YA fans will be drawn to the blend of magic and mythology that takes the established teen-witch premise in new directions.
The first of three YA fantasy books from debut novelist Allen introduces the magical coming-of-age story of Katrina Summer.
Katrina is 15 years old when her mother, Grace, unexpectedly dies of a heart attack, leaving Katrina in their North Carolina apartment. Abandoned by her father at birth, Katrina has seemingly nowhere to turn until her estranged paternal grandmother, Rose Summer, offers to step in as guardian. This means leaving behind her life in North Carolina for the quaint seaside town of Apollo Beach, Florida. As Apollo’s newest resident, she catches the eye of Alec, the boy next door. His companionship gives Katrina the glimmering hope of finding happiness again after her mother’s passing. But their budding romance makes her the target of local mean girls’ jealousy, while the town develops an unflagging interest in her every move. Katrina also learns that her grandmother is a wealthy local celebrity who exerts a mysterious influence over the community and local businesses. As part of her guardianship, Katrina’s grandmother takes it upon herself to educate Katrina on the branches of their family tree, a divine bloodline with origins in ancient Greece and legendary ties to the supernatural. The revelations come on the precipice of Katrina’s 16th birthday, which lands on the summer solstice, historically a significant seasonal event. Katrina learns that 16 is a threshold age when she becomes eligible to learn all of the Summer family secrets her mother worked hard to hide. But she’s shaken by a recurring series of dark visions that manifest as reality in Apollo Beach. Katrina finds herself torn between a desire to explore the origins of her newfound powers and the chance to be a normal teen who flirts and falls in love. These magical occurrences fold neatly into the story thanks to Allen’s natural dialogue and an emotionally accessible protagonist who easily shoulders the burden of entertaining the audience. Yet due to some late introductions, a few secondary characters—particularly villains meant to be feared—don’t seem to earn their significance. Likewise, Allen’s decision to favor Katrina’s character-building over plot development contributes to the novel’s somewhat meandering pace. However, unlike in many slow-burning narratives, the lack of denouement is rather satisfying since it manages to intriguingly pique interest in the series’ next chapter.
YA fans will be drawn to the blend of magic and mythology that takes the established teen-witch premise in new directions.Pub Date: June 10, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-5001-6052-4
Page Count: 188
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 22, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A familiar but heartfelt romance for easygoing readers.
In O’Gorman’s YA debut, two best friends try to fool people into thinking that they’re in love—and then discover a new facet of their relationship.
Sally Spitz is a frizzy-haired 17-year-old girl with a charming zeal for three things: Harry Potter (she’s a Gryffindor), Star Wars, and getting into Duke University. During her senior year of high school, she goes on a slew of miserable dates, set up by her mother and her own second-best–friend–turned-matchmaker, Lillian Hooker. Sally refuses to admit to anyone that she’s actually head over Converses in love with her longtime best friend, a boy named Baldwin Eugene Charles Kent, aka “Becks.” After a particularly awkward date, Sally devises a plan to end Lillian’s matchmaking attempts; specifically, she plans to hire someone to act as her fake boyfriend, or “F.B.F.” But before Sally can put her plan into action, a rumor circulates that Sally and Becks are already dating. Becks agrees to act as Sally’s F.B.F. in exchange for a box of Goobers and Sally’s doing his calculus homework for a month. Later, as they hold hands in the hall and “practice” make-out sessions in Becks’ bedroom, their friendship heads into unfamiliar territory. Over the course of this novel, O’Gorman presents an inviting and enjoyable account of lifelong friendship transforming into young love. Though the author’s reliance on familiar tropes may be comforting to a casual reader, it may frustrate those who may be looking for a more substantial and less predictable plot. A number of ancillary characters lack very much complexity, and the story, overall, would have benefited from an added twist or two. Even so, however, this remains a largely engaging and often endearing debut.
A familiar but heartfelt romance for easygoing readers.Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64063-759-7
Page Count: 340
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: Jan. 7, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Well-drawn characters and playful twists keep this thriller fully charged.
This YA SF novel features a teen who must halt a virus that will kill two-thirds of humanity.
In Silver Oak, Maryland, Alice Sherman is a high school junior enjoying lunch near her campus basketball court. With her is Archie, her brother, a senior and science prodigy who likes equations more than his fellow students. Alice has been Archie’s one true friend since their mother left six years ago. Alice is about to catch up with Lalana Bunyasarn, her best friend, when a sudden “streak of electricity zaps through” her head. The agony intensifies until a Voice enters Alice’s mind, asking her, “Do you want this pain to stop?” The Voice then instructs her to go up to Bandit Sakda, a classmate playing basketball, and say that she loves him. Bandit is a beautiful Thai boy who’s talented and arrogant. Strangely, the Voice calls her Malice and says not to fall for him because “it’ll only make what you have to do later harder.” Eventually, Alice learns that the Voice belongs to someone from 10 years in the future who needs help saving humanity. A virus will be created by a person Alice knows that will wipe out two-thirds of the world population. Following the Voice’s directions can save everyone—except the person Alice is ordered to kill. Dunn’s (Star-Crossed, 2018, etc.) latest YA adventure offers increasingly tantalizing twists that gleam in succession like nested matryoshka dolls. Alice will charm readers with her quirks, especially her devotion to Chris Hemsworth of Marvel’s Avengers films. Tension builds as characters in the large cast, including crushworthy Zeke Cain and the brilliant Cristela Ruiz, become potential targets for Alice’s mission. Details about Thai culture add a splendid dimension to the narrative; for example, Bandit is pronounced “bun-dit” and means “one who is wise.” While the notion of a high school killer may not sit well with some, the author doesn’t use the device lightly. Her book takes a strong anti-bullying stance, doing so through an entertaining narrative that doesn’t resort to preaching. The author’s heart and craftiness make a sequel welcome.
Well-drawn characters and playful twists keep this thriller fully charged.Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64063-412-1
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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