Astrid Sullivan has always been in love with the Titans-
mechanical horses that race in her neighborhood. Since she
was a young teen, she would go to races and watch them, not
daring to wish that someday she could be a part of it. Her
family, and many families around her, are barely hanging on
to their homes. For people like Astrid's father who lost
money betting on the Titans, the races are both
intoxicating
and debilitating. When Astrid gets an opportunity to race,
she will put everything on the line to save her family, her
neighborhood, and herself.
TITANS by Victoria Scott is a powerful story that captures
exactly what it means to hope with every bone in your body.
Astrid's desperate desire to save her family vibrates with
every line in her narrative, and Scott develops the many
nuances of her character beautifully. Readers who have ever
faced the financial hardship of possibly losing their home,
while attempting to put together a family hanging by its
threads at the same time, will find powerful, heartbreaking
truth in Astrid's journey. Her life is not easy by any
means, and she clings to the two things that can fix broken
spirits, love and hope, though she also battles with
allowing anyone else to help her on her path to the derby.
Though the racing scenes are extremely well done, never
feeling redundant or overdone, my favorite parts of the
story are the quiet moments between Astrid and Padlock, her
Titan. In the strange way animals can sometimes do, Padlock
helps Astrid learn to fight for herself, not just everyone
else. Their bond is magical and sincere, and readers should
expect to be more than a little tearful by the end. These
two characters, as well as the wonderfully developed and
colorful side characters, are sure to put a stake in the
hearts of many readers, as they all did mine.
Engaging, full of hope and truth, TITANS drives a
compelling
story straight into the heart of the reader. Victoria Scott
crafts a superb narrative through Astrid, and as sad as I
am
to see these characters go, I am thrilled to see what Scott
writes next.
Ever since the Titans appeared in her Detroit neighborhood,
Astrid Sullivan's world has revolved around the mechanical
horses. It's not just the thrill of the race. It's the
engineering of the horses themselves and the way they're
programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything
that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she'll ever
touch.
She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost
everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a
reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford
the expensive machines and the working class friends and
neighbors of Astrid's who wager on them.
But when
Astrid's offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in
this year's derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because
for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it's more than
a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only
way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she
cares about.
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