A Million to One
By: Adiba Jaigirdar
About This Book
Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of TIME's Best YA books of all time and winner of the YA Book Prize 2022, gives Titanic an Ocean's 8 makeover in this nail-biting heist set onboard the infamous ship. Four friends have stolen aboard the Titanic. They're after the Rubaiyat - a book inlaid with priceless jewels. Josefa is a charismatic thief, Hinnah a daring acrobat, Violet an outstanding actress and Emilie a talented artist. It is Josefa's plan, but she needs all of their skills. Despite their very different backgrounds, in a world of first-class passengers and suspicious crew members, the girls must work together to pull off the heist of their lives. But careless mistakes, old grudges and new romances threaten to jeopardise everything they've worked towards. And with the Titanic sailing ever further north, the girls' chances of survival are a million to one... A heart-pounding, romantic adventure from the award-winning author of Hani and Ishu's Fake Guide to Dating.
AI Overview
Book Overview: "A Million to One" by Adiba Jaigirdar
Plot Summary: "A Million to One" by Adiba Jaigirdar is a historical heist novel set aboard the RMS Titanic. The story follows four diverse women from different backgrounds who come together to steal the Rubaiyat, a jewel-encrusted book. The main characters include:
- Josefa, the leader and a skilled thief.
- Emilie, an aspiring artist with a talent for forgery.
- Hinnah, a Karachi native who joined the circus after being kicked out of her family, with talents in contortion and tightrope walking.
- Violet, an actress.
These women, seemingly unrelated, are united by their mission to steal the Rubaiyat, which they believe will solve their individual problems. However, their journey is fraught with challenges, including careless mistakes, old grudges, and new romance, all of which threaten to jeopardize their heist and their survival as the ship sinks.
Key Themes:
- Diversity and Representation: The book celebrates diversity by featuring characters from different racial and cultural backgrounds, highlighting the importance of representation in literature.
- Female Empowerment: The novel showcases strong, independent women working together to achieve their goals, emphasizing female solidarity and empowerment.
- Romance and Relationships: The story includes a sapphic romance between Josefa and Emilie, which is portrayed as a tender and slow-burn relationship fitting for the historical period and intended younger audience.
- Historical Context: The book is set in 1912, providing a historical backdrop that adds depth to the narrative.
Critical Reception: The critical reception of "A Million to One" has been mixed. Some reviewers have praised the book for its immersive storytelling and diverse characters, while others have criticized the execution, particularly the rushed recruitment process and the lack of emotional buy-in for the characters' relationships.
Positive Aspects:
- Engaging Storyline: Despite criticisms, the book is described as an easy story to get lost in, making it perfect for fans of heist stories and historical fiction.
- Romantic Elements: The sapphic romance has been praised for its tenderness and fittingness for both the historical period and the intended younger audience.
Negative Aspects:
- Character Dynamics: Some reviewers felt that the group dynamics were not well-developed, particularly in the early stages of the novel, which lessened the emotional impact of their relationships.
- Pacing Issues: The recruitment process was criticized for being too rushed, which detracted from the tension and excitement typically found in heist stories.
Overall, "A Million to One" offers a unique blend of historical fiction, heist elements, and diverse characters, making it an interesting read for those who enjoy these genres. However, it may not fully satisfy readers looking for a meticulously crafted heist narrative with deep character development.