The Cost of All Things

Gr 8 Up—The premise of Lehrman's debut is quite intriguing. Unfortunately, the novel does not deliver due to stereotypical characters and a story that turns convoluted very quickly. There are those who practice the art of "hekame" which allows them to cast spells to erase a person's memories, make them beautiful, or even help them hook friends forever. The story is told in the four voices of friends Ari, Kay, Win, and Markos. Win has recently died and Ari, his girlfriend, decides to spend $5,000 on a spell to erase all of her memories of Win. As she soon discovers, for every action there is a reaction. Though she dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina in New York, Ari begins suffering from physical clumsiness that prevents her from dancing—a direct side effect of the spell to erase her memory. Readers also learn that Markos, Kay, and Win have also purchased spells that affect them and their relationships with their family and friends. The theme that everyone is responsible for their own actions is redolent here.