Review of "The Ward"

"If my heart's gotta beat itself to death, I'd like for it to go out with a bang."

     In Jordana Frankel's The Ward, Manhattan is an ocean. A terrible flood has wiped out the entire city, making freshwater one of the most precious commodities and leaving countless people dead or dying from an illness known as the Blight. In the Upper Islets, the Blight is little more than a scary story, but in the Ward--once downtown Manhattan--it is all there is. Sixteen-year-old Ren knows the Blight is killing her sister, but there's nothing she can do about it. Not when there's no cure, when her entire existence revolves around roofracing--and secretly scouting for freshwater for the Blues--to keep them both alive. Then the government ups the ante: if she can find a specific source of "fresh" for them, they may be able to cure the Blight once and for all. But in a world where survival is all that matters, nothing is as it seems. And everything comes with a price.

     Ren is a great character. She's smart, she's cunning, and she's incredibly loyal to her sister, Aven--who is not, by the way, related by blood. Every chance she gets, she trains to become a mobile racer, a dragster who speeds along the rooftops in often deadly competitions. Although she's built up a tough exterior, Ren is a very deep, complex person on the inside. She reveals herself slowly, eventually proving that while she is often hard to get along with, she really does care about the people around her. And while she is a strong protagonist, she is far from overpowered, lending her a more realistic presence on the page.

      Plot-wise, this tale is straightforward and sound: find the fresh, save Aven. But the way it's told is rather different than most titles in the genre. Every chapter begins by marking the time, allowing the reader to keep track of when everything is going on, down to the minute. This is often a little distracting; however, it comes in handy when the narrator skips to a later scene or is pressed for time. It also fits relatively well with the premise and the characters, since racers like Ren must always be aware of the time despite the distractions around them. Plot twists lurk in the corners, hiding in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When they do, they're certain to leave readers on the edge of their seats.

     There isn't a whole lot to watch out for in The Ward. There is action, to be sure, mostly revolving around mobile races and the occasional accident. Ren's competitors are not to be messed with, and will do anything to win the contests of speed. Also to be looked out for are Blues, as folk in the Ward call cops. Blues are generally sneered at in the Ward, as they do little more than arrest people and enforce Blight quarantines. There is some violence, though, and while it isn't terribly gruesome it does result in injuries, some of them serious. Although characters don't usually cuss, there are a few swear words scattered throughout the narrative, as well as use of the middle finger. The romance is mild, yet sweet, playing its own role in the story without overwhelming it. Nobody goes further than kissing.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers interested in an exciting story about a daredevil racer on a quest to save the world. Ren's mind is wonderful to occupy, and has tangible emotions that lead the story where they will. The action is fast-paced, the plot twists are compelling, and the romance is relatively subtle. The only real downside is the timestamp that begins each chapter, as it sometimes messes with the pacing. However, Jordana Frankel did a great job with The Ward, which deserves a solid four stars.