“[An] edgy, delightful romp” - Kirkus Reviews
Meet Hedy Hinterschott, a 17-year-old assassin-in-training, who has been groomed for the family business since birth. Despite growing up in a loving and supportive nuclear family, Hedy has always felt like a misfit, struggling to fit into the family's dynamics and their covert and highly unorthodox profession. As the next generation of accomplished and stealthy assassins, Hedy and her twin brother Gerhardt are expected to carry on the family legacy.
However, Hedy's secretive family history, tumultuous teenage years, and predetermined future not only in the family business but also in the family itself, have left her questioning her place in the world. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Hedy is the first female Hinterschott to be born in the family's long line of assassins, prompting her to question why all other women in her family tree have only been added through marriage.
As the story unfolds, a mysterious prospective boyfriend, a plot to uncover Hitler's billions, and the unraveling of family secrets lead Hedy on a journey of self-discovery, where she finds that assassinations may be easier than navigating the complexities of romance and family. With its unique blend of dark comedy, drama, and romance, Assassins Are Us offers a thrilling and thought-provoking coming-of-age story that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
But as Hedy learns more about her secretive family history, she must navigate the dangerous complexities of her legacy as well as being a normal teenager with feelings, especially when she gets caught up in a plot to uncover Hitler’s lost fortune. Hedy is smart, determined, focused, and prepared to take over the family business. When challenges come her way, she shines. As would probably be the case for any teen assassin holding such life-and-death secrets, she’s also stand-offish and a bit of a know-it-all, especially toward her brother Gerhardt.
Van Sickle emphasizes themes of growth and belonging while challenging Hedy’s self-assurance and digging deep into her unique perspective on the world. Reading Hedy’s thoughts as she assesses strangers and their threat level is fascinating, and as the action picks up in the novel’s second half, Van Sickle’s storytelling is crisp, assured, and surprisingly emotional as Hedy faces jolting revelations and her fears of letting everyone down. Readers on Hedy’s wavelength will want more.
Takeaway: Polished YA thriller about the teen daughter in a storied family of assassins.
Comparable Titles: Jennifer Brady’s Runaway Thief, Charleigh Frederick’s Rule 25: Don’t Fall for the Target.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
