The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf (The Tribe) - Hardcover

Kwaymullina, Ambelin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763669881 ISBN 13: 9780763669881

Publisher: Candlewick, 2014

Synopsis

A compelling debut novel asks what happens when children develop inexplicable abilities—and the government sees them as a threat.

They’re known as Firestarters. Boomers. Skychangers. The government calls them Illegals — children with inexplicable abilities — and detains them in menacing facilities so that society is kept out of harm’s way. Ashala Wolf and her Tribe of fellow Illegals have taken refuge in the Firstwood, a forest eerily conscious of its inhabitants, where they do their best to survive and where they are free to practice their abilities. But when Ashala is compelled to venture outside her territory, she is betrayed by a friend and captured by an enemy. Injured and vulnerable, with her own Sleepwalker ability blocked, Ashala is forced to succumb to a machine that will pull secrets from her mind. It’s only a matter of time before the machine ferrets out the location of the Tribe. Her betrayer, Justin Connor, is ever-present, saving her life when she wishes to die and watching her every move. Will the Tribe survive the interrogation of Ashala Wolf?

About this title

About the Author

Ambelin Kwaymullina loves reading sci-fi and fantasy books and has wanted to write a novel since she was six years old. She comes from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. When not writing or reading, she teaches law, illustrates picture books, and hangs out with her dogs. She has previously written a number of children’s books, both alone and with other members of her family. The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf is her first novel. Ambelin Kwaymullina lives in Australia.

Review

The indigenous Australian author draws from a vast, rich cultural tapestry that will be new to many readers. If an “exhilarating dystopia” strikes you as oxymoronic, this vivid, original debut just might change your mind.
—Kirkus Reviews

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf begins like most dystopian novels, but it does not take long for Kwaymullina to take the reader on a very different journey. As the layers of Ashala’s memories are pulled back, the reader is treated to an intense thriller that just happens to take place in a dystopian society. Though it is the first in a series, the novel reads like a stand-alone, tying up enough loose ends to satisfy the reader while still leaving them wanting more.
—VOYA

Ashala narrates her story with an earnest adolescent voice... This futuristic fantasy offers an admirable heroine and a thought-provoking situation.
—The Horn Book

This genre-blending story will satisfy a wide range of readers. ... The multilayered story will keep teens guessing until the end. ... The author draws upon aboriginal Australian creation stories to bring much needed diversity to the genre.
—Booklist

With plenty of plot twists, ever-present danger, and powerful children, this book is sure to attract readers. ... This is an excellent addition to dystopian literature with grounds for discussion on spiritual, ecological, political, and personal responsibility.
—Library Media Connection

Evocative, realistic...
—Publishers Weekly

A series of flashbacks slowly unravels the intricate setup, working backwards in a way that imbues Ashala’s current situation with more meaning as the past is revealed, raising the stakes and the tension. ... The dystopian world here offers ... more nuance than the traditional fare.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Creative... The world-building is particularly interesting, as the author incorporates elements of the aboriginal creation story of the Dreamtime and Grandfather Serpent into the protagonist’s visions. Give this one to dystopia fans who are looking for a unique perspective.
—School Library Journal

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0763669881
• ISBN 13: 9780763669881
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 384