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sfharper, June 10, 2008

Told in a pleasing young girl’s voice, “Journey Between Worlds” by Sylvia Louise Engdahl is an interesting portrayal of a young teenager graduating from high school whose plans are upset. The heroine, Melinda, has a man she loves, is bound for college, and loves her home and the grandmother that raised her, only to have a graduation trip cause strife. The fight with her intended fiancé shocks her and she ends up saying things that she hadn’t realized she believed. From this moment, the reader believes the author really understands this age group. Then Melinda finds out the trip isn’t for a month, but for several years and it involves going to Mars. This trip is chosen because her dad has a job there, and he never once asked or ever learns that she has strong political doubts about the purpose of the Mars colony and never wanted to visit.

Melinda is a strong protagonist; her flaw of ignorance is well-balanced with a gutsy attitude, independence, loving nature, and willingness to learn. And she needs to. From the moment she commits to taking the trip to Mars, none of her life unfolds in the manner she planned. She learns more about her parent’s goals, including the mother that died when she was young.

Although the story unfolds somewhat slowly, the costs Melinda collects at each stage are large. The plot complications come from the choices she makes, the environment, and from society. Then she has to find a way to live with her decisions and be satisfied. She surprises herself. She finds her beliefs and feelings modified during the course of the action. The overall message about life containing many options that a young person ought to investigate before committing to a final life course is a strong one, valid when the book was first released and valid now. The secondary romance is pleasing.

Overall, I believe young people in high school and maybe into college would enjoy this book. The scientific and technical background to the world is believable and subtly introduced and doesn’t involve any complicated explanations. I believe that both fantasy and science fiction readers would like this tale.

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