The memory thief

Format:

Book (regular print)

Title:

The memory thief

Author:

Mansy, Lauren author

ISBN:

9780310767657

Publication:

Grand Rapids, Michigan : Blink, [2019]

Physical Description:

319 pages ; 22 cm

General Note:

Includes discussion questions.

Map on liner papers.

Summary:

"In the city of Craewick the power-obsessed ruler, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please. Etta Lark grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city's asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, her memories sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. It means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier. To prove her allegiance, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm"-- Adapted from jacket.

Subject(s):

Memory -- Juvenile fiction.

Magic -- Juvenile fiction.

Genre:

Action and adventure fiction.

Fantasy fiction.

Fiction.

Juvenile works.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Salem Main Library	TEEN Mansy, L.	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

This thrilling YA fantasy debut follows seventeen-year-old Etta Lark as she navigates the underworld of Craewick to pull off the heist of a lifetime. A YALSA (The Young Adult Library Services Association) Teens' Top Ten Book for 2020, Mansy crafts a grim reality where memories are worth their weight in gold.

In the city of Craewick, memories reign.

The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.

Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but she grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city's asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a "criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.

To rescue her mother, Etta must prove her allegiance to the Shadows by stealing a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. Etta faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past as she uncovers a conspiracy that challenges everything she knew about herself and the world around her.

In a place where nothing is what it seems, can Etta ever become more than a memory thief

Perfect for fans of high-stakemagical heists such as:

Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows) Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen) Roshani Chokshi (The Gilded Wolves)

"Mansy's debut will delight fantasy readers who revel in fully developed settings and unusual powers."- Booklist

"A welcome addition to the YA fantasy canon, The Memory Thief is a suspenseful page-turner, delightfully chock full of unexpected twists and turns."- Shelf Awareness

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 8 Up--In the realm of Craewick, memories are everything--money, power, status, and even identity. The gifted, those who can harvest and redistribute others' memories, rule over the ungifted. At the top of this power structure is Madame, destroying all who defy her but not before she sells the memories and experiences of those she deems traitors. Four years ago, Etta Lark betrayed her friends and struck a deal with Madame to save her mother's life. Now, Etta lives a lie and her mother is a prisoner in her own mind. When Etta gets notice that her mother's memories are to be auctioned to the highest bidder, she returns to her past and joins the fight to overthrow Madame and her army. The premise of this dystopian fantasy is intriguing and full of potential, but its complexities and depths are not plumbed here. The pacing bogs down in lengthy world-building explications and flowery depictions that don't develop a true sense of the characters' identities or make sense of their actions. The values upheld by Etta and her compatriots are laudable, but the delivery of the fable's message gets rather heavy-handed as the novel builds toward the final showdown. Though the gentle romance woven through the adventure is a breath of fresh air, the resolution of the story's central conflict seems too pat to be satisfying. VERDICT Though not an essential purchase, this fast-paced tale of freedom fighters who battle with both their minds and bodies offers thrills, food for thought, and a main character to root for.--Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

Booklist Review

Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is among the Gifted: she can steal other people's memories simply by touching them. In a world where memories are currency auctioned to the highest bidder, the Ungifted are prey to those who would steal from them. The class distinctions between Gifted and Ungifted, as well as between rebels and rulers, drove Etta to join the Shadows, a rebel group trying to protect the Ungifted, but four years ago she betrayed the Shadows and was responsible for putting her own mother into a coma. Now, if she is to save her mother's life, Etta must strike a bargain with the Shadows and steal a memory from a dangerous enemy. Mansy's debut will delight fantasy readers who revel in fully developed settings and unusual powers. A glossary and description of the world's four realms are helpful additions, but Mansy's clear exposition smoothly delivers both the action-filled plot and the intricacies of a richly imagined universe, along with gently predictable romance and a thoughtful look at social inequalities.--Debbie Carton Copyright 2010 Booklist