Bracken, A: Passenger 1 Book 1

Alexandra Bracken's "Passenger" is the first book in her duology about a young unsuspecting time traveller and her adventures all over the world...and time. All Etta ever wanted to become was a professional violinist, but her plan has to be put on hold when she's pushed into the year 1776 and finds herself on a pirate ship. Nicholas wants nothing more than to be free, but his skin color and ties to a very ruthless family complicate things. To achieve the things they both want most, Etta and Nicholas have to work together and things start to get complicated... Ever since it first came out I have wanted to read "Passenger", but now that I've finally gotten around to do so, I am torn. On one hand I really like the storyline and its two main characters, but on the other hand everything that happens is just a little too convenient and at times somewhat confusing to read. Something I really appreciate, though, is the fact that Alexandra Bracken chose to make one of her protagonists an African American. Manners you are used to from growing up during a certain time and age, you can overcome, but the color of your skin and the way people perceive you because of it through history you just can't influence. And that's something that really comes across amazingly in this book. Even though I expected something a little bit different and certainly have my issues with "Passenger" I still enjoyed reading it. I recommend this series to fans of the "Ruby Red" trilogy and the "Mortal Instruments" series.