Reviewed in The Sapling
By Gem Wilder
August 2021
Read the review on The Sapling here
Believing in Marvels is another NZ YA with a supernatural bent. Marvella 'Marvel' Harris is an Auckland teen with psychic abilities. She sees flashes of the future, but they aren't always clear, and she has to try and translate them.
Marvel's gift is a family trait. Her beloved grandmother, Sadie, is a palm reader, and her Aunt Shirley had also been psychic. Marvel's father has trouble accepting her gift, knowing it causes her stress, and was the reason she was bullied at her former school.
Marvel is surrounded by a host of diverse characters; there's Noa, her new friend, who she tells about her powers and is instantly accepted by; her artist mother; a wayward junkie hairdresser cousin, the son of Aunt Shirley; and many others, some of whom are more accepting of Marvel's oddity than others.
The plot revolves around Marvel, with the help of Noa, needing to figure out what the debilitating recurring visions she is having are trying to tell her. She knows her cousin Vince is involved, and in danger somehow. The book takes the reader on a journey into a seedy underbelly of dark web bitcoin ransoms, drugs, violence and addiction. It's all firmly set in Auckland, the streets and suburbs of which are travelled on by Marvel's trusty skateboard, and occasionally the odd bus or taxi, making it feel very accurate to my teen years.
By Gem Wilder
August 2021
Read the review on The Sapling here
Believing in Marvels is another NZ YA with a supernatural bent. Marvella 'Marvel' Harris is an Auckland teen with psychic abilities. She sees flashes of the future, but they aren't always clear, and she has to try and translate them.
Marvel's gift is a family trait. Her beloved grandmother, Sadie, is a palm reader, and her Aunt Shirley had also been psychic. Marvel's father has trouble accepting her gift, knowing it causes her stress, and was the reason she was bullied at her former school.
Marvel is surrounded by a host of diverse characters; there's Noa, her new friend, who she tells about her powers and is instantly accepted by; her artist mother; a wayward junkie hairdresser cousin, the son of Aunt Shirley; and many others, some of whom are more accepting of Marvel's oddity than others.
The plot revolves around Marvel, with the help of Noa, needing to figure out what the debilitating recurring visions she is having are trying to tell her. She knows her cousin Vince is involved, and in danger somehow. The book takes the reader on a journey into a seedy underbelly of dark web bitcoin ransoms, drugs, violence and addiction. It's all firmly set in Auckland, the streets and suburbs of which are travelled on by Marvel's trusty skateboard, and occasionally the odd bus or taxi, making it feel very accurate to my teen years.
It's all firmly set in Auckland, the streets and suburbs of which are travelled on by Marvel's trusty skateboard, and occasionally the odd bus or taxi, making it feel very accurate to my teen years.
There's a lot of action in Believing in Marvels, and it is at its best when building tension. There are moments when Marvel and her friends are in real danger, and you don't know if the book will end in tragedy. I had moments of genuine breath-holding when reading.
I had moments of genuine breath-holding when reading.
This is a real coming of age book, with Marvel coming into her own and learning how to harness her power. There were times when I felt it slipped into stereotypes, but overall the firm hold on location and the interesting spread of characters kept me reading. I imagine Believing in Marvels would appeal particularly to Auckland teens who recognize themselves and their friends in the characters, and are familiar with the streets, suburbs and locations featured.
Believing In Marvels is Sarah M Bailey's debut novel. Featuring a strong-willed teen on a quest for justice, this fast-paced YA supernatural thriller is a page-turning read you don't want to miss!