Alex London settles scores in this stirring sequel to Proxy. In the first book, orphan Syd served as a proxy to Knox, a rich patron, accepting all the punishments for Knox's crimes since childhood. But after Knox met Syd, he aided him in a revolution and paid the price of his life for the greater good.
Knox's sacrifice has marked 17-year-old Syd as a symbol for hope--he's now Yovel, the people's hero in this post-Jubilee world. However, the pressure to be a pawn for the unsympathetic Reconciliation is crushing for Syd, especially as the people lose faith in him. Syd's bodyguard, Liam, is also feeling the strain after several failings to protect Syd from offenders. Sinister foes populate the novel, such as Finch, an old crush of Syd who's running wild with power. But the main opponent is an epidemic that bleeds out its victims. The Reconciliation claims "a cure is not politically viable," but when Syd and Liam visit Knox's father in prison, they learn that the only way to fight the disease is to undo everything for which Knox died.
London puts his protagonists through the ringer in this exciting conclusion, especially in the final chapters. Liam's enduring devotion and growing affection for Syd create a potential for romance amidst all the battles, without dominating the story. New spins on the classic plot of the rich and omnipotent drained of power, smart insights on debt and dogma, and nonstop action starring everyday heroes will keep the pages turning. --Adam Silvera, children's bookseller