bell, and even one mention of the 12 dancing princesses. In this book historical scientists are especially respected and powerful.

Overall, I found the book to be well-written and interesting. Young readers 14-19 fascinated by science, mysteries, and history may particularly enjoy this novel. This is the first novel author Jenny Davidson has written for teens.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, July 1, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

In a world where Europe is split into two competing factions on the brink of war, the 1930s are dominated by the Enlightenment principles of science and reason. The basis of this parallel universe is that Napoleon defeated Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Jenny Davidson skillfully incorporates elements of historical research, science-fiction, and the paranormal to create a world utterly unrecognizable to readers in the twenty-first century. With her clever plot and vivid descriptions, Davidson prevents readers from becoming confused and overwhelmed by the drastic differences of her imaginary world.

Fifteen-year-old Sophie Hunter is living in Scotland, a member of the New Hanseatic League, and attending an all-girls preparatory school with hopes of a university education. However, her future hangs in jeopardy due to the threat of war between the New Hanseatic League and Europe. Terrorist attacks by the Brother of the Northern Liberties are all too common, and the mood throughout the country is tense. In the event of war, all of Scotland's young women would be called upon to serve the country in various national agencies, dashing Sophie's dreams of becoming a scientist.

Sophie's already turbulent life becomes even more confusing after she attends one of her great-aunt Tabitha's seances. The medium delivers a shocking anonymous message to Sophie, insinuating that she will encounter great danger. When the medium is murdered shortly thereafter, Sophie knows that the prophecy is not to be taken lightly. She vows to uncover the mysteries behind the tangle of Scotland's political web, to save herself and her friends from a disastrous fate.

As fate would have it, war might soon be upon them. Sophie plans on joining IRLYNS, serving her country as is her duty if the unthinkable should occur. Short for the Institute for the Recruitment of Young Ladies for National Security and pronounced "irons," IRLYNS aims to train intelligent young women to be personal assistants to Scotland's most powerful government officials. Great-aunt Tabitha, Sophie's guardian since the death of her parents many years ago, is actually one of the founders of IRLYNS, and Sophie expects her to be proud of her noble intentions. However, great-aunt Tabitha strongly discourages her niece from joining IRLYNS, and Sophie's curiosity is piqued. Could the secrets behind IRLYNS be in any way connected to the precarious state of the country?

Although she lives in a bizarre world, readers will surely be able to relate to Sophie's idealism and youthful exuberance. A loyal friend with strong morals, readers will find Sophie very likable. Her crush on her chemistry teacher, Mr. Peterson, is reminiscent of Hermione's infatuation with Gilderoy Lockhart. Thankfully, Mr. Peterson is infinitely more worthy of admiration. Then there is Sophie's amusing relationship with Mikael, her best guy friend from Sweden. Slowly, Sophie discovers what readers will see all along, that Sophie harbors more than feelings of friendship for Mikael.

Davidson skillfully tempers suspense and danger with laughter and good times, creating a magical world that defies genre stereotypes. Deeper than a typical adventure story, THE EXPLOSIONIST challenges readers with questions of ethics and the rightful boundaries of the government. Insightful readers will explore their own political beliefs, and even draw parallels from Sophie's world to current events of today. Davidson's abrupt ending will surely leave readers hoping for a sequel!

Reviewed by: Amber Gibson