Lexi

“What if you were born, at say, seven, ten or eleven years old, fully formed? That's what happened to me,” says the eponymous narrator at the start of this odd novel. Lexi explains that she has woken up in the forest with no memory of the past and hopes to uncover her true identity. As Matthews did in Fish , she conceives of a beguiling premise and captures a child's perceptions of a harsh world. However, the meshing of different genres—fantasy, allegory and stark realism—proves confusing. Lexi finds friendship and security at a shelter run by compassionate women, but doesn't know what to make of the tales residents tell about the dangers lurking outside the walls. Their stories of magical embattled forces, the Scarlet Prince (“the top bad guy of all time”) and guardian “warrior angels” read like distractions unrelated to Lexi's dilemma. Although conflicts (and social ills) are neatly resolved in the end, readers, like Lexi, are left to wonder how far they should suspend their disbelief. Ages 10–up. (Nov.)