"Heidi Heilig's debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City, to nineteenth-century Hawaii, to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father's ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility. Its witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, multicultural cast, and enchanting romance will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman. Nix's life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix's father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he's uncovered the one map he's always sought--1868 Honolulu, before Nix's mother died in childbirth. Nix's life--her entire existence--is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix's future, her dreams, her adventures. her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who's been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own"--
The Girl From Everywhere was so much fun! Nix, her father, and their crew sail all over the world. And all over time. Her father is desperate to find the map that will take him to Hawaii in 1968 so he can save Nix's mother from dying. Nix should be on board for this, but since her mother died after her birth, what does that mean for her future? Will she cease to exist, will there be two of her? All Nix knows is that she's sick of her father using her for her knowledge of maps. She wants to travel on her own, but how can she abandon her father?
I loved how time travel worked in The Girl From Everywhere. It's simple, which is great, and it makes sense. Nix and her father are Navigators, which I assume is genetic. All they need is a map, a ship, and belief. Then they can go anywhere, real or imagined. Of course, there are rules and limitations. The exact place where the end up is dependent on the actual map and the beliefs of the artist. There's another rule, but I think it might be a spoiler, since it's revealed a little ways into the book. But I never felt confused and I never spotted any glaring holes which is good.
The Girl From Everywhere is quite long, so I assumed they would find the correct map and head out to find Nix's mother before the end. Well, that's not quite what happened. There's a lot of adventure happening! Nix and her father get pulled into some political intrigue. There's a bit of romance. There's plenty of strained father-daughter relationship. And magic! And dragons! This actually could work very well as a standalone given that ending. Everything is wrapped up quite nicely without feeling rushed or forced. But given that there is a sequel, I definitely wasn't upset to get more!
I really enjoyed The Girl From Everywhere. Time travel is one of my favorite tropes, but it has to be done right and it was! It was also a very interesting twist to use maps and ships rather than higher technology or simply magic.
