Today's read hit the shelves last October, but I just got my hands on a copy not to long ago. I found the title intriguing...doesn't really give any idea what it's about, does it? Unless I'm missing something. I'm pretty sure it waves from Britain and seems to have done fairly well. According to the blurb, it is a bit like a spy read but not really. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm expecting all sorts of surprises, some tension, maybe a little action, and definitely clever clues.
So, let's see where this one goes.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE IVY
by Alexander Greengaard
Prima Open Digital Press
YA / NA Fiction
191 pages
The Elephant in the Ivy is a whimsical and irreverent spy novel—of sorts—in the beautiful and mysterious New England college underground.
Alison Ashe is a junior at Bauer College. A scholarship kid, a theatre major, strapped for cash and even more strapped for time; she’s easily annoyed and something about her privileged peers really wigs her out. But unlike most of her peers, Alison has an outlet where starting on third base doesn’t do anyone any favors. Ancient and secret, Bauer is home to a spy game of sorts. A game where all that matters is that your wits are sharp and you’re willing to take big risks. And, of course, who you trust.
Written with support from Pima Open Digital Press, an open educational resource initiative at Pima Community College.
Alison Ashe is a junior at Bauer College. A scholarship kid, a theatre major, strapped for cash and even more strapped for time; she’s easily annoyed and something about her privileged peers really wigs her out. But unlike most of her peers, Alison has an outlet where starting on third base doesn’t do anyone any favors. Ancient and secret, Bauer is home to a spy game of sorts. A game where all that matters is that your wits are sharp and you’re willing to take big risks. And, of course, who you trust.
Written with support from Pima Open Digital Press, an open educational resource initiative at Pima Community College.
MY TIDBITS
College life is already difficult on so many levels but add a spy version of Capture the Flag to the possible scholarship mix, and the stress hits an entirely new level.
Alison is a junior at Bauer College and is able to get by financially thanks to scholarships, but everything is tight. Especially time. Plus, she isn't even sure what her end game on the major end should be. To, at least, make life a bit easier on the financial front, she's joined an odd game at the college, which packs tons of secrecy for all involved and might end with a scholarship if she wins. It's a spy game, where secrecy is key and missions can easily end with complete elimination from the game. There are more than a few teams in play, too. Wrap the game, finances, college life, and everything together, and Alison has more than a little to deal with.
I enjoy the unique twist of the spy game, since it definitely raises the stakes and tension...and that without leaving the more serious issues of getting through college, friends, trust, and the like. Alison's problems come across with familiarity even for those, who haven't hit college, since some issues slide into more universal problems such as knowing who to trust and learning to juggle life. There's friendship and heart. While some moments feel slower, the spy game adds a level of suspense without really entering the realm of mystery or danger.
I picked this up as a YA read, which it isn't really, since Alison is already a junior in college. The pacing and characters, however, feel a bit younger...as if they were teens. And while set in a college environment, the themes are still very appropriate for the YA audience. So, I can recommend this to YA readers, who enjoy tales set on college campuses. It's also a quick read thanks to the lower page number and flows very smoothly.
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