Prodigy

by Julia K. Poulet

In a post climate catastrophe world, people in the big cities pay for luxuries with their Productivity Points. If you fall through the cracks and become one of the Pointless, you end up in a parallel society that follows its own cruel rules. When thief Robyn steals the priceless violin of prodigy Akira Sato, she sets a series of events in motion which will change both girls' lives fundamentally.

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2020

About the author

I wrote my first story when I was eight and I never stopped afterwards. After obtaining a degree in science, I earn my money in a lab. In my free time, I play several instruments, sing, dance, rock-climb and do aerial.
I was born in Germany and also currently live there, but since I lived in Scotland to obtain my Master's degree, part of my heart still resides between Arthur's Seat and Portobello Beach.

Reviews

[E.B. Roshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it took a chapter or two for me to really get "into" the story, once I had a feel for Prodigy's style and pacing, I enjoyed it all the way up to the satisfying and joyful conclusion. Poulet writes with vivid simplicity, and has done an excellent job of creating a post-apocalyptic world that is both grim and very believable.
The story is told primarily from the point of view of two teen-aged girls—Robyn, an orphaned thief, and Akira, a musical prodigy. There are brief periods in a couple of other points of view, but I am not sure they added much to the story. Though in some ways Robyn's story may have had more potential for depth and tension, I actually found I enjoyed Akira's more, as she discovered that what she had become was not who she wanted to be. Poulet wrote her character with a depth and intensity that Robyn lacked, despite Robyn's having the more active storyline. But this is only my opinion, of course. Book reviews, like taste in music and most other things in life, are very subjective.
All in all, Prodigy is a fine story about growing up, music, and the precious gift of creativity.

I received a free copy of Prodigy via Booksprout for review purposes.