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Chopsticks is a multi-sensory book app for iOS that commands its reader’s undivided attention. The novel is a collaboration between Jessica Anthony, author of the well-received debut novel The Convalescent, and Rodrigo Corral, a book designer who has created covers for Jeffrey Eugenides, Roberto Bolaño and Chuck Palahnuik.

Though Chopsticks is available in print, Penguin has also released it is a universal book app that pushes the boundaries of linear story telling by integrating photos, text, video clips, and numerous interactive elements.

On the surface the plot is about Glory, a young woman who disappears mysteriously while living at the Golden Hands Rest Facility, an institution for musical prodigies. (She was last seen wearing a silk boxer’s robe inscribed with “Sergio the Marvel Martinez” but this item, and her blue silk drawstring pajamas were found on the lawn outside Golden Hands the morning she after she disappeared.) Through its focus on images, clues, and even a few red herrings, Chopsticks draws the reader in to solving the mystery of Glory’s disappearance.

The reader learns of Glory’s ascension in the world of Classical music by reading clippings from the New Yorker and Time Out New York. Just 7 years after her first recital, and not long after she loses her mother in a car accident, Glory plays a Beethoven piano concerto at the Kennedy center.  Glory performs Prokofiev’s “Obsession Diabolique” at Carnegie Hall to a sold out audience that heralds her “the Brecht of the Piano.”

Glory’s life is complicated when Frank, another teen, moves in next door. Will Glory’s budding relationship with Frank derail her widowed father’s plans to turn her into Classical music’s youngest superstar?

Rather than being the primary means to move the story forth, text is just one element used to reveal the plot. Glory’s relationship with Frank plays out largely through photos, IM chats, and mix CDs. Audio playlists featuring artsist like Cat Power, the Shins stream from within the app. Remarkably, all of these different elements are assembled to allow the reader fluid access to the meaning of the story. Though all of the app’s moving parts could have easily created frustration or confusion, the process of piecing the story together is largely pleasurable  for the reader.

The app’s patchwork format is reminiscent of films such as Memento or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Chopsticks‘ remarkable form dwarfs its plot, however, which became more predictable as the story unfolded. I’d love to see a future collaboration between Anthony and Corral that taps into the potential this form has for taking the reader somewhere beyond where the printed word alone can go.  The promise of intellectual adventure created by Chopsticks’ format added a layer of excitement to the process of reading. Perhaps in the future the pair will continue to explore the app’s form outside of the genre of young adult literature.

Download Chopsticks from the App Store for $6.99.

What I liked: Chopsticks is a beautiful read. There is not a single design element that feels overworked or out of place.

What I didn’t like: While they were integral to the plot, the large number of YouTube video clips embedded into the story disrupted the flow of reading Chopsticks. The option to “Shuffle Read” the book just starts readers on a random page. It would be more interesting if it really did shuffle the pages.

To buy or not to buy: Chopsticks is young adult fiction wrapped in a very alluring, intricate package. While the book’s format is certainly sleek and sophisticated enough for adult readers, teens are more likely to embrace the story line, and probably more willing revisit the app to listen to the embedded playlists.