The Between by David Hofmeyr (review)

Hofmeyr, David The Between. Delacorte, 2020 [416p] Library ed. ISBN 978-0-399-55114-7 $20.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-385-74475-1 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-385-39134-4 $10.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 8-12

Ana Moon is a seventeen-year-old girl whose life is permanently changed when her best friend Bea is snatched up by a scary birdlike creature. The London around her becomes suddenly amiss: her father's nudist lover wears a suit, and Bea's mom says Bea has been dead for a year. Hunky nineteen-year-old Malik explains: there are seven parallel universes, and Ana has entered the second one as a Pathfinder, someone who Falls between universes to right wrongs. Bea is rumored to be in the seventh universe, from which no one has ever returned; luckily, Ana is at the center of a Pathfinder prophecy about the seventh universe, but she has to combat the Order, a group of bad Pathfinders, every step of the way. British author Hofmeyr crafts a fast-paced sci-fistory with a diverse cast that's populated with references to other young adult literature (such as Divergent). Unfortunately, the seven worlds lack the depth and creativity that could make them interesting, and the characters are similarly two-dimensional, randomly shifting alliances at will with little explanation. Plot points are similarly contrived, with an overdone prophecy storyline and predictable twists. Nonetheless, fans of action-heavy sci-fithat never lets up its breakneck pace may find something to like here.