Splinter & Ash

Gr 4-7–Eleven-year-old Princess Adelisa (Ash) has returned to Kestrel City after six years living with relatives, only to find she is an outsider. Not only does she suffer from an illness similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but her 13-year-old brother Lucen treats her contemptuously, as do many nobles. A chance meeting at an evening party brings Ash and Splinter together. Splinter describes herself as neither a boy nor a girl and uses she/her pronouns. Splinter becomes a squire while Ash gains a companion and guard. When conflict with a neighboring kingdom flares, Ash is kidnapped, and Splinter and Lucen are forced into an acrimonious partnership to rescue her. Ash and her brother are simply described as brunettes, while minor characters are described with darker skin tones. Nijkamp’s story builds from an inauspicious beginning into an enjoyable fantasy adventure with plucky characters. While the introductory scenery descriptions are uninspiring, the story picks up after Splinter and Ash meet, and the alternating scenes of Ash’s captivity and Splinter and Lucen’s pursuit are well-paced. Ash’s disability and Splinter’s gender identity are smoothly integrated into the story. Nijkamp has surprises for readers along the way, making the second half of the book the most exciting portion.