Borrowing Abby Grace Episode 1: The Shadow--Kelly Green

Title: Borrowing Abby Grace Episode 1: The Shadow
Author: Kelly Green
Publisher: Backlit, 2011
Pages:
Source: Kindle eBook from the author
Compensation: none

Borrowing Abby Grace had me hooked from the very first line:
"The first thing I realized when I woke up in the back of the van was that I had no idea at all how I'd arrived in the back of the van."

A young girl wakes up (in the back of the van) not knowing who she is or why she is there. She quickly feels the danger of her situation and jumps out of the back of the moving van. She is brought to her home--that she doesn't remember--and the image she sees in her bedroom mirror does not match the image she sees when she looks down at herself.

This exciting new episodic series is reminiscent of Quantum Leap, but not a blatant copycat. In this first episode we learn that Abby is a shadow: people in trouble "borrow" her soul, her essence, her being, so that she can solve their problems. In The Shadow, Abby must help find "her" missing brother and reunite her dysfunctional family. Once she does, she leaves that body and goes on to the next, always hoping the next will be her own body. She's helped by a mysterious boy Will who is only visible to her and can only tell her certain things. She guesses that she (and Will) are dead and ghosts, but Will never confirms this. Okay, so it's pretty close to Quantum Leap for teenagers (without the time travel), but as a big fan of Quantum Leap I didn't feel offended.

The Shadow is an excellent introduction to the series. Kelly Green has written a suspenseful page-turner (or whatever one calls the quick swiping of digital pages). Each episode is short and packed full of action with a strong snarky, yet vulnerable, female lead character. We're interested in the mystery Abby has to solve, but also in *her* mystery. This series is perfect for reluctant readers, particularly those who may not be interested in picking up a hardcover printed book, but will check out anything with technology. Although the main character is a girl, this isn't an overly girlie series, and boys shouldn't be ashamed to read it.

Readers will be eager to continue Abby's adventures and see if she ever makes the final leap home (I couldn't resist).
******
I'm an Amazon Associate now. If you click on the Amazon links & buy anything I might make a tiny bit of money.

Wanted: Hero by Jaime Buckley

Title: Wanted: Hero Prelude to a Hero
Author: Jaime Buckley
Publisher: On the Fly Publications, 2011
Pages: 106 p eBook
Source: the author
Compensation: None

Wanted: Hero is just what it says--a prelude to a larger story. It's only 106 pages long (eBook edition) and a very quick read. The prelude sets up the universe in this fantasy series and introduces the major characters.

A destined Hero is sent to Earth as a young child to protect him from the evil dangerous Lord Mahan. When the time is right the Elders are supposed to summon the Hero to battle Lord Mahan and save their civilization from slavery and ruin. There is a conflict between the High Elder and his son Shea, who holds the responsibility of correctly identifying the Hero. The High Elder goes against tradition and has a teleporting troll collect the Hero instead of his son. The troll picks up Wendell, a normal teenage boy interested in girls and girls who happens to be sitting outside of his perfect heroic best friend Evan's house when the troll appears. Wendell is less than thrilled when he is transported to another planet and thrust into the middle of their war. The High Elder is surprised by his lack of willingness to defend his people, until Shea makes a startling observation.

This is definitely a prelude intended to whet one's appetite for the real story. The universe and characters are interesting and people will want to know what happens next in the series. I'd actually like to read more about Shea and his father and hope that their relationship is explored in future stories.

The eBook and paperback versions can both be bought through Amazon.
******
I'm an Amazon Associate now. If you click on the Amazon links & buy anything I might make a tiny bit of money.

First Day on Earth--Cecil Castellucci

Title: First Day on Earth
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Publisher: Scholastic, 2011
Pages: 150 p
Source: Unsolicited submission from the publisher
Compensation: None

Sometimes random books show up in my mailbox. Sometimes I'm really excited.

This was one of those times.

I've been a fan of Cecil Castellucci's for a while (see Rose Sees Red review), so when I received her latest book without even asking for it, I was pretty psyched. This book is both similar to and different from Castellucci's previous work. The main character feels out of place, like he doesn't quite belong, until he meets another loner and makes a connection, just like Rose and other characters from Castellucci's past books. But First Day on Earth has a bit of a twist--Mal feels so out of place because he was abducted by aliens as a young boy. Ever since then he has wanted to find a way back, thinking that perhaps out there in space he can find the peace he's needed all these years. When he meets another teen, Hooper, at an abductee support group he comes closer to his wish than ever before.

Although this has a science fiction edge, First Day on Earth, is very realistic as well. Even without the abduction Mal's childhood was less than ideal--his father abandoned them when Mal was just a little boy and his mom sank into a deep alcoholic depression. He's been on his own emotionally for years and it's not surprising that he feels more of a connection to an alien experience he can barely remember. Mal finds a kindred spirit in Hooper, another lost soul, and also connects with a girl classmate who seems to have an easy perfect life but has secrets of her own. These connections help Mal realize that maybe life on Earth isn't such a bad thing.

First Day on Earth is very short, some of the chapters are not longer than a sentence, and will appeal to boys as well as girls. Readers who are not fond of science fiction should not overlook this book. It's not a sci-fi book, but rather a realistic fiction book or "problem novel" with a sci-fi twist.

******
I'm an Amazon Associate now. If you click on the Amazon links & buy anything I might make a tiny bit of money.

Wildefire--Karsten Knight

Title: Wildefire
Author: Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011.
Pages: 400 p.
Source: VOYA
Compensation: None

Ashline Wilde is a girl with a past. She’s just transferred to a private school on the other side of the country in an attempt to escape the horrific memory of her volatile sister’s deplorable actions against Ash’s classmate. She thinks her past ends there, but it’s only the beginning—Ash is actually the reincarnation of a Polynesian goddess and she discovers that several of her friends are gods and goddesses as well. She needs to help save the future of the gods, as well as win the crucial tennis match and find the perfect dress to the Big Dance.

         Karsten Knight has written a riveting original multicultural fantasy. Most readers are familiar with Greek gods and goddesses, but there’s only one Greek character in this story. The rest of the supernatural beings are Polynesian, Asian, Haitian, Norse, and Egyptian. The multicultural aspect is a unique fresh touch to the storyline. Knight mixes the fantasy elements with realistic fiction quite nicely. Ashline may be a goddess, but she’s still a teenage girl, struggling with hormones, boys and friends. Knight sets the stage with this first book and leaves his readers wanting more. Teens will quickly devour this story and will be relieved to know a sequel is on its way. 

******
I'm an Amazon Associate now. If you click on the Amazon links & buy anything I might make a tiny bit of money.