The Hush

Gr 7–10—Chester Hays, a street musician in a world where music fuels sorcery, is searching for his missing father. The Song is this society's life source and can be accessed legally only by Songshapers. Chester unintentionally connects to the Song and is sentenced to death. He's rescued by the legendary thieves, the Nightfall Gang. Their ability to move through the Hush—a dark and dangerous shadow world that mirrors the real world—is their secret to avoiding capture. The Nightfall Gang have discovered Chester's ability to access the Song and need him for their final mission. They plan to break into and destroy the Conservatorium, where Songshapers are trained, and help Chester find his father. Each member of the gang has been damaged by the Conservatorium and wants revenge. This intriguing story is hampered by a slow start and a lack of character development. Cowboy Sam seems out of place in this world. Travis, one of two characters of color, is arrogant and self-centered, but his speech is more annoying than clever and roguish. Dot's punishment for being gay feels like an outdated plot device. However, the narrative gathers momentum, delivering twists and more complete world-building as the pieces for the Conservatorium break-in are locked into place. The ending is satisfying, with just the slightest hint of more to come.