Sheehan, Tamara. The Tenth Man. December 2008. 188 p.  Prizm, $13.95. (978-1-60370-553-0). Gr. 9-12.

Prizm Books is a subsidiary of Torquere Press, based in Round Rock, Texas, (just north of Austin). Prizm’s motto is “Stories for every young adult under the rainbow.” If you visit their website you’ll find out that their mission is to focus on providing great stories in all genres, from science fiction to historical to contemporary. They also strive to encourage and publish gay young adult books that focus on the story, rather than on the characters being gay.

This Prizm title is a fantasy mystery whose protagaonist, Saul, has been living undercover as the last magician in Verusa. He changed his identity after he and some compatriots were involved in a bombing at the golem factory where Saul’s father died mysteriously many years earlier. Things become even dicier when Saul’s cover is blown and the most powerful man in Verusa, Audel, starts blackmailing him to track down his runaway son to recover a family heirloom. Saul tracks the son, Toven, through the creepy sewers below the city, and gently coaxes him up to the surface. Saul also soon discovers that he’s falling in love with Audel’s son, Toven. Both Toven and Saul join forces with the mysterious “tenth man” who was involved in the bombing of the factory to outwit Audel. Audel plans to kill all of them once he gets what he wants, but the three band together to solve the mystery of what really happened to Saul’s dad at the golem factory and to bring an end to Audel’s evil influence on Verusa. Overall, a good mystery with a plot that moves right along. You’ll be caught up in the chases which thrill right up to the very last page.

Check out Prizm, they have published a number of new YA titles this season that I’m looking forward to reading. – Arla Jones