Blaze, a delightful new novel by Hope Bolinger, tells the story of an academic year in the lives of four students at a new academy after the school they love burns down. Danny, Michelle, Rayah, and Hannah all must find a way to adjust as they are accepted to King’s Academy tuition-free. But like all offers that are too good to be true, this one comes with a heavy price to pay.
One part adventure story, one part dystopia, and one part allegory, Blaze starts off innocently enough on a first day of school where the main character’s largest worry is dealing with a difficult teacher. From there, the day devolves into a fiery mess with our foursome wondering when they will return. Coincidentally (perhaps), Danny and his friends receive an invitation to a private academy. All four receive a free ride to the exclusive King’s Academy. They instantly decline, preferring Emmanuel, their poorer, religious-based school.
It’s not a spoiler to reveal that they all end up at King’s Academy. What first appears to be a paradise turns into the opposite as the students face terrible food, unfair athletic trials, and a gruesome hazing. And this is at the start of the school year…
Blaze is a wonderful YA novel of the trials and tribulations of four different but likeable students navigating their way through a challenging school year. While the story gets far-fetched at times, the anxieties and fears of Danny, Michelle, Rayah, and Hannah feel sincere, and the efforts the administration takes to stamp out religion in particular did not seem extraordinary. Contained within are some grotesque descriptions of every abhorrent smell possible as well as some witty writing. When Michelle makes Danny guess what another character named Jeremy (Jeremiah) texted her, he answers “Jeremiah was a bullfrog?” Or this gem “…there were plenty of things harder to like. Like taxes, death, and anything Benjamin Franklin said.”
The story is told from Danny’s point-of-view. His voice, guiding the reader through the plot, is often funny and authentic. Of the supporting friends, my guess is everyone is going to love Hannah. Her wicked sense of humor and her unique perspective are an absolute riot, especially her speeches at competitions. She’s not only funny, she provides a critical edge to the other three without overdoing it. The highest praise I can give another author is to say “I wish I had thought of that.” In Hannah’s case, I wish I had thought of her character for one of my stories.
The story concludes at a momentous scene and—without giving it away—I will have to wait for book two to see how it turns out. Clever, hopeful, well-written, and as I said at the beginning, delightful best describe what I thought of Blaze. It comes out June 2019 and is a worthy addition to any bookshelf.