Carry On

Starred review from October 19, 2015
Rowell's many fans know that the characters in this novel derive from her 2013 book, Fangirl, where they appeared in two forms: the "official" version of a Harry Potterlike series and the funnier, funkier, and gayer fanfic written by Cath, Fangirl's heroine. Now Simon Snow, the greatest magician the world has ever seen; possible vampire Basilton "Baz" Pitch, Simon's roommate and nemesis; and Simon's intrepid and loyal best friend Penelope have their own book. Along with Simon's semi-ex girlfriend Agatha, the three are negotiating their last year at the Watford School of Magicks amid a crisis in the magical world, much of which seems to involve Simon. Although in no way fan fiction (apart from its connections to Fangirl), this book can be read as a tribute to Harry Potter and Lev Grossman's Magicians series, and it's a sterling example of how to use genre conventions to create something new. Seen in that light, it hardly matters that some of the plot twists feel more like confirmations than surprises. Everything elseâthe funny, wised-up dialogue, the tumultuous, sweet, and sexy love storyâ is grade-A Rowell, and if you've ever wondered what makes a spell a spell, this book explains all. The doubled suspenseâWill Simon and Baz finally admit that seven years of mutual obsession might be more than antagonism? Will Simon, Baz, and Penny figure out what's threatening their world in time to save it?âmakes for a book that readers will find almost impossible to put down. Ages 13âup. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists.

Meta-slash fiction for jaded optimists.Rowell pulls on a central thread of Fangirl (2013)--Cath's fanfic epic of Simon Snow, the Chosen One and Mage's heir--and uses it to weave a tapestry of realigned affections and alliances. Deftly self-contained so that readers need not have read Fangirl to enjoy this tale, it will nonetheless appeal to Harry Potter fans sophisticated enough to recognize the fundamental tropes at work. Simon, an orphaned magician whose power is so immense that he is mostly inept at wielding it, returns to Watford School of Magicks for his final year of education in the magical arts. He has a talented, stalwart friend, a fascinatingly ambiguous foe, and a complicated, emotionally unavailable mentor. There is a great battle between good and evil. But there are also mobile phones, contemporary slang and pop-culture references, and gay romance. Rowell's creation is less preoccupied with the trappings of wizard life than it is focused on the relationships of the characters. The narrative perspective, shifting among Simon and his supporters and opponents, gives voice to their deeper motivations and angst; the dialogue, both internal and external, is contemporary and occasionally profane, with an authentic level of teenage snark.The novel playfully twists genre conventions--there are plenty of wink-wink, nudge-nudge moments to satisfy faithful fantasy readers--but it also stands alone as a modern bildungsroman. Carry on, Simon Snow. (author's note) (Fantasy. 14 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from November 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-Readers of Rowell's Fangirl (St. Martin's Griffin, 2013) have already had a glimpse at the world of Simon Snow, but now Rowell turns the full force of her imagination on the Watford School of Magic and those connected to it. Magic is disappearing all over England, leaving pockets of dead air that disable any magician in the vicinity. Somehow, everyone knows that the Insidious Humdrum is responsible, but who-or what?-is the Humdrum, and why does he look exactly like 11-year-old Simon? That's not the only mystery at hand, however. Simon's roommate and nemesis, the vampire Baz, disappears for weeks, and while he's gone, the Veil opens and Baz's late mother shows up at their room with a message for her son: her killer, Nicodemus, is still out there. When Baz returns, he's barely more than skin and bones. What has he been doing? And why can't Simon stop thinking about him? Simon and Baz reluctantly declare a truce and join forces, along with the intrepid Penelope Bunce, to find the mysterious Nicodemus. With rock-solid worldbuilding, a sweet and believable romance subplot, and satisfying ending, Rowell's latest is a monumentally enjoyable reading experience. VERDICT Hand this to fans of Rowell, Harry Potter, love stories, and magic.-Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 25, 2016
Rowell’s novel (an offshoot of 2013’s Fangirl), tells the story of Simon Snow,
a Harry Potter–esque “Chosen One” trying to learn to use his magic at a wizarding school, and Baz, Simon’s roommate and sworn enemy, who is secretly in love with Simon. Rowell’s many fangirls and fanboys are sure to swoon over Morton’s masterful and character-perfect narration: his voice for Baz is initially cool, sneering, and jaded, then raw and tortured when Baz finally breaks down, whereas Simon’s voice is higher-pitched and endearingly awkward. The emotionally intense scenes between the two are especially impressive, as Morton switches effortlessly back and forth between these contrasting characters as they bicker and flirt. Ages 13–up. A St. Martin’s Griffin hardcover.

January 1, 2016
In Fangirl (rev. 11/13), protagonist Cath wrote fanfiction for the fictitious Simon Snow fantasy series. Now Rowell has written a novel set in Simon Snow's universe and using many conventions of fanfiction, most notably slash (in this case non-graphic), usually defined as a wish-fulfilling relationship between two characters of the same sex who, in the original work, are not a romantic couple. Simon, the most powerful mage in centuries, uncovers secrets during his final year at Watford School of Magicks that call into question his long-held beliefs about sharp lines between good and evil. He also begins to realize that his obsession with his probably-a-vampire roommate Baz may not be purely antagonistic. The novel is longer than it needs to bejust kiss already, Simon and Bazand the many alternating narrators are a little dense when it comes to solving several related mysteries. But there's plenty to enjoy along the way, including clever names for spells ( These aren't the droids you're looking for makes oddities like dragon parts on a human unnoticeable) and plenty of wit. Reading Fangirl first isn't strictly necessarythe brief author's note covers the basicsand the metatextual concept is somewhere on the spectrum between confusing and fascinating, depending on one's perspective. A working knowledge of the Harry Potter books and other popular fandoms isn't absolutely essential either, but it makes this send-up a lot more fun. shoshana flax

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)