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The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty
JUDGES' COMMENTS
Beautifully written and deftly imagined, Jaclyn Moriarty draws her readers into a universe that flits between our world and … somewhere else. Madeleine and Elliot are pen-friends. They’ve built the sort of friendship that can only form through difficulties shared. There’s just one problem: Madeleine lives in The World and Elliot in The Kingdom of Cello — two parallel worlds, joined by almost-invisible ‘cracks’. When Elliot is recruited to the Royal Youth Alliance, both he and Madeleine find themselves caught up in high stakes politics and diplomacy.
In The Cracks in the Kingdom, Moriarty realises both her characters and world with a gentle pace and immersive writing. Her craftsmanship is evident in the careful layering of plot and the skilfully organised narrative. Despite being the second volume in a series, this book stands impressively on its own. The writing is measured and, in places, almost ethereal. Each sentence invites the reader in, encouraging them to pause and enjoy the deft evocation of both the setting and characters. This is a fresh and original take on the parallel worlds motif, with lovely writing, and a highly engaging set of ethical and moral conundrums driving both character and plot.
Whilst many beautifully written and well crafted novels were submitted in the young adult category, several factors set The Cracks in the Kingdom apart, making it a clear and unanimous choice as the winner. Perhaps the most significant feature, and upon which all three judges commented, was the seamless interweaving of fantastic and realistic elements to not simply allow, but actively encourage readers to willingly suspend their disbelief, and to fall into this exquisitely drawn world. The framing motif of the life and influence of Isaac Newton – replete with notions of logic and rationalism – doesn’t act as a counterpoint to the magical elements of the plot, so much as complementing them. This same complementary balance has been applied to every element of the story; the characters, the settings, the political ethics and social norms of both worlds, thus creating a reading experience that is both intellectually engaging and, at the same time, utterly sensuous. This is top-drawer storytelling that challenges, entertains and inspires in equal measure.