"And he moved aside to show her the 'driftwood' that had been partially covered by his greens. 'Toxicity!' she swore. 'It's a body.'"
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Jula's Loom
by Kathy Knowlton Trafford Publishing
book review by Maria A. Hughes
Jula returns victorious from the First Intergalactic Interspecies Games, and while her triumph at the games unite the factions on her home world, it is short-lived. A new political regime called The Integrity Party is trying to promote stricter enforcement with the Grounders. Amid the political turmoil, Jula and her friends stumbles upon a murder, which further destabilizes the settlement and threatens the peace that Jula has known. Can she live with knowing, however, the destruction that humans are capable of?
Knowlton's novel weaves a coming-of-age story set in a sci-fi setting. Despite it revolving around a human settlement on a distant planet, readers will be able to easily identify with Jula as she struggles with universal emotions and quandaries: to understand what love is, how to deal with betrayal from a close friend, and what exactly it means to be human in a world full of uncertainties.
Knowlton's idea is unique and powerful, redefining what it means to be human: Jula believes that man can overcome his natural impulse for prejudice and greed. The story is well-conceived, the dialogue between the characters is thought-provoking, and the writing is rich with description, perhaps lacking the tension that is insinuated with a mystery. This does not detract from the story, however. This novel will appeal to those who are also fans of Orson Scott Card.