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I admit that when I first
picked up Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch
I wasn’t anxious to read it. Young adult sci-fi/fantasy has never interested me
much, but it was only fair that I give it a try. This book tells the story of
16 year-old Glennora Morgan living in a dystopia some 200 years in the future.
After an explosion in the year 2023, a rift was established, splitting the
world in half, and no one in the Colloqium has dared cross the border since.
That is, until Glenn’s father is arrested and she has no option but to escape
to the other side where she discovers the mystery of her mother, who
disappeared ten years earlier.
There is good, evil,
magic, murder, and redemption in this novel, and I found myself pleasantly
surprised—almost captivated—by the action and unforeseen revelations. Hirsch’s
characters are relatable and easy to empathize with; they are noble, while still
occasionally falling victim to their own character flaws. Even Glenn finds herself
struggling with her own loyalty as her friends work together to take down the
one person she has wanted so badly to reconcile with.
Though it had an original
plot line for the most part, I felt that many of the story’s occurrences were
far too convenient to be believable. Sure, I was glad someone arrived just in
the nick of time to save the day, but it cheapened the story. Hirsch also
seemed to include some religious undertones throughout the work, and I found
myself often questioning whether or not it could be a religious allegory. By
the end, however, it was all too complicated to try and set straight.
Reading this novel and
being quite pleased with the overall plot and its twists, the ending made me
uneasy. It did not feel consistent, and the individuals in the story acted
quite out-of-character. I expected the ending to pack a punch, but
unfortunately, no punch was packed. Overall, however, I admit that it was a
good book—maybe even a must-read for a 13 year-old sci-fi lover or just someone
who loves heroic cats.
By Rhianna Reinmuth
