Icarus

Gr 10 Up–Ancrum offers a compelling narrative that will undoubtedly resonate with many YA readers. In this gripping tale, readers are introduced to Icarus, a seemingly ordinary high school student harboring a complex double life. By day, he maintains a facade of casual indifference, but by night, he assumes the role of a skilled cat burglar, aiding his father, Angus, in an illegal art forgery operation. Icarus breaks into the wealthy Stuart Black’s home and photographs the expensive art collection for his father to make replicas for his son to later replace so he can sell the art on the black market. On a chance break-in one night, Icarus discovers a captive named Helios, Stuart Black’s child. This sets the stage for a captivating story of intrigue. Helios and Icarus forge a friendship, and later a romance, that blossoms with Stuart’s frequent absences from home. The romance and love becomes complicated with layers of backstory between Angus and Stuart, as well as Helios’s past. Ancrum crafts a story that captivates on many levels. The sparse yet fastpaced chapters keep the narrative engaging and relatable, ensuring that readers will find themselves eagerly turning pages to uncover the next twist in the plot. Ancrum weaves themes of socio-economic class, love, gender, and revenge, making this a compelling read.