
Parents should reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with the burden of high expectations or feels the need to hide parts of their true self to fit in. At its heart, this is a story about the heavy 'armor' young people wear to protect themselves and the courage it takes to let others see what is underneath. Tru is a seventeen year old 'bastion' with indestructible skin who has been raised by a recluse assassin after her parents' murder. Balancing high school and a secret life of stealth training, her world explodes when a routine babysitting job turns into a high stakes flight for survival. This fast paced thriller explores themes of found family, trust, and queer identity within a high stakes action setting. It is highly appropriate for older teens who enjoy urban fantasy and stories about discovering one's own power. While it contains stylized violence, the focus remains on Tru's emotional growth and her dawning realization that being 'indestructible' isn't the same as being safe.
Extended sequences of being hunted and chased while protecting an infant.
Sweet, slow-burn queer romance including a crush and some light tension.
Frequent stylized action involving knives, hand-to-hand combat, and assassin-style training.
Gun violence, knife fighting, and physical combat (stylized action). Graphic descriptions of murder (the protagonist's parents). Persecution and prejudice against a specific group of people (bastions). Child endangerment (the baby is in peril during action sequences).
A 15 to 17 year old who feels like they are constantly performing or hiding their true self to meet societal expectations. It is perfect for the teen who loves high stakes action movies like John Wick but wants a story centered on queer identity and the complexities of being an orphan in a dangerous world.
This book can generally be read cold, but parents may want to preview the opening chapters regarding the violent death of Tru's parents if their teen is sensitive to themes of parental loss. The action is frequent and cinematic, so awareness of the 'assassin' genre tropes is helpful. A parent might see their teenager becoming increasingly secretive, perhaps withdrawing from friends or family because they feel 'different' or 'too much' for others to handle. The child might express a belief that they have to be perfectly strong or 'indestructible' to be worthy of love.
Younger teens will focus on the 'superhero' elements of Tru's powers and the thrill of the chase. Older teens will resonate more deeply with the metaphors for masking, the nuance of the queer romance, and the moral ambiguity of the assassin world.
Unlike many YA thrillers that focus solely on the mission, this book elevates the 'babysitting' trope to explore caretaking as a radical act of defiance. It seamlessly blends high-intensity urban fantasy with a grounded, tender exploration of what it means to be 'unbreakable' on the outside while feeling fragile on the inside.
Seventeen year old Tru is a bastion, a person with indestructible skin and bones, a trait that makes her a target for fear and prejudice. After her parents were murdered when she was young, she was adopted by a recluse assassin who trained her in secret. While juggling high school and a crush on her best friend's sister, Tru takes a babysitting job through a specialized app for the children of lethal hunters. When assassins attack, Tru must protect a one year old while uncovering the truth about her parents' past and deciding if she can finally stop hiding.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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