Force of Nature

Sixteen-year-old Chloe Lovejoy’s junior year becomes complicated when she inherits the title—and powers—of Mother Nature in Clark’s charming contemporary fantasy. After Chloe’s grandmother reveals that the role of Mother Nature has been passed down through generations of Lovejoy women, Chloe is immediately thrust into training. As she learns to control the globe’s weather and other natural phenomena, Chloe’s grandmother dies suddenly, leaving her without an experienced Mother Nature to help her hone abilities capable of triggering tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Balancing these overwhelming powers alongside a strained relationship with her distant, alcohol-dependent mother, who forsook her own Mother Nature duties; a budding romance with a choir classmate; and her own self-deprecating belief that she’s a “lackluster” teen, Chloe struggles to meet the expectations of her new role. Predictable plotting and spare writing make both emotional moments and the overarching magic system feel underdeveloped, resulting in an intriguing yet brief story that offers limited exploration of inherited responsibility and adolescent growth. Chloe is described as having pale skin. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jane Hamilton, Jane Hamilton Literary. (May)