Engines of the Broken World

Gr 6–8—Twelve-year-old Merciful Truth and her older brother, Gospel, have just lost their mother following a long illness. They are unable to bury her because of heavy snow and unseasonable cold. Despite the warnings of The Minister, their shape-shifting spiritual advisor, they place her under the kitchen table. Wracked with guilt, Merciful comes to terms with their decision until she hears her mother's voice from the other room. Her reanimated corpse, inhabited by an unknown entity, informs Merciful that she might be the only one who can stop a world-destroying fog if she can find the machine responsible. Unfortunately, The Minister has other plans. Atmospheric and unsettling, Vanhee's debut offers a fresh approach to apocalyptic fiction. Set primarily in the Truth family's cabin, the narrative revolves around the actions of Merciful and Gospel, and in this intimate setting, their choices feel heavy and their options limited. It's a testament to Vanhee's writing style that he can make something as immense as the end of the world feel so disturbingly claustrophobic. Merciful is the catalyst who sets the narrative in motion, and it is through her strength and courage that the audience sees a glimmer of hope despite the bleak circumstances. The book's ambiguous conclusion is both refreshing and frustrating. Spiritual but never didactic, the story will leave readers questioning their own truths and beliefs.—Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH