The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

The Girl from Everywhere

Author: Heidi Heilig

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Team: Blake!

Heidi Heilig’s debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Hawaii to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.

Nix’s life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.

In The Girl from Everywhere, Heidi Heilig blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility with witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, and enchanting romance. 

The Girl from Everywhere is an adventure filled whirlwind. The concept of this story was completely original, extremely fascinating and kept me reading.

The descriptiveness Heilig uses with the maps in this book is incredible. She paints such a clear picture, it was as if I was LOOKING at the maps and not just reading about them. Heidi's writing overflows with similes and metaphors and some of them were so gorgeous I had to re-read them 3 or 4 times. Heidi definitely is a master at creating imagery.

As for the characters, I really enjoyed reading about captain Slate. He was a very layered, complicated, some-what eccentric sailor. I would definitely read a prequel about him. I liked Nix as well but had a little trouble completely connecting with her. She read as a straightforward type of character with a level head. Well, as level headed as any sixteen year old can be. Throw some boys in the mix and of course that levelheadedness turns a touch airy :P

I thought Kashmir was adorable. He was an absolutely amazing friend to Nix. Although they have a slightly flirtatious friendship, it didn't necessarily come across as more than that to me. Nix's interactions with Blake, however, could definitely be seen as the blossoming of a beautiful romance. I liked Blake's character a lot. I do have to say, my favorite character in the whole entire story HAD to be Swag, though. Oh my goodness, he was such a little cutie and I want him! 

I’m intrigued to find out where Nix will head next, I will for sure be picking up the sequel to this one.