Quintessence
By Jess Redman
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2020. 361 p.
Alma has moved to a new town with her parents. Her brother has gone off to university. Alma feels less and less like herself. She feels like she is losing her “Almaness” and is constantly having panic attacks, though she lied to her parents and told them that they had stopped. When Alma meets the mysterious owner of what looks like a junk shop and discovers what is kind of like a telescope, Alma starts to feel like herself again. The shop owner tells Alma to “Find the elements. Grow the light. Save the starling.” Alma doesn’t know what that all means, but she is determined to figure it out—and hopefully discover herself again along the way. This is a fun little fantasy book that doesn’t shy away from strong emotions (like panic attacks) and how helping others (like a fantastical being like a starling) can in turn help yourself. Readers who like light fantasy with a good-hearted character (and some good side-characters that Alma has to learn to trust) will enjoy reading Quintessence. Hopefully this will be the first of many in this world.
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