In a richly textured psychological ghost story set at the summer solstice and Christmas, New Zealand's two-time Carnegie-winner delivers another fascinating novel that defies summarization. When the Hamilton's large, extended family returns to their seaside house, Carnival's Hide, the younger children ritually report their arrival to Teddy Carnival, ghost of the builder's son, drowned three generations ago. A trio of brothers arrive claiming to be Carnival descendants; accepted at face value by most of the family, they are recognized by middle child and budding novelist Harry (Ariadne) as the ghosts of Teddy's multiple personalities—Ovid (mind, a master of metamorphoses); Hadfield (instinct—al one point he tries to rape Harry): and Felix (the heart, submerged in life but striving toward dominance in the course of the story; he and Harry fall in love). An array of other love relationships, both lifelong and transitory, are transformed during the tricksters' appearance: Harry, especially, moves from a childish romanticism to a more mature understanding, although she has always been the quiet observer who has understood the drama around her better than its participants. Mahy fills her stories with insights illumined by their contexts: "Have I made love with a ghost'?" . . ."It's what writers do, isn't it?" Her names are suggestive; her characters are as original and individual as any in print—bitchy eldest child Christobel Hamilton, manipulative charmer, is particularly vivid; it's she who learns that ". . .the real trick is to use the tricks, but never forget the truth"—because, in this spellbinding tapestry of people and ideas, mystery and concealed parentage, there are many more tricksters than the surprisingly corporeal ghosts.
Pub Date: March 1, 1989
ISBN: 0689829108
Page Count: 276
Publisher: Macmillan
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1987
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
