"A THOUSAND FACES," by Janci Patterson, CreateSpace, $13.99, 292 pages (f) (ages 14 and up)
In the novel “A Thousand Faces” by Janci Patterson, 16-year-old Jory is used to change. Her body and face change so often that she hardly knows what her true form is. Being a shape-shifter is normal for her family.
However, the only real normal thing about Jory's family is that she has two loving parents. Jory’s family members use their shape-shifting skills as spies for hire. They work with another shape-shifting family — Mel and Aida Johnson and their 16-year-old son, Kaliff — to ensure safety while on the job. Jory and Kaliff are in training to continue the family business.
When Jory's parents disappear one night while on a job, her world is turned upside down. All of those years learning the art of deception and perfecting the ability to transform herself into someone else are put to the test, and Jory joins forces with the other shape-shifter family to find her parents. She doesn’t know who took her parents or even what they look like; she fears they have been captured by the government and are undergoing testing or worse.
Kaliff and Jory decide not to wait for his parents to find her parents. Instead, Kaliff helps Jory find answers, and in the process, Jory undergoes changes in more than just appearance. Throughout the ordeal, sparks fly between Kaliff and Jory as they put themselves in danger to find and, hopefully, rescue her parents.
"A Thousand Faces" is a science-fiction adventure novel that delivers mystery, romance and a little of the supernatural.
There are some generally described scenes of violence and murder, as well as a couple of intimate situations between Jory and Kaliff. The book does not have any foul language.
Patterson, a Utah author, has written other novels, but this is her first science-fiction novel. It is a finalist in the speculative young adult category of the 2015 Whitney Awards, which honor the work of authors who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jennifer Autry has called many states home and is an American military wife with two daughters. She is an aspiring author. Her email is celiacaleb11@hotmail.com, and she blogs at imperfectlymormon.blogspot.com.