The Girl from Far Away
Author: Jennifer Austin
Publisher: Far Away Stories
Publication Date: July 2020
Jessica “Jess” Durand, a seventeen year old on Earth, hates her life. Her preferred escape is her dreams. But her dreams are not normal. She dreams of Ella Day, a seventeen year old girl on the world of Biack. If Ella was real, Jess would know her better than anyone else. Sensibly, Jess assumes that her dreams are just that, until she blacks out at school and wakes up trapped on Biack. At first, neither she nor the people there can believe that the other exists. The place that has been Jess’ escape is suddenly the one place she wants to escape from. Then she finds Ella, and realizes that she can’t go back to Earth yet. Because Biack needs her.
The Girl from Far Away is a coming of age story with elements of fantasy, mystery, romance, and a little science fiction. The twisting, exciting plot is paired well with characters that grow into themselves through the story. The dialogue is witty and engaging, with a realistic mix of seriousness and teenage flippancy. Occasionally added to the mix is some comedic differentiation between British and English vocabulary. Some of the content is a little adult, but neither explicitly nor a distraction from the story. The dramatic ending sets the book up nicely for a sequel. I would recommend The Girl from Far Away for YA and adult readers who enjoy fast-paced novels with arresting plots and characters and a striking patchwork of genres.
D. K. Nuray, age 14
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