Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

Some months ago I bought a book called Earth Girl. It's fairly new book; it was published in the UK and Commonwealth last August, but nowadays it's also available in the USA and Germany. I was intrigued by the book right from the start - the UK cover is very eye-catching and back cover inscription awoke my interest. And it truly was everything and more the cover promised.

Earth Girl is Edwards' debut novel, and Edwards couldn't do any better, because the book is unique in it's own way and downright brilliant. Nowadays there are a lot young adult dystopian books and it's good to have some variety. Earth Girl isn't dystopian even if it might sound like a one of those. It's fantasy/science fiction that takes place in the far future, in the 28th century.

Earth Girl's main character is 18-year-old Jarra who is stuck on Earth because she was born with immune system that didn't allow her to survive any other planets. There's not many humans with immune system like Jarra's and that's why the Norms (people who can portal between planets) call people like Jarra throwbacks, neanderthals and apes. Jarra is sick of the Norms and their scornful attitude towards Handicapped, and she wants to show the Norms that Handicapped aren't worthless; that she can be better than any of them even if she is what they call apes.

There is only one reason why the Norms come back to Earth - their pre-history class. It is mandatory to anyone who wants to study history, and Jarra has a plan how to join the Norms' class. She is determinate to show them she's better than they are.

Earth Girl is an amazing book with brilliant characters. Edwards has done what many has failed: created convincing and realistic characters who have their own flaws and nobody is extraordinary. Jarra is a wonderful main character who's easily relatable and you really can feel her pain and other feelings she feels throughout the book. Edward's writing style is also praiseworthy; it's detailed but not boring at all.

I read Earth Girl in two days even if it has little over three hundred and fifty pages! I just couldn't put the book down because it took me within and didn't let me go before I finished it. Absolutely amazing and eye-catching book worthy of your time. Earth Girl is a must read, and I recommend it for anyone. It might be categorized as a young adults book, but it's definitely worth to read even if you're an adult. It's a book you just have to have in your bookshelf and it definitely is the best book of 2012. I'm also a history lover, so I'd say Earth Girl is everything I can ever hope for a book. My favorite this far, easily.

I'm looking forward the sequel, Earth Star, that's coming out summer 2013!

- H

Also, back cover of the book:

I know what you call us. Throwbacks. Neanderthals. Apes.
In the far future, the universe is divided into two different groups: the Norms, who can portal between planets, and people like Jarra, the one in thousand born with an immune system that doesn't allow them to survive anywhere but Earth.

But I have a plan.
Norms come back to Earth for one reason: to study human history - like the ruins of what was once New York City. But only if they don't have to interact with any Apes along the way. 18-year-old Jarra has a plan to change that.

This is one Earth girl who won't give in.