The Unchosen One by Amy Sparkes

What worked:

The synopsis is misleading, since Tassie doesn’t have a problem becoming part of the Chosen One’s prophecy. Saving Peryll from the Shadow fits perfectly into her dream of going on an adventure. The Wisest of the Wise tells her she’s the Chosen One, but she knows that she doesn’t totally fit the description. Sure, Tassie was born during the overlap of the Three Moons, and she’s escaped death several times, but no one can say she has a calm mind or that she’s wise beyond her years. The characters then decide she’s not the Chosen One, but Tassie eagerly joins the quest to find the real one. Readers are left to wonder if Tassie is, or isn’t, the Chosen One.

The author provides many twists to keep readers guessing. The Wisest of the Wise leaves Tessie to navigate a dangerous forest on her own, following an unknown path. An elf named Darley thinks he can steal Tessie’s gold, so he agrees to be her guide. However, nefarious characters want to get their hands on him, including a dangerous fairy queen. Darley has learned to distrust everyone, but he’s never met anyone like Tessie. She shows she cares about his welfare and refuses to leave him behind. Darley, and perhaps readers too, is surprised that he begins to care about her.

The author infuses humor into the story in different ways. Three wraiths strike fear into everyone they encounter, and their purpose is to destroy the Chosen One before the Shadow rises. The wraiths try to use proper manners, like saying please and thank you, even when they’re threatening “doom and destruction!” The banter between Tassie and Darley is fun. Tassie is always getting him into trouble, and she rarely has a plan to get him out of it. However, she has a talent for knowing what to say to confuse other characters. She convinces her best friend, Spin, to go with her by calling her quest a research mission rather than an adventure.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers may expect Spin to have a larger role in the story. He’s Tessie’s best friend and is a talented inventor. Although Tessie talks about the wonderful things he’s created, the only one he uses in the story converts a bar into a shield. It feels like he should utilize another clever invention or two.

The final verdict:

This fast-paced, entertaining story will appeal to a wide range of young readers. The action, humor, and character relationships provide a potpourri of positive elements. Overall, I recommend you give it a shot.