On the barren continent of Elipsom, Callers hold the power, sustaining society with the apparent ability to conjure objects from nothing. Quin's intimidating mother heads the Council of Callers, and although their family has led for generations, Quin is unable to Call. When he is suddenly and mysteriously transported across the planet to another continent called Evantra, he learns that Calling, in fact, steals objects from this land. Callers have been oppressing Evantra in secret, exploiting forced labor in order to maintain Elipsom's prosperity, and Quin must decide between loyalty to his family or to the self he is coming to discover. Thomas' debut middle-grade novel is poignant in its simplicity, with tight, effective prose, a slim page count, and a minimal style of world building that allows readers to concentrate on the thought-provoking questions being raised about oppression, consumerism, and our relationship to our planet, as well as Quin's search for identity outside of his family's legacy. A refreshing, affecting work that shows what thoughtful fantasy can do.

The Octavius family is notable for producing Callers -- people with the ability to summon objects seemingly out of thin air. Quintus Octavius, however, has never been successful at Calling anything. This does not sit well with his mother, Elipsom's Chief Councilor, and she makes sure he passes his Calling exam by enlisting his sister to Call for him. Cheating doesn't help Quin's already low confidence, but it's at this point that he accidentally transports himself across their world to Evantra, where he will grow to understand the truth about Callers, Elipsom's history, and his mother's complicity in depleting Evantra's resources for Elipsom's gain. Set in an evocatively realized fantasy world with, in Elipsom's case, a futuristic feel, this is a moving and complex story about the discomfort and reward of doing what is right. Thomas's debut middle-grade novel is a clever critique of the consumerism that we might take for granted. She tackles serious topics with wit, charm, and a few flying rhinodrites along the way. Sarah Berman

A boy uncovers deceptions-and truths-about his life.Quintus Octavius, son of the powerful Chief Councilor of the continent of Elipsom, is set to take his Caller test, one that will prove that he can conjure objects out of nothing. Being a Caller is an honored role, since the inhabitants of Elipsom need the Callers' skills to manifest everyday necessities. But, unlike everyone else in his family, Quin has never been able to Call anything, and he dreads the upcoming test. Meanwhile, his sleep is disturbed nightly by vivid dreams of curling vines and green growth, images that he sketches in a notebook. A few days before the test, Quin blacks out and wakes to find himself in a strange place with Allie, an unfamiliar girl. As Allie shows Quin around the lush, green landscape-so different from the sterile, metallic environment he is familiar with-she explains that he is on the continent of Evantra, on the opposite side of the world from his home. But even as Quin revels in the natural landscape, he notices black lines running through the green, and when he discovers what is causing them, he is horrified. This fantasy keeps the tone nonpreachy, but its themes of environmental crisis, greed, and exploitation are spot-on. The action will keep readers avidly turning pages, though Quin's character and the themes could have been more developed. Characters seem to default to White.Overall, a fresh, original, and timely story. (Fantasy. 8-12)