A sprightly, impressively plotted mystery steeped in mythological twists.
In this charming teen adventure, a 16-year-old holds center stage for the unfolding of an ancient mystery.
Addie Flamma is a blessed teenager—though a glimpse at her life might suggest otherwise. A foster child, she lives on Mrs. Mae’s farm with her brothers, Nathan, Liam and Samuel, who, despite their tragic backgrounds, are each uniquely wonderful. Among them, only Addie has no idea how she came to be orphaned. She also suffers from a strange slew of illnesses—psoriasis, asthma, fibromyalgia, epilepsy—for which she must take dozens of pills. Nevertheless, she faces life triumphantly. A love for musicals, Latin and charitable deeds keeps her afloat, and determination to become a successful adult fills her life with school and volunteer work. One fateful day, when she forgets to prepare for a high school chemistry presentation, she has a seizure in class. She wakes under the care of Dr. Asa Olympics, who prescribes a single miraculous extract from the African “ashes of life” plant. Later, volunteering at the homeless shelter, Addie encounters a strapping youth whose eyes burn red at her touch. Could this boy—and her new medicine—be related to her recurring dream of being caressed by flame? Debut author Guy answers this question (and several that flow from it) with transporting detail and energy. When Addie is chosen to attend the exclusive Greek Academy, the narrative leaps from pedestrian to glamorous. Colorful motifs abound, and Guy relishes in description: “My door was painted a brilliant red like that of a rose….The doorknob was a crystal pink flower.” Samuel intriguingly warns Addie that it’s all too good to be true, especially after she lands a juicy role in her favorite musical. Her positivity, meanwhile, can sometimes go from infectious to inane, though as Addie says, “I’ll go crazy [in foster care] if I don’t look on the bright side.” More distracting is the narrative’s wordiness, since Guy rarely serves dialogue free of Addie’s rambunctious thoughts. In the end, though, a daring cliffhanger will leave readers dazzled.
A sprightly, impressively plotted mystery steeped in mythological twists.Pub Date: Feb. 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-1458208361
Page Count: 388
Publisher: AbbottPress
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An enjoyable picture book that addresses important issues in a kid-friendly way without being preachy.
Willenbrock’s heartwarming debut picture book is the autobiographical story of how she came to share her home with a special shelter dog.
Told from the perspective of Marshall, Willenbrock’s dog, this tale tells of his unpleasant life in the home of a dog hoarder, where food for the dogs was so scarce that they fought each other at mealtime. In one of these fights, Marshall’s front leg was broken and his face was badly bitten. When animal rescuers finally found out about the animal hoarder and took the dogs away, Marshall was in such sorry shape that they didn’t know if he would make it. He ended up losing his damaged front leg and his face remained badly scarred, yet he describes the compassion of the humane society workers who helped him learn how to walk and run on three legs. He meets his new “mom” (owner) and adjusts to a life of freedom with her and her other dog, Mooshy. Though life is good, Marshall is insecure and nervous about how other dogs and people will react to the fact that he has only three legs and a big scar on his face, but he’s pleasantly surprised by the kindness of others. Heimbaugh’s realistic colored-pencil illustrations help bring Marshall’s story to life. Due to wordiness and the use of some bigger words—celebrity, socialize, limitations—this book will most likely work better as a read-aloud with school-age children. It also lends itself to discussions about the humane treatment of animals and discussions about bullying.
An enjoyable picture book that addresses important issues in a kid-friendly way without being preachy.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0615666259
Page Count: 40
Publisher: The Marshall Movement
Review Posted Online: Oct. 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unanswered questions and heavy-handed writing drain intrigue from this not-so-spooky story.
Three friends unravel old secrets lurking beneath the surface of a picture-perfect town in this young adult mystery.
Fallon and her best friend, Blair, live in the town of Whitford, a “sort of old fashioned” place where “everyone knows everyone else.” Nothing ever goes wrong there, except for local 16-year-old girls’ penchant for drowning in Whitford Pond on their 16th birthdays. That is, nothing ever goes wrong until Blair, Fallon and their new friend Lila start investigating the drownings as part of a history project. Soon after the girls paddle out to the spooky island at the middle of the pond where its victims are buried, Fallon discovers that she’s related to the pond’s first victim: Elizabeth Mason, who was engaged to the prosperous son of the town jeweler before her supposed suicide in 1750. By poking around the town historical society and badgering Fallon’s lively grandmother, Nana, the girls realize that something sinister lurks beneath Whitford’s bucolic surface. It’s only when the trio heads to the fourth floor of Whitford’s public library in search of A Genealogy of the Noble Families of Whitford: A History that they realize their quest is putting them in danger. Blair and Fallon’s friendship feels comfortable and credible, although the addition of “exotic” Lila seems like a strained plot device rather than a real-life event. Indeed, much of the plotting is convenient rather than clever; the girls’ discoveries primarily result from pushing Nana to give them information or snooping around Nana’s house—and the developments that aren’t related to Nana are foreshadowed so heavily that they come as no surprise. Another distraction: Every time that the inhabitants of Whitford scream or emphasize a turn of phrase, Fredo uses capital letters. They’re are unnecessary, for example, when Fallon says, “I JUST HAD THE BEST IDEA EVER!”
Unanswered questions and heavy-handed writing drain intrigue from this not-so-spooky story.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 172
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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