The Infinity Particle - Wendy Xu - ★★★★

-
AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR: Wendy Xu
GENRE: Graphic Novel
RATING: 4 stars.

In a Nutshell: An interesting graphic novel about the relationship between an inventor and a lifelike humanoid. Covers interesting themes. Needed more explanation for some plot points. But a good read nonetheless.


Story Synopsis:
Aspiring scientist Clementine Chang has newly moved to Mars for a fresh start, and is keen to begin her new job working with her idol Dr. Marcella Lin, an AI pioneer. Lin’s humanoid AI assistant named Kye is proof of how skilled she is. Clem herself has a little AI companion named SENA, who is somewhat moth-shaped.
Clem and Kye hit it off with a great friendship, which creates trouble with Lin. The trouble are further worsened after Kye starts suffering glitches after his interactions with Clem.
What is behind Kye’s glitches? Will Clem be able to continue with her dream job after risking so much for Kye?


Bookish Yays:
✔ A compelling plot that is quite intricate for a YA graphic novel.

✔ Women characters working in STEM! In a non-superhero graphic novel! High time!

✔ The various AI robots, who range from cute to hunk. SENA and Kye are both wonderful characters, and through them, the plot raises many interesting questions about the rights of AI humanoids. The ethical dilemmas are highlighted well.

✔ Though mainly focussed on AI, the technological aspects of the plot don’t overwhelm.

✔ The use of Mars as a setting. The story could have made better use of this, but even as is, it was fun to see how humans have colonised Mars in this alternate reality.

✔ A comprehensive library, with library owls! If there’s one thing from the story I wish came true in real life, it would be the library owls.

✔ The illustrations. For some reason, the sketches use mostly the blue and white colour palette, with a few exceptions in skin tone for some panels. The lack of garish colours serves to highlight certain important sequences in the plot.

✔ First time that I have seen a hijabi character getting a place of prominence in a graphic novel plot without any reference to her race or religion. That’s how inclusivity is best portrayed – by making it seem routine.



Bookish Nays:
⚠ The writing jumps over a lot of important events, especially in the backstories. This makes the current dilemma of all the three main characters seem vague and hurried, and also leads to an equally hasty resolution. This was a major problem.

⚠ Clem and Kye develop a healthy, organic relationship based on understanding than on insta attraction, which would have been really weird in this case. But they reach the “I love you” stage too soon. More confusingly, there are no questions or insecurities about the future of such a relationship. It seems to proceed and to be accepted too smoothly.


All in all, this was an entertaining graphic novel with lots of light moments as well as food for thought. If there had been a better explanation of the backstories of the three main characters, the book would have worked even better for me. Still, a good one for graphic novel enthusiasts. The writing is aimed at the older-YA and NA age group.

My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Infinity Particle”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Takeout Sushi - Christopher Green - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Christopher Green GENRE: Contemporary Short Story Collection, Japanese Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE:  May 2, 2024 RATING: 3.9  stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended! This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan witho
Read More»

Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne - ★★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: Catherine Cawthorne ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Ogilvie GENRE: Children's Nonfiction PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2024 RATING: 5 sparkly, scientifically accurate stars. In a Nutshell: This book and I were a match made in book heaven! Loved the approach that combines humour and logic to debunk the sillier elements of some fairy tales. Strongly recommended! I enjoy fairy tales. I love scientific thinking. I adore logic. I relish humour. Seeing all four of these together in a single work was almost a “bookgasmic” moment for me! 😆 Had the book not delivered on any of these factors, I might still have been happy reading it. But the content not only reaches but also surpasses the promise made by the title and cover. All of us know that there are several logically impossible elements in fairy tales. In childhood, we might have oohed and awwwed at the stories without overthinking the practicalities. In adulthood, we might have cringed at the gender bias, wealth bias, and the lack of conse
Read More»

The Great Divide - Cristina Henríquez - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Cristina Henríquez GENRE: Historical Literary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussed on Panama during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal. Note that this isn’t a book directly about the canal or its construction, but about the people connected to the canal in some way or the other during that period. A great book if you go in with the right expectations and enjoy character-oriented fiction. Plot Preview: 1907, Panama. Francisco, a Panamanian fisherman, hates the commercialisation of his country under the foreigners, and hence resents his son Omar’s joining the canal construction crew. Omar, however, wants to learn and earn more than his little village can offer him. Sixteen-year-old Ada has heard about Panama having many jobs. She has stowed away to Panama, hoping to get some work and earn enough for her ailing sister’s surgery back in Barbados. Her mother Lucille, a tailor, doesn’t yet know of her ru
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis
Read More»

Red Runs the Witch's Thread - Victoria Williamson - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Victoria Williamson GENRE: Historical Fiction, Horror. RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended! Plot Preview: 1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)  However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of s
Read More»