Julie C. Gilbert’s second YA novel concerning Dr. Devya’s Children is a bit confusing and intricate versus Ashlynn's Dreams. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, albeit I enjoyed the first novel a little more. The same eight gifted children and babysitter are back in this sequel. Maybe that’s the problem. Either I expected fresh foes or this group forming some kind of Marvel Comics superhero group. Maybe this is where the author is headed, I don’t know. Ms. Gilbert does come up with some fresh characters: Christy Roman, Dario and Koresh (Dr. Lanier’s Children?), Carlos, Renee and Jillian/ Ashlynn’s first dad. That might sound strange, but Jillian has a lot of dads. This reviewer suggest reading the first novel in order to understand this sequel better. Julie C. Gilbert does help the reader understand how these children were formed when Jillian says on page 135, “Best I can figure so far is that it’s like making a new book by cutting and pasting parts of other books.” This explains, in layman’s terms, how these children acquired different gifts from the genes of many dissimilar scientists. The novel continues to be an epistolary work filled with emails, letters and journal entries.
In this latest episode, Varick seems to be on his own, while Michio (age three) is living with Jillian and her family. Jillian can’t reach her gifted sister, Nadia, who is nearing her 14th birthday. Varick tries to help find out what happened to Nadia, only to get trapped in Dr. Devya’s new lab. Jillian learns through her dreams that Nadia is in a coma. Then in another dream, Varick says that he is coming for Jillian so she can help Nadia out of her coma. Jillian and Danielle (the babysitter in book one) devise a plan where Jillian can go on a skiing vacation with Danielle’s family. Hopefully, Varick can get Jillian out without too much commotion. Well, there is a brouhaha when Jillian’s first father breaks into the ski lodge and tries to thwart the kidnapping. He fails and Jillian is whisked away to Dr. Devya’s lab. Jillian takes two days to break into Nadia’s dreams, only to find herself in a throne room with Queen Elena. Jillian learns that she has been summoned to fight the representatives of evil. Who are they? In later dream contacts, Jillian confronts many Nadias with numbers 15, 16, 17 and 18 emblazoned on their shirts. What does this mean? I don’t know because this is where I got a little confused.
To make matters more puzzling, Nadia (still in a coma) decides to contact Danielle at her home as a projection (first time that happens), and says, “I apologize for this intrusion, Danielle. Your friend will need you soon. I have come to enlist your help on her behalf. My avatar will speak with you, if you are willing to hear her. I will release your voice in a moment. Please do not scream. I am not an angel or a vision or a hallucination, but I do carry a message.” What’s going on? Why does Jillian need help? Whereas the first book was crisp and easy to understand, I thought that this novel was unnecessarily muddled. If I could advise Ms. Gilbert, I would say: Keep the story unsubstantiated (we don’t care about the science behind test tube babies) and leave the text unambiguous. Next, move on to a venture that the gifted children led by Dr Devya (your Professor X of X-Men) can fight together as a team. Dr. Devya comes across as an arrogant tough guy, but could develop into the team captain. He is the perfect leader for this new group of mensches. So did I enjoy this second effort from Julie C. Gilbert? Yes I did and recommend it to YA readers. I have a lot of faith in Gilbert’s future as a novelist.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: The last time I did a Julie C. Gilbert (5/31/2014) review, I talked about epistolary novels. But she writes YA books, not the adult books that I talked about. Okay, what are the good epistolary YA books? Based on what my YA contributor, Kai O, has read, it’s a no brainer:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007) by Jeff Kinney. Goodreads.com says, “It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary. In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion. Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. This year, it is averaging 70,000 readers a day.”
The second book was also a hit: Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 2) by Jeff Kinney. Goodreads.com says of this 2008 novel, “The highly anticipated sequel to the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling book! Secrets have a way of getting out, especially when a diary is involved. Whatever you do, don’t ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn’t want to talk about it. As Greg enters the new school year, he’s eager to put the past three months behind him . . . and one event in particular.Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out . . . especially when a diary is involved. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules chronicles Greg’s attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school, impress the girls, steer clear of the school talent show, and most important, keep his secret safe.”
Lastly, there is Kate Klise’s Trial by Journal (2001). Goodreads.com says, “Get ready for a trial unlike any Tyle County has ever seen. Sixth-grader Perry Keet is missing, and Bob White, his co-worker at Tyle Park Zoo, will stand trial for the alleged murder. But Keet's disappearance is only the beginning of this legal thriller.The "real" story is told by twelve-year-old Lily Watson, a classmate of Keet's. Watson was selected to White's jury because of a new law requiring a juvenile juror to serve if the case involves a child victim. Part of Watson's duty will be to listen objectively to the testimony of Tyleville's wealthiest citizen, Rhett Tyle. His testimony is expected to be the key to White's conviction. White's fate now rests in the hands of Watson and fellow jurors Fawn Papillon, Anna Conda, and other Tyleville locals, as they try to uncover the truth before it's too late.”
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