Reviews
“Brilliant: a vision of history before the victors wrote it.” — Kirkus (starred review)
“[A]n instantly gripping story of injustice spawned by subjugation.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“[An] unusually honest portrait of the effects of power…[Coats] offers us a potent historical novel.” —Horn Book (starred review)
“[A] harrowing picture of life as two cultures clash.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review)
“The Wicked and the Just is a rich historical novel that challenges readers to think about universal ideas, such as true justice.” —Heidi Uphoff, VOYA
“In the ever increasing famine and hostile environment, both daughter and servant will have to overcome the boundaries of rank and the tensions of race to survive.” –Rachel A., 17, SLJ Newsletter
“This is one of the best young adult titles I have read in a long, long, time.” –Robert McDonald, The Book Stall At Chestnut, Winnetka, IL (Indiebound’s Kids Next Summer 2012 List)
“The Wicked and the Just…doesn’t rely upon any tropes of the young adult genre, and, as a historical novel, stands out from the crowd.” —Bibliopunkk
“Beautiful from beginning to end, the tale grows in seasons, winning the reader with new tenor at each turn–jocose, playful, biting, disquieting, unexpected, tearful…This is one I wish had no last page.” —Telemachus
Lists & Honors
- 2013 YALSA Best Fiction For Young Adults (BFYA) Book
- 2014 TAYSHAS Texas High School Reading List (Top Ten Selection)
- Bank Street College of Education – Best Children’s Books of 2013 (14 and Up)
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) 2013 Choice
- Featured at School Library Journal’s Day of Dialog (Stellar Debuts Panel)
- Indiebound’s Summer 2012 Kids’ Indie Next List
- Junior Library Guild 2012 Spring Selection
- Kirkus New & Notable Books for Teens – April 2012
- Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books of 2012
- Nerdy Book Club Award Nominee – YA Fiction
- Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award (Washington State Book Award for Young Adults)
- School Library Journal Best Books of 2012