Libyrinth by Pearl North

From the Publisher

In her debut novel, Pearl North takes readers centuries into the future, to a forgotten colony of Earth where technology masquerades as magic and wars are fought over books.

Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her.

When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life.

The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same.

A powerful adventure that unites the present and future, Libyrinth is a fresh, magical novel that will draw in young readers of all genres.

Publishers Weekly

In this complex and rewarding novel set on a decaying, far-future colonial world that barely remembers Earth, Haly is an apprentice Libyrarian, dedicated to protecting the countless books housed in the enormous and decrepit maze known as the Libyrinth. Opposed to her order are the Eradicants, a powerful civilization that defines books as evil. When Haly-who has the ability to hear the contents of books, letters and other pieces of writing without reading them-learns that the Eradicants have discovered the location of the near-mythical tome, The Book of the Night, which "held the secrets of the Ancients, all of their machines and miracles," she sets off to recover it and save her society. Among this novel's pleasures are the many anonymous quotations scattered throughout, snatches of prose that Haly hears as she goes about her chores, from such sources as Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, Charlotte's Web and Fahrenheit 451, all of which are carefully identified at the end. The complex moral issues posed by this thoughtful and exciting tale are just as fascinating. Ages 13-up. (July)

Children's Literature

Set in the far future on another planet, three conflicting communities have evolved. Each has its own religion and set of beliefs. The Libyrinthians value the written word, living and working with the thousands of books placed in the Libyrinth long ago by the Ancient Ones from Earth. The Eradicants cannot read, so they value only the spoken word and convey their knowledge and convictions through songs. The Ilysians have an advanced culture protected by a well-trained army of women warriors. Two fifteen-year-old girls from the Libyrinth become involved in the search for a specific book wanted by all three groups. Haly, clerk to the Libyraian Selene, is captured by the Eradicants and declared a Redeemer due to her strange ability to "hear" the words in writing, allowing her to recite the contents of books even when they are in locked cases. Her best friend, Clauda, a kitchen servant, exhibits strength and valor when she is isolated within the Ilysian palace. Most of the story is revealed through alternating chapters from the viewpoints of these two young women. The plot does build to a climax with a satisfying conclusion, although a statement in the back of the book explains that this is the first title of a trilogy. A challenging book which may appeal to mature female readers. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Despite her seemingly humble role as a library clerk in a forgotten colony, Haly is the keeper of a remarkable secret. In a world in which books are both revered and feared, she has the power to hear the words of the tomes around her. When a rival group called the Eradicants, who believe that the books are evil, plots to destroy the ancient library where she lives and works, Haly is forced to make difficult choices to protect the lives of those around her. This debut novel is based on the premise of librarians as the protector of knowledge, defending literature from those who have abandoned the written word. With many references to well-known young adult works (listed in an appendix), particularly Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, the author tries to create a world of magic, adventure, and mystery. Some of the faster-paced scenes have the potential to captivate readers, but becoming completely absorbed in the story is a challenge. How well this book succeeds will depend on whether teenagers are able to bond with the main character, and how much interest they have in the world of librarians.—Caryl Soriano, New York Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

This complex novel depicts the final conflict between major subcultures of an Earth colony long divorced from its origins. Fifteen-year-olds Haly and Clauda and their slightly older companion Selene pursue the long-lost Book of the Night hoping to provide redemption for their deeply divided society. The novel combines many science-fiction tropes-the quest, dystopian governments, degenerated society-into a clever, original story. The page-turner plot and themes of the abuses of authority, the nature of prejudice and the power of the written word provide the primary focus. The main characters, all strong, individualized young women, are convincingly drawn, but some of the secondary cast are hard to differentiate. Who cares? The dramatic, satisfying climax and deftly handled resolution of the many plot threads will convince and exhilarate readers. Some mature language and frank discussions of sexual relations (though no descriptions) will age this up. Give it to readers of William Nicholson's books, the His Dark Materials trilogy and teens who loved The Giver. A bibliographic "Guide to Quotations" nicely wraps up this book-lover's delight. (Science fiction. 12-15)

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