The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
Published by Henry Holt & Company on May 28, 2019
ISBN: 1250293855
Pages: 352
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

“The Kingdom” by Jess Rothenberg is a young adult science fiction novel set in the relatively near future (2096) at a theme park that sounds suspiciously familiar. The main character, Ana, is a hybrid human/animatronic princess who works for The Kingdom. The princesses, called Fantasists, are required to live their entire lives in the park, interacting with guests in prescribed ways and making their visits magical. Any aberration is met with re-education and rebooting or ultimately, destruction.

Ana is starting to have feelings and notices that she is becoming less content to live within the Kingdom forever under their rules. She falls for a Kingdom worker and then finds herself accused of his murder! The book switches between interviews with Ana during the trial, court documents, and the actual events of two years before the trial.

Written for ages 13-18, this interesting science fiction and mystery book is a good addition to young adult collections where science fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.