01/09/2023
“Just another bunch of Goliaths,” a brave young man declares in Bezak’s big-hearted, faith-centering dystopian future fantasy, set in a 2212 where the secular world, ruled by the Tanas Corporation, has outlawed religion, cracked down on curiosity itself, and stolen the loving patriarch from 12-year-old orphan Jacob’s new adopted family. Jacob, a city boy, is new to faith, though his discovery of a copy of the Quran—a true rarity—has roused in him a deep sense of connection to Islam. That connection is nurtured by more discoveries, first a secret forest, then a secret Muslim family dedicated to learning, science, belief, and to each other. They take Jacob in, but soon Executive Balak of the Tanas Corp. seizes kindly patriarch Abu Hakim, demanding he speed up research into new energies.
Bezak’s debut connects contemporary political, cultural, and religious tensions—Jacob is an orphan because the Tanas Corp forcibly separates “the children of the enemy” in labor camps—with classic YA adventure storytelling, and a dystopian edge. Its heart is an exciting story of standing up against tyranny—and, for Jacob, of finding a path toward faith. (And, as readers might expect from the genre, he finds hints of secrets about his true lineage.) Jacob and his new brothers face a most dangerous adventure, taking to heart the words of young Majdi: “How often a small force has defeated a large army with Allah’s permission.”
Bezak writes warmly of family, faith, and camaraderie, and the story builds to surprises and betrayals, including tense scenes with leaders who purport to be on the boys’—and Allah’s—side. Scenes of action and suspense have power as the Goliath-facing heroes plot to infiltrate a mountaintop research facility. The book is long, but the pacing mostly is strong, though at times the dialogue is workmanlike. Still, readers eager for engaging, thoughtful adventures rooted in faith will find much here to relish.
Takeaway: This engaging YA fantasy pits faith and family against a tyrannical corporation.
Great for fans of: Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame, London Shah’s The Light at the Bottom of the World.
Production grades Cover: B+ Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A- Marketing copy: A
Just another bunch of Goliaths,” a brave young man declares in Bezak’s big-hearted, faith-centering dystopian future fantasy, set in a 2212 where the secular world, ruled by the Tanas Corporation, has outlawed religion, cracked down on curiosity itself, and stolen the loving patriarch from 12-year-old orphan Jacob’s new adopted family. Jacob, a city boy, is new to faith, though his discovery of a copy of the Quran—a true rarity—has roused in him a deep sense of connection to Islam.
Bezak’s debut connects contemporary political, cultural, and religious tensions—Jacob is an orphan because the Tanas Corp forcibly separates “the children of the enemy” in labor camps—with classic YA adventure storytelling, and a dystopian edge. Its heart is an exciting story of standing up against tyranny—and, for Jacob, of finding a path toward faith. Jacob and his new brothers face a most dangerous adventure, taking to heart the words of young Majdi: “How often a small force has defeated a large army with Allah’s permission.”
Bezak writes warmly of family, faith, and camaraderie, and the story builds to surprises and betrayals. Scenes of action and suspense have power as the Goliath-facing heroes plot to infiltrate a mountaintop research facility. This engaging YA fantasy pits faith and family against a tyrannical corporation.
Publisher’s Weekly
2023-01-03
Young heroes in the 23rd century stand up against totalitarian authorities in this debut middle-grade novel.
Twelve-year-old orphan Jacob lives in the corporation-owned TanasWorld, one of three zones on a dystopian Earth. Lately, he’s been fascinated by a copy of the Quran, which he stumbled on in a hidden library. It’s rare, like all print books, but also banned, as Tanas has made religions illegal. So Jacob is understandably startled when he meets a boy who recites from the Quran. In fact, quoted Islamic texts are virtually the only things Majdi Mansoor ever says (“Jacob was intrigued by the way the boy could utilize the Quran as speech. It gave him the distinct impression that the book was speaking directly to him. Maybe this was the key to understanding the Quran…treat it as a conversation”). Majdi lives with his Muslim family outside Jacob’s walled city, and they wholeheartedly take the young orphan in. But Tanas Corp’s soldiers shatter their peaceful existence when they grab a couple of Mansoor family members. Jacob, Majdi, and his brothers, Hakim and Shahid, sneak into TanasWorld to rescue their loved ones. They’ll have to face vicious yellow-eyed beasts as well as a diabolical Tanas executive who has a frighteningly close tie to the Mansoors. Bezak’s gripping series opener confidently promotes Islam, accentuating its positivity. The Mansoor family is nothing but accepting and loving, and Majdi’s Quran recitations often inspire others. Joining the immensely appealing protagonists is a delightfully varied cast, from outright villains to those who redeem themselves and even a small, misguided Muslim group that adopts violent tactics. The author wisely simplifies the fast-paced main plot and aptly incorporates worldbuilding without scaling back character development. For example, many of the dilemmas Jacob and Majdi tackle involve this world’s complex past, like the Resource War 16 years ago that ended in Tanas Corp’s unfounded hatred of Muslims. There are a few surprises in the final act along with morsels for the series to pick up later, including baddies that will most assuredly stir up trouble.
An amiable cast will draw readers into this riveting, sequelworthy dystopian tale.
