Now a Major Motion Picture

by Cory McCarthy

Overview

Fandom and first love collide in in this joyful, feminist contemporary romance from acclaimed author Cory McCarthy—perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Ashley Poston

Iris Thorne wants to blaze her own path. That's easier said than done when you're the granddaughter of M. E. Thorne, famous author of the Elementia series, hailed as the feminist response to J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. And with a major motion picture adaptation of her grandmother's books in the works, Iris can say goodbye to her dream of making her own way in the music industry.

When Iris and her brother get invited to the film set in Ireland, she's pretty sure the trip will be a nightmare. Except Iris can't deny the rugged beauty of the Irish countryside. And brushing shoulders with the hot, young cast isn't awful, especially the infuriatingly charming lead actor, Eamon O'Brien. Iris even finds the impassioned female director inspiring. But when the filming falls into jeopardy, everything Iris thought she knew about Elementia—and herself—is in question. Will making a film for the big screen help Iris to see the big picture?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492652380
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/03/2018
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Cory McCarthy (he/they) is the bestselling author of bold, weird, and affectionate stories. He lives in New England with his spouse and coauthor, A.R. Capetta. Learn more at www.OnceAndFutureStories.com

Editorial Reviews

"McCarthy writes movingly of family secrets, barely concealed wounds, and the ever-relatable youthful struggle to understand the world and our place in it." — Entertainment Weekly

"Joyful and authentic. With a vivid cast of unique characters, the story is engrossing, right down to the sometimes wryly self-referential, on-point chapter titles. " — Booklist

"This is simultaneously a whimsical teen romance and an emotionally compelling story about family, creativity, and courage." — School Library Journal

"A war cry and a love letter all at once. " — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
Gr 8 Up—Iris Thorne is tired of living in the shadow of a grandmother she barely knew and tired of babysitting her eight-year-old brother Ryder. She accompanies Ryder to Ireland, where the movie adaptation of her grandmother's popular high fantasy book trilogy "Elementia" is being filmed. Iris dislikes fantasy and resents "Thornians," the Elementian fandom. That includes nerdy debut actor Eamon O'Brien and director Cate Collins, who has declared the series to be "the feminist answer to Tolkien's male-dominated world." But Iris gradually develops a crush on Eamon, a begrudging respect for Cate, and even an appreciation for fantasy. Meanwhile, Ryder's need to assert his independence from Iris's overprotection forces her to come to terms with her dysfunctional family dynamics and a recent trauma. Major side plots include Cate's challenges as a female movie director and actress Shoshanna's similar experiences with "winning the intersectional bingo," as she is neither white nor straight. This is simultaneously a whimsical teen romance (borderline saccharine at some points) and an emotionally compelling story about family, creativity, and courage. McCarthy delves into the backstories and motivations of most major characters, and Iris herself is a well-developed and complex protagonist with a believable blend of ambition, fear, and fierce loyalty. VERDICT With its adept characterization, positive messages, and appeal factors for fans of multiple genres, this is a first purchase for most YA collections.—Magdalena Teske, West Chicago Public Library District

School Library Journal

2018-02-05
A film set in Ireland provides the backdrop for some real-life drama.Iris Thorne only met her grandmother M.E. Thorne once, but her shadow still looms large. The elder Thorne wrote the Elementia trilogy, a feminist take on J.R.R. Tolkien. Iris' father despises the books, and she's avoided them herself in part due to the fanatical superfans—dubbed "Thornians"—who have invaded the family's life. When Hollywood mounts a big-budget adaptation of the first novel, Iris and her younger brother visit the Ireland-based production. There, Iris warms to Eamon, the unknown hottie cast as the film's co-lead. McCarthy (You Were Here, 2016, etc.) smartly doles out the details of the plot of Elementia, but a major conflict between Iris and her father is more frustratingly teased out until things finally click into satisfying gear. As Iris navigates her feelings for her father, grandmother, and Eamon, she spars with Cate Collins, the film's director and the novel's highlight. Every scene with Cate crackles with intelligent feminist reasoning that could easily have slipped into sermonizing but instead stays true to character. The novel spirals outward and upward, developing tertiary characters and tying everything together via its central theme, resulting in a dense but satisfying reading experience. All major characters are assumed white, but two of the film's stars are part Filipino.A war cry and a love letter all at once. (song list, glossary, map) (Fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews