Knowing that Charlotte doesn’t really face obliteration disappointingly defuses the suspense for all but the most avid fans.
High-school student Elise begins experiencing some very odd things that make her feel like some stranger is beginning to occupy her body.
That’s not surprising in this sequel (that can’t stand alone) to A Need So Beautiful (2011), which chronicled the poignant situation of angel-like being Charlotte, who had the need to intervene in troubled people’s lives but at the ultimate cost of both her own existence and all memory of it. Now readers discover that she’s back, not only greatly diminishing the impact of the first tale, but also limiting the threat of any perilous choices she now faces as she occupies the hapless Elise’s body and gradually rediscovers herself. Hunky romantic interest Harlin also returns, having conveniently been drawn to the love of his life in her new form, but he faces handsome potential rival Abe, who draws Elise into some believable teen situations. Onika, the evil temptress housed in an immortal—but nonetheless badly decayed—body, haunts Elise’s dreams and then turns up in the (decomposed) flesh, as well. Elise’s rebellious older sister Lucy, initially angst-ridden about her own issues, adds to the now-predictable conflicts that Charlotte/Elise must resolve before Charlotte can move on to a potential third book in the series.
Knowing that Charlotte doesn’t really face obliteration disappointingly defuses the suspense for all but the most avid fans. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 26, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-06-200826-8
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: April 10, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2012
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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
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