Enchanting Review: Dead Girl Walking

DEAD GIRL WALKING

LINDA JOY SINGLETON

Paranormal YA

Flux

ISBN #978-07-8714059

312 pages

$9.95

Paperback—Available now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Amber has a terrible sense of direction but that doesn’t stop her from going to Jessica Bradley’s party. Jessica is friends with Leah Montgomery, who just happens to be one of the most popular kids at school. Taking a tip from one of her many self-help books, Amber hopes to meet Mr. Mongomery, who’s in the music business.

After overhearing what the girls really think of her, she takes off realizing she was foolish to even think Leah and her friends would want to be around her. Later, after a freaky accident, she has an out of body experience. To her surprise she ends up in none other than Leah Montgomery’s body.

Now it’s up to Amber to figure out how to get back into her own body. Maybe being the most popular in school isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be. When she tries to tell her ‘new’ family the truth, the father threatens to send her to a mental institution. Her real family is back at the hospital waiting to donate her organs. Time is ticking away. She has to get back to her own body or she will forever be AmberLeah.

I really loved this teen-like Quantum Leap tale. This fast-paced and suspense filled novel will have the reader following Amber as she tries to figure out how to get back into her own body while dealing with sudden popularity. Singleton does a great job of showing a paranormal world with some twists and surprises. I especially loved the role a beloved pet plays in comforting the soon to be deceased.

Amber’s struggles feel real especially as she tries to communicate with her friends and family on what has happened. I couldn’t help but think this would make a wonderful teen TV series. Each chapter ends with a hook, pulling you in to read more.

Linda Joy Singleton is the author of the 2007 YALSA Quick book Witch Ball, the third book in the The Seer series. Check out more on Linda on her website: www.ljsingleton.com and her book trailer at: www.youtube.com/watch?V=8VUQmV2C2I

Kim

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

September 2008

Repost: Enchanting Review: Marked

MARKED

P.C. CAST AND KRISTIN CAST

Paranormal Young Adult

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36026-9

306 Pages

$8.95

Trade - Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Sixteen year old Zoey Redbird is just like any other typical teenager, worrying over the geometry test she has to take tomorrow-that is, until she’s marked by a tracker and her entire world changes. Everyone knows what happens next, Zoey needs to go to the House of Night, the vampire finishing school to complete the change or else she could die without ever having the chance to complete the change.

MARKED is unlike any paranormal I’ve ever read. P.C Cast and Kristin Cast create an intriguing paranormal world in which to set the House of Night series. There are stages to becoming a full fledged adult vampire, and at any point in time, a fledgling’s body can reject the change, as Zoey soon learns, perhaps a nice foreshadowing of things to come?

Zoey isn’t your average vampire fledgling. Her mark is colored in almost immediately, which makes her somewhat of a freak at House of Night and an easy target for the bitchier brigade, led by Aphrodite, the head of the Dark Daughters and Sons, a selective group of students at the House of Night. Zoey would be happy to stay far away from Aphrodite and her cohorts, only her mentor, the High Priestess Neferet encourages her to join the Dark Daughters. As Zoey can’t say no to her new mentor, she finds herself at the ritual. And when things later get out of control, it may be Zoey is the only one who can right things, much to the chagrin of her nemesis.

I was hooked from page one into this amazing book. From Zoey’s indifferent parents (I literally cheered when she snuck out of the house to get away from them) to Nyx, the goddess, the story is populated with amazing characters who come alive within the pages of MARKED.

MARKED is the first book in the House of Night series. You can visit the official house of night website at http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

May 2008

Enchanting Review: Betrayed

BETRAYED

P.C Cast and Kristin Cast

Paranormal YA

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36028-3

310 Pages

$8.95

Trade—Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

BETRAYED is the second book in the ‘House of Night’ series and picks up a short time after MARKED. Zoey Redbird is still at the House of Night finishing school and is beginning to finally fit in and feel at home, even with her strengthening powers and thanks to the help of her new circle of friends. As the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, Zoey’s dealing with a lot more responsibility not to mention the jealousy of the ousted former leader, Aphrodite.

But things are never smooth sailing at House of Night, as a few of the fledglings’ bodies suddenly reject the change into vampyres. Things begin to get even more troubling when two of Zoey’s friends from the outside world disappear and the blame is put on a rogue group of vampires, something Zoey wonders about when she sees something inexplicable outside late at night.

What can I say about this book other than have Kleenex handy for the emotional last few chapters and be prepared for a few twists and turns that will leave your jaw hanging in disbelief. BETRAYED is an entertaining mix of paranormal and mystery that will leave readers desperate for book three.

For vampire fans, you can’t go wrong picking up the unique House of Night series. I look forward to seeing what the third book; CHOSEN has in store for Zoey and the rest of her friends. If BETRAYED is any clue, readers will be in for a wild ride. You can learn more about the series at the official website, http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

July 2008

Enchanting Interview: Beth Fehlbaum

How long have you been writing?

All my life. I began writing professionally when I began writing Courage in Patience-- even though I didn't realize at the time that I was writing something I would submit for publication.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I love being in "the zone", when I am so immersed in what I am creating, I am lost in the story and unaware of the passage of time.

Why Young Adult?

I really enjoy being around teenagers. Truth be told, however, I did not set out to write a Y.A. book-- and, actually, Courage in Patience is appealing to people across the age spectrum.

Best part of writing Y.A.

The letters I get from teenagers, and the things they say to me that let me know they really "got" what I was trying to do with Courage in Patience.

What's your writing schedule like?

I wrote Courage in Patience in the wee hours of the morning, before work, and on the weekends. I am still very much a middle-of-the-night writer.

What's your writing process like?

I usually start out by rereading much of what I've already written and revise and rewrite, then add to the story.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I require massive quantities of Diet Coke nearby and Chuck Pyle music on the iPod when I am writing. I do a lot of copy-editing by printing out chunks of what I've written, putting it in a binder, and reading it while I'm on the treadmill. I keep sticky notes & a highlighter nearby to mark areas I need to fix-- a comma here, quotation marks there, change this word, etc.

What inspired this book?

My own recovery from childhood sexual abuse was the catalyst. I have always written as a way of processing my own life, and in the course of therapy, I was writing short stories and poems and sharing them with my therapist. One day, he suggested that I try writing a novel. It took me about four months of trying to pull myself out of my own head enough to stand back and look at the recovery experience more as an observer than a participant. And that's when the story really began to flow.

How did you come up with the title?

I honestly do not remember.

Favorite character in the book?

Gotta be Ashley. I love her. Wait-- I also love Bev, her stepmother, because she is so brave. Then there's Zaquoiah…you know, I love most all of the characters like they are my own children… I don't think I can actually settle on one!

Which character is most like you or most unlike you?

Mmmm… I'm not going to answer that one… good question, though!

Which character gave you the toughest time to write in the book?

Definitely Charlie.

Hardest scene to write?

Most of Chapter 2 was excruciating to write.

Favorite scene in the book?

I have several that are my favorites for different reasons-- but one that comes to mind is when Dr. Matt tells Ashley that what happened to her and the way she was treated in her mother's house was "Fucked Up", and when she hears him say that, she felt something inside herself wake up-- like a flower turning toward the sun-- because Dr. Matt said so strongly what she had known was true within herself-- but here was someone validating that feeling for her. Then, when she takes off running from the encounter with her mother, she is sobbing uncontrollably, but she feels alive and says that for the first time she feels unafraid and like a flower turning toward the sun.

Do you have any sequels planned?

Yes, I'm working on the sequel-- it's called Hope in Patience. People have already been writing to me telling me that they didn't want Courage in Patience to end, because they weren't ready to let go of Ashley at the end. I feel the same way. Ashley has unfinished business.

Who would your ideal cast be if a movie was made?

I think John Cusack would be a great "David" -- but other than that, it would take me hours to think about that!

What's next for you?

As I said, I'm working on the sequel to Courage in Patience. And I'm also rolling around in my mind a story with adult characters who are dealing with scars and working through them.

Interview by Kim

September 2008

Enchanting Review: Cat Nights

CAT NIGHTS
JANE MANNING
Children’s (Ages 3-6)
Greenwillow
ISBN# 978-0-06-113888-1
Pages
$16.99
Hardcover-Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

It’s Felicity the witch’s 263rd birthday. Not only will she grow her first wart, and her shoes begin to curl at her toes, but now she’s finally old enough that she can turn herself into a cat.

Even for a witch there are certain rules, including a witch can only change into a cat eight times and still be able to return to her witch form. The ninth time, she remains a cat. As you can guess, Felicity loves turning into a cat and does it eight times. Worried about her, her three witchy cousins cast a spell over her to detract her from turning into a cat, but it seems to backfire when Felicity becomes sad. Feeling bad, the cousins remove the spell. But will Felicity risk turning a cat on the ninth night and remain one forever?

CAT NIGHTS is a cute witchy story perfect for October and Halloween. The illustrations are fun and colorful and I really liked the story. Felicity is a fun little witch whose decision on whether or not to risk becoming a cat permanently has earned this book a place on my keeper shelf.

Browse inside CAT NIGHTS here: http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061138881

Jane Manning's spellbinding picture book takes its inspiration from the tale of the "Cat Nights" of late summer. From this legend comes the saying, "A cat has nine lives."
The artist has illustrated numerous books for children, including the national bestseller The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches, by Alice Low. Cat Nights is the first book she has both written and illustrated. Jane Manning lives in Deep River, Connecticut.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2008

Enchanting Review: Do The Math: Secrets, Lies and Algebra

DO THE MATH: SECRETS, LIES, AND ALGEBRA
WENDY LICHTMAN
Contemporary Young Adult
GreenWillow
ISBN# 978-0061229572
183 pages
$16.99
Hardcover- Available Now

Rating: 3 Enchantments

Tess is an 8th grader who uses math to help her solve her problems. She has to great best friends who she gets along with pretty good and she has a hard time talking to boys-especially cute boys. Like other pre-teens she thinks her parents are weird.

One day Richard came into the copy room to make copies of a stolen history test and Tess let him. Apparently he passed them out to some of the other students. That’s the least of Tess’ problems. Her mother’s friend just committed suicide and Tess is convinced that her husband killed her. So Tess does the only thing she can think of. She tells her best friends her suspicions and follows the suspect.

Do the Math was such a cute mystery book. Tess was a believable character and had an original way of looking at the world. She used math to help her solve ordinary problems. I had fun reading this book and it had an original concept. I haven’t read any books that incorporate math problems in the story. The beginning of the book was too slow and the investigation didn’t really start until about halfway through the book. Tess also dealt with normal pre-teen problems and well as the crime she believes happened. Overall this was a really good book for pre-teens but older people will still enjoy it.

Wendy Lichtman writes essays for Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, New York Times, and San Francisco Chronicle. She currently resides in Berkeley, California. You can visit her online at www.wendylichtman.com

Carolina
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
September 2008

Enchanting Review: Barnaby Grimes: Curse of the Night Wolf

BARNABY GRIMES: CURSE OF THE NIGHT WOLF
PAUL STEWART & CHRIS RIDDELL
Middle Grade
David Fickling Books
ISBN 978-0-385-75125-4
224 Pages
$15-99
Hardcover--Available September 9, 2008

Rating: 5 Enchantments

BARNABY GRIMES: CURSE OF THE NIGHT WOLF hooks you from the start and doesn't let go.

Barnaby Grimes is a 'tick-tock-lad', a sort of cross between a messenger and a delivery boy, but a tick-tock has to be faster than a messenger and twice as sharp as a delivery boy. But when 'Old Benjamin', a former coachman and friend of Barnaby's suddenly disappears without a trace, Barnaby finds himself wondering what happened to the old man. The trail leads to Dr. Cadwallader, a physician who's giving his cordial to the poor of London. It seems to work all right, all the clients Barnaby finds himself delivering letters to for the good doctor rave about the man and his potion. Yet Barnaby still isn't convinced. It all seems too good to be true. Is it?

BARNABY GRIMES: CURSE OF THE NIGHT WOLF is a really enjoyable read. The level of detail makes you feel like you've stepped back in time to Old London and are highstacking right alongside Barnaby as he delivers the letters, fights off a wolf and travels to the seedier areas of London. Full of action, the pace is constant with barely a moment to catch your breath as the story moves at a brisk level.

A definite must read for those who enjoy a boy-centric middle grade and those who enjoy the mix of mystery and historical. Look for the next book in the series, RETURN OF THE EMERALD SKULL to release February 2009.

Paul Stewart is a highly regarded and award winning author of books for young readers. He lives in Brighton, England. Chris Riddell is an award winning illustrator and political cartoonist. He lives in Brighton, England.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2008