Publishers Weekly
★ 08/09/2021
Polydoros (the Assassin Fall series) seamlessly blends a murder mystery with Jewish folklore in this haunting historical fantasy. Alter Rosen, a 17-year-old Jewish immigrant to America, works as an apprentice typesetter, trying to scrape together enough money to bring his mother and sisters over from Romania. But Jewish teenage boys keep turning up dead while Chicago enjoys its grand World’s Fair, and when Yakov, Alter’s roommate and secret crush, becomes one of the victims, usually unassuming Alter must find a way to bring Yakov’s spirit peace—or risk his dybbuk taking over. Alter’s search for the killer reunites him with bold and charming Frankie, a fellow Jewish immigrant who’s willing to steal and gamble for success and stability. Polydoros offers an unflinching depiction of anti-Semitism abroad and in Chicago while capturing Jewish intra-communal tensions with nuance. Readers looking for finely wrought historical fiction with fully realized characters and a thrilling pursuit of justice are sure to be satisfied by Alter’s story. Ages 13–up. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Winner of the 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Young Adult
2022 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel finalist
2021 National Jewish Book Award finalist
A Lambda Literary Award finalist
2021 Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot for Young Adult Novels
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens 2021
"An achingly rendered exploration of queer desire, grief, and the inexorable scars of the past." —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness
"Chillingly sinister, warmly familiar, and breathtakingly transportive, The City Beautiful is the haunting, queer Jewish historical thriller of my darkest dreams." —Dahlia Adler, creator of LGBTQreads and editor of That Way Madness Lies
"Like a darkly compelling dream; I dare readers to try to put down this queer triumph of a book where myth, mystery, and death lurk around every corner of the Windy City."—Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series
"With stark, poignant prose and an endearing main character, The City Beautiful is an entrancing and chilling tale that deftly analyzes complex themes of identity and assimilation. One-part historical fantasy, one-part gothic thriller, this genre-blending story has something for everyone."—Kalyn Josephson, author of the Storm Crow duology
"Sinister and alluring, The City Beautiful will utterly transport you. With a keen eye for historical details, Polydoros deftly weaves together a gruesome murder mystery, a beautiful romance, and a rich depiction of Jewish life in the 19th century. I absolutely adored Alter, a boy on a quest for closure, love, and belonging in a hostile world."—Allison Saft, author of Down Comes the Night
"Set during the 1893 Chicago World Fair, The City Beautiful is a gripping, fast-paced book that expertly marries thriller and murder mystery. Polydoros is not afraid to tear aside the façade of beauty and civility to confront the darkest aspects of human nature, no holds barred. The resulting book is something truly special."—Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Mostly Devastated
“Readers will become immersed in Alter’s world, rooting for his survival, hoping for his reunion with his family, and wishing for him to find the love that he deserves.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Polydoros seamlessly blends a murder mystery with Jewish folklore in this haunting historical fantasy…. Readers looking for finely wrought historical fiction with fully realized characters and a thrilling pursuit of justice are sure to be satisfied by Alter’s story.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A gorgeous, disturbing, visceral and mystical experience…. His unflinching and well-rounded depiction of Jewish American and immigrant history makes The City Beautiful a superb addition to the ranks of YA historical fiction.” —Bookpage, STARRED REVIEW
“Polydoros doesn’t hold back with this heavy, dark, and gritty story that explores the immigrant experience in a unique way. While firmly a historical fiction title, this genre-bending novel is also equal parts thriller and fantasy. Featuring a queer protagonist, it is deeply layered with Jewish myth, immigration, racism, and anti-Semitism…. A wild ride of a queer gothic fantasy that’s a must-have for YA fantasy collections.” –SLJ, STARRED REVIEW
“The City Beautiful is a triumph, showcasing queer love, illuminating historical events, and guiding readers to an enthralling ending that will leave them satiated yet desirous to return to the world in which they have become immersed.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Details rich with specificity and research, and its joys tinged with sorrow…makes it all the more moving.” —NPR.org
“It is exciting to see a story that draws from the deep well of Jewish folklore for a dark, supernatural twist on the historical mystery plot.” —Jewish Book Council
School Library Journal
★ 09/01/2021
Gr 9 Up—It's 1893 in Chicago during the World's Fair and Jewish Romanian immigrant Alter Rosen, born sick and named to confuse the Angel of Death, finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery. Jewish boys all around the city have gone missing and been found murdered. Yakov, his close friend and roommate, is the most recent to be found dead. Strange things begin happening to Alter and he discovers that he's possessed by Yakov's dybbuk—a spirit that occupies a person's soul until they accomplish a goal. In this case, the goal is tracking down Yakov's killer, and Alter must do so before the dybbuk takes over entirely. Frankie, an alluring and dangerous boy from Alter's first arrival in Chicago reappears in his life. The two begin to hunt for the killer before they're targeted next and the dybbuk fully takes over. Polydoros doesn't hold back with this heavy, dark, and gritty story that explores the immigrant experience in a unique way. While firmly a historical fiction title, this genre-bending novel is also equal parts thriller and fantasy. Featuring a queer protagonist, it is deeply layered with Jewish myth, immigration, racism, and anti-Semitism. While scenes of violence, drowning, and slaughterhouses are incredibly vivid, some readers may find the descriptions too intense. Yiddish is woven throughout the dialogue and while context helps, a glossary would be beneficial. VERDICT A wild ride of a queer gothic fantasy that's a must-have for YA fantasy collections.—Alicia Kalan, The Northwest Sch., Seattle
Kirkus Reviews
2021-06-24
Young immigrant Alter Rosen lives in Chicago; it’s 1893, and the World’s Fair is in town.
Seventeen-year-old Alter longs to enjoy everything the White City has to offer him, but as a Romanian refugee in the United States, he feels it is his responsibility to earn enough money to bring his mother and his sisters over from Europe. Jewish people in the Russian empire have long been the targets and victims of government-sanctioned violence, and while life in the U.S. is still not ideal for Jews, it’s much safer. So, Alter tries his best to make an honest living and save his money. But when several Jewish boys from the tenements on Maxwell Street, where he has rented a room, end up missing or dead—including Alter’s own roommate and secret crush, Yakov—Alter knows he has to find out the truth about their fates. A highly detailed historical landscape paired with the fantastical element of the dybbuk from ancient Jewish folklore, one of whom possesses Alter, provide a solid base for the book’s leisurely paced and original narrative. Readers will become immersed in Alter’s world, rooting for his survival, hoping for his reunion with his family, and wishing for him to find the love that he deserves. An author’s note and glossary add valuable context. Main characters are White and Jewish.
A slow-moving but compelling tale of a queer Jewish boy battling antisemitism and the supernatural. (Historical thriller. 13-18)
