I generally review books on this site for one of two reasons:
1. I think the book is awesomesauce and everyone should read it (example: Lexicon by Max Barry)
2. I can impart some words about writing craft in the course of the review. Example: the Perks of Being a Wallflower.
So that brings us to The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith.
Some books you can read for twenty minutes before bed and not think of them again until it’s time to get under the covers the next night. But then other books, you can’t wait to dive in again each time you put them down. You forego Netflix to read them. You get excited for your lunch break at work so you can get in a couple quick chapters. Marbury Lens is that kind of book.
I only heard of Marbury Lens because the author got himself in some hot water by being the subject of a viral Tumblr post criticizing him. Lots of authors jumped to his defense, and that’s how I heard about him in the first place.
And I’m glad I did. I bought Marbury Lens, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. One of those books that starts off as one thing, then veers into something completely different, and you just kinda have to hold on for dear life until you can figure out what the hell is going on.
It’s one of those is this really happening, or am I going crazy? sorts of plots, and Smith holds it all together nicely. I don’t want to spoil too much by spelling out a plot synopsis, but I’ll just say: if you like gritty, mature YA (a bit like More Than This by Patrick Ness), you will enjoy this book.
It does hit a few of the YA notes (the romance subplot, the Serious Issue That Affects Many Teens subplot), but it’s so gritty and visceral that I don’t mind those tropes at all. It’s a worthwhile book, and you should read it. BOOM. I’m done here.