Tag Archives: young adult book

Seers

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Seers

Since surviving her brush with death in the car accident which killed her parents, Kate Bennet has been able to see auras. Her attempts at normality with the start of a new school year are thwarted by the new student who doesn’t have a typical aura and a man that no one else seems to see. It isn’t long before she learns that guardians and demons are real and that she is a seer.

Heather Frosts new book Seers, available this October, follows the typical YA romance plot – girl falls in love with incredibly handsome supernatural guy and has to fight for not only the right to be with him but also for her life. Patrick’s sexy accent is about the only redeeming quiality for me.

The concept of guardians, demons, and seers seemed underdeveloped. While the idea (demons versus angels) skirts a religious theme, no purpose was ever given for the existence of demons or angel,s and the only purpose of seers seems to be for the detection of the first two. The plot, while having the side supernatural theme, seemed to flounder around how difficult life is for Kate, who strings along her old boyfriend while pursuing her attraction to Patrick.

While the book is primarily written from the perspective of Kate, two single chapters are written from Patrick’s point of view, and the epilogue is written from the point of view of a demon. I can’t say how annoying this was to me.

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

The False Princess

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The False Princess

Nalia has lived a life of privilege, as the princess and heir to the throne. As her 16th birthday arrives, however, she learns that she was merely a stand-in for the real princess. As The False Princess, Nalia (now Sinda), must leave everything she has ever known. Poor and without the ones whom she grew up loving, she is left with a choice – turn her back on those who did the same to her or follow her upbringing and save the crown.

Debut author, Eilis O’Neal has twisted the typical Cinderalla story in an entirely new way. With well developed characters and a novel idea, the book is one of quiet strength.

This Girl is Different

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It isn’t often that one finds a YA fiction novel where the main character has been homeschooled, let alone unschooled. This fact alone made me want to read J.J. Johnson’s soon to be released book, This Girl is Different. Evie, an intelligent, well-read, thoughtful young woman who has unschooled throughout her life is set on attending Cornell to study social justice when she decides to experience what is her senior year at the local public school.

This Girl Is Different

There tend to be two main stereotypes of homeschooling families: the strict religious homeschoolers who are over-controlling and the flaky hippie homeschoolers, portrayed as neglegient. Unfortunately, Johnson chose to go the stereotype route. So while Evie’s family situation has redeeming qualities such as living in an Earth dome, living a sustainable life, and living in a consensual manner, her mother is portayed as a communist hippie, unable or unwanting to sustain a job after getting pregnant while following a band around and leaving the drug-abusing sperm donor.

It’s disappointing that Evie decides to experience school, as though she is missing out with her real-life learning experiences. The school is protrayed realistically, though, with a totalitarian rule by adults without thought to equal rights, minus those teachers and administratos who are tied by bureacratical restraints. Evie takes the experience on as a challenge and stands for the rights of all.

The constant repeats of texting and web usage were a bit annoying, but according to today’s media, accurate of public schools today. I was also disappointed that such a strong, independent young woman immediately caved and focused on the first handsome guy she met, one whom had an issue with commitment. Evie’s constant self reminders that “This girl is different” seemed out of place and self-important.

Overall, the book was decent and I might suggest it to my children when they are older. At the least, it was a reminder to me that the world doesn’t live in a consensual manner, and my family will continue on with our unschooling lifestyle.

Disclaimer:  A complimentray copy of the book was provided by Peachtree Publishers.