THE GREAT DESTROYERS

Underdog Josephine Linden fights for more than glory in this neohistorical thriller.

An alternate historical timeline reimagines the Cold War arms race as a battle to enhance military technology called mechas. These human-shaped mechanical fighting suits were first invented during World War I and are now, in the mid-20th century, widely used in sports settings ranging from schools to professional fights. High schooler Jo is chosen as a last-minute replacement on Team USA for the 1963 Pax Games, an international championship tournament. Winning would mean validation as a girl fighter but also, more importantly, the prize money would help her family’s dire finances. Ultimately, Jo not only fights her opponents in the arena, but she also becomes involved in a geopolitical tug of war as mysterious accidents begin to sideline her competitors. The global stage brings added scrutiny, and Jo deals with misogyny, class differences, and racism. Her heritage—her father is White and her late mother was Chinese American—adds another layer of complexity, as she must figure out how to navigate being in the public eye at a time when anti-communist sentiment is fueling discrimination against Chinese Americans. In this plot-driven story with adrenaline-pumping action scenes, passages detailing the historical context balance the pacing and help flesh out the alternate world. The nuanced treatment of Jo’s identities provides depth and offers a welcome and rarely seen perspective on this time period.

A suspenseful page-turner.