The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Series: The Girl from Everywhere #1
Published by Greenwillow on February 16th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, YA, Fiction
Goodreads

It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...

Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.

I received a copy of this for review. This does not influence my thoughts on the book or my review.

I can’t resist books with ships or time-travel but in The Girl From Everywhere, the two elements are combined in an awesome way. I really enjoyed the novel and can’t wait to read the sequel.

Nix’s father is a Navigator. Through the use of a map, Slate can travel to any place in time or space. Slate has been on a quest to find a map of Honolulu 1868, the year of Nix’s birth. Her mother died in childbirth, and Slate is determined to save the love of his life. But if he does so; what does it mean for Nix? Will she cease to exist and what will happen to her future? When Slate discovers a map that promises hope, Nix has to decide what she wants before time may run out for her.

Nix was a wonderful character to read about. Her thoughts were relatable, despite being in a situation that is full of magic and time travel. At the heart of it, Nix was struggling to decide what’s at stake when it comes to her family. Was it worth helping her father at the cost of herself (maybe)? Does she want to meet her mother, is it worth it? I think readers will be able to relate to the thoughts about family that are present in the novel.

I loved the setting and magic realism present in The Girl From Everywhere. The time travel/space travel is a bit confusing, but I see it more as a magic thing where the main characters can travel through any map- as opposed to just through time/space.

I also loved the the side characters. Bee was just an amazing lady, haunted by the ghost of her dead wife. It was so interesting! And Kashmir, ahhh Kash. So swoony. I totally shipped him and Nix, they were just so cute.

The ending was also incredibly satisfying, as it didn’t end in a huge cliffhanger that demands the second book but it makes you long for it anyway.

Overall, The Girl From Everywhere is a wonderfully written and intriguing novel. I loved the magic realism, the diversity and the compelling swoony characters. I highly recommend it!