When Alice Blair is accepted to the world-renowned St. Robert’s high school, she figures it must be a mistake since there’s nothing special about her. But on her fifteenth birthday, the headmaster gives her a necklace, and she begins to dream of weird worlds. Alice learns that as she sleeps, her consciousness explores the dark matter universe of Thronos, the universal spirit. As he reveals the science of dark matter, the human soul, and other mysteries, he gives her a monumental task: bring beauty to your world.
During her visits, Alice meets Reina, an alien child from an underwater planet who has the same task. Together they learn that beauty can be many things, like a mother’s love for a child, compassion for others, art — almost anything that gives you that good feeling in your soul. While they struggle to accomplish Thronos’ arduous task, Alice’s mission and her life are thrown into jeopardy when others discover her connection to the dark universe. But what she doesn’t know is that she is playing the key role in St. Robert’s prophecy. If she fails, humanity will perish in flames and ashes.
This fast-paced story combines modern life with science speculation, a cosmic god, purpose of life and everyday friendships. It’s for the curious reader who always asks why.
High Schooler Alice has been accepted to St. Robert High School. It's prestigious. All students who attend are gifted in some way. Alice never considered herself gifted, and she doesn't feel as if she fits in with the other students. She receives a strange necklace from the Headmaster and immediately begins to dream of other worlds, make friends from other worlds.
She also meets Thronos who seems to be God or at least a highly evolved spirit, He states that she is a teacher as are other chosen ones and that her duty is to discover and bring beauty to the world.
Scientists are watching here waking movements and believe the secret of the Dark Universe is in the Necklace. From this conflict the story unfolds. In a way, Alice's unspoiled innocence is what is called for in all of us. It might be something we elders have difficulty understanding - beauty and innocence. Thronos has warned her however that without a turning to beauty, humanity will be destroyed.
In Alice, I saw a lot of my own 15 year old self, learning about life and wishing to explain my feelings to hardened adults who had forgotten their own call to beauty.
It's a great book, particularly for young adults, that shows them just how important positive things, feelings and thoughts are!
