ARC Review: The Girl From Everywhere - Heidi Heilig

Title: The Girl From Everywhere
Author: Heidi Heilig
Pub Date: February 16th, 2016
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Page Count: 464

Heidi Heilig’s debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Hawaii to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.

Nix’s life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.

In The Girl from Everywhere, Heidi Heilig blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility with witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, and enchanting romance.

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This book is perfect if you go in with the right expectations - I didn't. However, I still found a sense of enjoyment in the writing style and rich culture. - Nova @ Out of Time

That's a rather worrying opening line, isn't it? And despite a lot of my complaints, I really did enjoy the story. The main problem is that the summary led me to believe one thing when the book was really something else. I expected the plot to be about what happens after Nix finds the map and how it could hurt her past [something like a sci-fi vibe.] Instead, the book was about the actual finding of the map. I spent the whole time thinking, "ugh! when is she going to find this map already?" If I'd known that the book was about the journey, rather than the destination, I'm sure my enjoyment would've greatly increased. So yes, to set the record straight, this book is about finding it. Don't go in with the wrong idea, like I did.

I terms of character, I didn't feel immensely connected to Nix. She didn't have any distinct characteristics that related to me. That's not to say that I didn't like her, though. She was enjoyable. She was brave and strong - qualities I admire in a protagonist. I liked where her values were set and I don't think many other people, real or fictional, would've been able to do what she did in this novel.

Her male counterpart, though. Dang. Let's just say I love Kashmir. I really enjoyed his humor because it was something I could relate to. In many ways, Kash was Nix's safety [even in situations where she felt that she didn't need it.]

The biggest thing that I loved was the amount of culture that was in the story. Not only that but how the diversity wasn't meant to prove a point - it was just a natural part of the story. I've read so much diverse fiction where the author is like, "SEE! NOT ALL CHARACTERS ARE WHITE!" and while I appreciate the intention, it's irritating that people's sole intention for including diversity is to make a point. This novel just felt so natural and rich. It felt like being in a world history class without the pain of boredom and homework. I was taken to all the different settings and it was perfect.

Which leads me to my next point: I don't think it's easy to be able to pull of the descriptive language so easily. I applaud Heilig for her description and beautiful language. There was a part of the Chinese the confused me [because I was taught something different and because she used the pinyin, not the actual characters] but other than that, I had no real problems.

So why isn't it full stars? Like I said before, I didn't understand the plot until after the book was done. I kept expecting more action and something crazy to happen. It was a lot of talking and a lot of uncovering answers. Action happened in the last quarter and even though the story was never straight-up boring, the thrilling point came too late for me.

Despite this, I am so glad I read this, though. I do recommend it! Please go read it for the beautiful world in different countries and different times. I don't particularly like history but I loved the history in this. I can tell so much work went into the culture, the myth and legends and it is so much appreciated.

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Heidi grew up in Hawaii where she rode horses and raised peacocks, and then she moved to New York City and grew up even more, as one tends to do. Her favorite thing, outside of writing, is travel, and she has haggled for rugs in Morocco, hiked the trails of the Ko'olau Valley, and huddled in a tent in Africa while lions roared in the dark.

She holds an MFA from New York University in Musical Theatre Writing, of all things, and she's written books and lyrics for shows including The Time Travelers Convention, Under Construction, and The Hole. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their pet snake, whose wings will likely grow in any day now.