Julian

by William Bell

An unusual mystery, a heartrending love story, this is an exciting plot-driven new book from leading Canadian YA author William Bell.      Fifteen-year-old Aidan has had more foster parents than he cares to remember. Careful to always keep his distance from those around him, and aided by a deep well of self-reliance and tenacity, he longs for the day that he's old enough to strike out on his own.     That day comes sooner than he could ever have imagined. On a miserable March afternoon, Aidan's life is changed so radically as to become unrecognizable. Through a near-tragic event in which he saves the life of a young boy, Aidan earns the gratitude and unqualified support of the child's grandfather, Mr. Bai, a man of wealth, great resources and shadowy influence. When asked how this man can help repay him, Aidan replies, "Can you make me disappear?"     With a new identity, an apartment, a job and finally a sense that he's crafting his own destiny, Aidan--now Julian Paladin--finds himself at the centre of forces he can't begin to understand. Who exactly is Mr Bai and who are the mysterious women that come and go without a trace in the apartment below? How did Julian find himself taking on a job surveilling a university student and her possibly abusive boyfriend? And, the most potent mystery of how can he ever be without the bewitching and beautiful Ninon, who reveals a dimension of life Julian had never thought possible.      Julian is part detective story, part romance, and part quest for a life of independence and meaning.

Genres: Young Adult, Canada

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

William Bell is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for young adults.

Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1945, he has been a high school English teacher and department head, and an instructor at the Harbin University of Science and Technology, the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, and the University of British Columbia.

Reviews

[Maggie61 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who wouldn't like at times the chance to just disappear? Aiden is a foster kid and has been in home after home through the years. When he rescues a boy from an apparent kidnapping, he is told that anything he wants will be his. As his foster family is moving out west, Aiden uses this opportunity to disappear from a life of foster homes, school and endless sports demands
If he thought his new life would be easier though, he was sadly mistaken. He is pulled into a life of intrigue and mystery with some not too great results.
I don't think he really got the good end of the deal. While he did meet some great people including the mysterious Ninon who only lets him into her life little by little. But what kind of future is he going to have? His id says he's 18 but he never finished high school, never got his license. He works part time in a convenience store in Toronto , does odd jobs as the landlord at a building owned by his benefactor and does some detective type work on the side which can be dangerous at times? Some of the happenings seemed a little out there, like a modern day hardy boy book where numerous dangerous and implausible things happen to a young kid.
It was a quick read, interesting enough, but to me, not memorable.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad ending.

[Artie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good YA read, but details a bit vague at times, and some parts implausible.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aidan wants to run away from his life as a foster child. Rescuing a young boy from an attempted kidnapping put him touch with the people who could help him do just that. So he becomes Julian, and is set up with a job, and a place to live. His independence is heightened by his meeting of Ninon. As he falls in love with this mysterious girl his view of the world changes.

I picked this book up as I wanted to read a mystery as well as one of the newer books I had. This, I thought, fit both criteria. While there are some aspects of a mystery within this novel, it is mostly about Julian's search for his own identity, and leaving behind his loneliness as he learns to trust people and ask for their help.

I finished this book because I liked the characters. It also doesn't hurt that I have yet to read a book by the author that I did not like.

I would recommend this to Tyler. I think he would like the tone of the writing, and it's always neat to read a book set in your own city.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. Julian's character seems really natural and believable, even though the situation seems kind of far-fetched. The love interest is pretty charming and unravels delightfully, although it seems like there are pretty clear echoes of stories like 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'If I stay'. I did like all the familiar Toronto references; that made it more real. The story has enough action in it to keep it interesting for the teen reader, and lots of themes like 'healing through art' and 'being the paintbrush instead of the canvas' and how assumptions are often very wrong, and other profound thoughts that make it good for discussion. Definitely recommend for Book Club next year!

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good book but it lacked a lot of important details. It would have made the book a lot better and I think the part with Curtis and the spying was so pointless. The author could have cut the book by 50 pages or so.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ugly-cried during the last page before the Epilogue. PUNCHED ME RIGHT IN THE FEELS. I hadn't read any William Bell since high school but I won't make that mistake again.

[wvreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great mix of mystery, intrigue, self-discovery and romance.

[Ganeshya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's similar to Fault in Our Stars

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful original story with a thoughtful resilient teenager. Good mix of mystery and romance.

[Sheri Radford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt oddly distanced from the characters in this book, and the plot felt uneven and disjointed.