Relativity

March 28, 2016
Twelve-year-old Ethan is extraordinary: he’s always been bright and curious, idolizing Stephen Hawking and easily able to rattle off facts about the stars and planets. No one recognized the extent of his unusual genius, however, until the wake of an unexpected seizure, when he reveals to his neurologist the uncanny ability to accurately visualize various phenomena of physics, including redshift and black holes. This discovery coincides with the return to Sydney of Ethan’s dad, who’s been absent from the family since a tragic incident in Ethan’s infancy that nearly killed Ethan and resulted in the end of his parents’ marriage. That same incident, however, may have resulted in Ethan’s exceptional talents, leading Ethan’s parents to wonder whether this silver lining might hint at other opportunities for redemption and reconciliation. At times, layers of imagery are piled on a little too thickly. But the author’s willingness to engage with ethical and interpersonal complexities and her resistance to too-easy resolutions overcome occasional weaknesses in the prose. With its thoughtful consideration of family dynamics and its strong thematic currents, Hayes’s excellent debut will appeal to fans of JoJo Moyes.

March 1, 2016
An Australian family struggles to mend its rifts in time and space. There is no doubt that Ethan Forsythe is a unique and brilliant 12-year-old boy. Though he's not on the autism spectrum, he seems to possess the qualities of a savant: he appears to see the physics of our world, from sound waves to velocity. While one might think that unlocking the secrets of the universe would be cause for celebration, for Ethan, these abilities appear to stem from a brief, violent act that occurred when he was an infant. In an instant, both Ethan's brain and his family were irreparably altered. Over the years, his mother, Claire, has sacrificed both her career as a ballet dancer and her marriage to protect young Ethan from the truth. All the way across Australia, Ethan's father, Mark, has attempted to erase the tragic events from his mind. But when Mark learns that his father is about to die, he ventures back to Sydney and back into Ethan's and Claire's lives. Together, they cautiously dip their toes into family life as they try to make sense of the past and speak honestly of the one tumultuous moment that ripped them apart. Though troubled, Mark is a multifaceted and complex character seeking redemption. Though hurt, Ethan and Claire approach him with a gradual softness. While Hayes is often quite successful at weaving the language of science through her prose, occasionally the references appear stiff and forced. The narrative is strongest when the characters interact earnestly with one another, as a broken family trying to forge new bonds, instead of when the moments between them are analyzed and dissected. This is a family that the reader can root for. A charming and fresh debut placing a family's secrets in the great expanse of the universe.

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May 15, 2016

Twelve-year-old Ethan Forsythe sees wavelengths, electricity, and prisms wherever he goes. His mother, Claire, has always known that he was special. When Ethan ends up in the hospital after brawling with his former best friend, the world she has carefully crafted for her son shatters as doctors discover the magnitude of his intelligence. Ethan's long-lost father Mark returns to town and soon Claire and Ethan must grapple with the tragic event that shadowed Ethan's infancy and resulted in his purported genius. As the truth is unraveled one piece at a time, Ethan's love and forgiveness knows no bounds. But will it be enough to reunite his family? This title paints a realistic picture of a single mistake derailing a lifetime. VERDICT Debut novelist Hayes just might become a staple on the popular fiction scene. With a heart-wrenching plot and a style reminiscent of Jodi Picoult, this is an excellent read with deep characterization and powerful imagery. Not recommended for those disturbed by destructive themes.--Chelsie Harris, San Diego Cty. Lib.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2016
Fascinated with physics and astronomy, 12-year-old Ethan is preternaturally intelligent, a genius, really, withit is believedthe ability to see physics; i.e., he can actually see such things as sound waves and electromagnetic fields. His doctor hypothesizes that his remarkable abilities are the result of damage to his brain stemming from shaken baby syndrome perpetrated by his father, Mark. Though claiming innocence, the man was sent to prison for four years and has been completely absent from his son's life since, but circumstances have conspired to bring the two together. What will happen now that son and father are in each other's orbit? Will emotional magnetism keep them together, or will they be split apart once again? Things come to a head when the boy attempts to build a time machine with near-disastrous results. With an ingenious premise, this cleverly plotted, well-executed novel, set in Australia, dramatically examines a family in extremis and contemplates how the past can poison the present with devastating effect until the antidote, love, appears.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

May 12, 2015
Antonia Hayes’ debut novel Relativity is magnetising. Its highly original plot artfully reveals the mysteries behind a family rupture, at the heart of which is adorable 12-year-old protagonist Ethan, a misfit with a genius-like knowledge of physics.

His fiercely protective single mother Claire and his estranged, mysterious father Mark remain haunted by the past: something happened when Ethan was a baby that changed all their lives. Love and hurt are intertwined and Ethan suffers as a result. Paradoxes, forgiveness, guilt and gravity play their parts as each character begins a journey of recovery.

Flawed, real and complex, the characters are one of the book’s strengths. Balanced perspectives make it easy to empathise with them, particularly Ethan.

The author’s talent is displayed through enticing imagery and the timing of the plot’s pacing and revelations. The background discourses of physics and astronomy, while a touch difficult to follow in places, was overall fascinating. Foremost, however, is the sense of familial love that pulsates through the book.

Superbly written and vividly imagined, this Sydney-set novel should have broad appeal to literary and general fiction readers, and fans of science and family drama. It deserves to create quite a buzz.