by Megan DeTour

Made for
Professor de Groot in LIBR 271A-10 Canadian Literature for Youth
Spring 2010, Master of Library & Information Science
San Jose State University, California

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Title: The Vinyl Princess 
Author: Yvonne Prinz           
Publish Date: December 2009 
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers 
Pages: 313pp 
ISBN: 0061715832 
Classification: Fiction 
Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Annotation: Allie is a teen music junkie.  On her summer break from school she get’s a job at Bob & Bob Records (the coolest record store in town).  Here Allie begins to piece together her secret identity as the Vinyl Princess.

Plot Summary: Sixteen-year-old self-proclaimed music geek, Allie, spends every free moment practically running Bob & Bob's Records.  She knows everything there is to know about vinyl's and composes articles for a blog and a zine.  Her best friend and vintage fashion maven Kit, hang out at bohemian eateries and coffeehouses in downtown San Francisco.  Her home life is complicated yet oddly normal.  Her mom is in the dating pool and her father’s twenty-something wife is pregnant, making Allie a new older sister.  Like most teenage girls, Allie struggles with boys, never seems to get it quite right. While working in the record store, a boy starts to notice Allie, and Allie starts to notice him.  She secretly fantasizes about him liking her.  Soon enough, Allie realizes what his intentions are. She has several interesting encounters with music customers and has an eye-opening summer. 

Personal Response: LOVED this book! Any teen who has a passion for music will relate to this story.  Allie is definitely a likable character.  Her trials and tribulations are relatable even if you aren’t a music geek—it’s the young emotions and teenage angst that ring true. Although taking place in Berkley, California, the author is from Edmonton, Alberta.  It’s interesting to think about this being classified as Canadian being that the backdrop of the story is California. With that said, Allie is the nickname of the main character, who’s name is Alberta.  I thought it was kind of cool how the author weaved in her home state as the main character’s name.

The Vinyl Princess blog: http://www.thevinylprincess.com/

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Staying honest with who you are and not letting anything or anyone pull you down.  Coming-of-age.
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: Music, Records, Zines, LPs, Hipsters, Friendship, Blogging, Internet, High School, Teen Angst, Relationships, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction.

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The Mud Girl by Alison Acheson


Title: The Mud Girl
Author: Alison Acheson
Publish Date: October 2006
Publisher: Coteau Books
Pages: 328pp
IBSN: 1550503545
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Aba Zytka Jones—Abi—doesn’t expect anything from anyone.  Her mother has abandoned her and her father, whom remains in his chair. She doesn’t have much, but she wants to figure out her life on her own. 

Plot Summary: Aba Zytka Jones (Abi), sixteen, has a long summer ahead of her.  Her mother has left and her father remains sitting in his chair, leaving her with several responsibilities to shoulder.  With a burning need to figure out her life, Abi has numerous questions.  A woman from the Big Sister organization, Ernestine, attempts to befriend her.  The cute guy from the paint shop, Jude, becomes her boyfriend. And a girl named Amanda offers offers her a summer job cleaning houses.  When Abi discovers that Jude has a son, Dyl, who’s mother has taken off (mirroring her own sistuation), she has is faced with her past pain and forced to deal with her issues by taking care of Dyl. 

Personal Response: A poignant story about a girl who was abandoned by her mother and whose father is somewhat useless.  The novel is slow-moving with beautiful descriptions of the land, in which play a potent counterpart to the symbolism of Abi’s, the protagonist, pain.

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Identity, finding out who you are and what you want in life.  Uncovering the past pains of your life by helping another in need.
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: Identity, Abandonment, Adult Responsibilities, Relationships, Love, Dysfunctional Family, Outreach, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction

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The Subway Mouse by Barabra Reid


Title: The Subway Mouse
Author: Barbara Reid
Illustrator: Barbara Reid
Publish Date: May 2005
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Pages: 40pp
IBSN: 0439728274
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Children’s Picture Books

Annotation: A mouse named Nib leaves his dirty, crowed home under a busy subway station and sets out on a long journey to find the dangerous Tunnel’s End.  Along the way, Nib meets Lola, a female mouse who joins him.

Plot Summary: Nib is a mouse who lives beneath a busy subway.  One day he decides to search for the dangerous Tunnel’s End he has heard so much of.  Along his Journey he meets a female mouse Lola, who joins him. Together they explore until they come to the Tunnels End. When they finally crawl out in the open air, they discover a whole new world that is much more dangerous then they expected, yet beautiful and wonderful.  They decide they want to stay and make a home together.

Personal Response: This book is all about the stunning pictures by Barbara Reid--  As sweet as the story reads, the illustrations are highly creative, realistic, and engross all the attention. 

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Exploration
Age Range: 4 to 8
Subjects: Exploration, Relationships, Fables, Journey, Discovery,

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The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong


Title: The Summoning
Author: Kelly Armstrong
Publish Date: July 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages:  416pp
IBSN: 0061662720
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Paranormal/Supernatural

Annotation: Fifteen year old Chloe Saunders is sent to live at Lyle House, a home for mentally-disturbed teens, when she starts seeing ghosts. It is there that she learns the truth about her gift and much much more. . .

Plot Summary: Chloe Saunders thought she was a typical teenager; getting by in high school, waiting for her crush to ask her out to prom, and LOVING movies but then it happened-she saw a ghost. At first Chloe assumes it must be her imagination, but when a mysterious janitor with severe burns chases her at school, Chloe understandably panics and reacts badly, landing her in a home for children with mental problems. The Lyle House is a group home where she will stay along with six other teens to receive counseling. Chloe is determined to recover quickly but instead of things getting better they get worse as Chloe stumbles upon the ghost of an old man desperately trying to tell her something important. The Lyle House turns out to be so much more than it originally appeared to be.

Personal Response: I really enjoyed The Summoning and am looking forward to reading the sequel as there are many twist and turns at the story’s end, leaving an interesting cliffhanger that will almost force readers to continue the ride. I like the way Chole narrates the story from a film director perspective (comparing her life to film). I found this made the story more fascinating as she was a theater arts student before she was admitted to the asylum.

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Trust yourself.
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: Group Homes, Mental Illness, Ghost, High School, Friendship, Schizophrenic, Art, Movies, Theater Arts, Asylum

Series: The Darkest Powers Series
The Summoning (2008)
The Awakening (2010)
The Reckoning (2010)
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My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath


Title: My One Hundred Adventures
Author:Polly Horvath
Publish Date: September 2008
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Pages: 272pp
ISBN: 0375845828
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Twelve-year-old Jane is ready for adventures and she finds plenty of it, thanks to the inhabitants of the Massachusetts beach town where she lives.

Plot Summary: Jane Fielding is twelve-years-old and lives an idyllic life on the Massachusetts shore. Her home is a permanent beach house that has doors that are always wide open, no matter the time of day or night, and is always delightful and homey. Jane adores her home and her family--her hopeless romantic mother who writes poetry and her three brothers and sisters. As much as she loves her home life, her day to day routine is almost monotonous and she longs for some excitement and adventure. When a disheveled man shows up for dinner, Jane’s prayers for adventure are answered as she learns from her poet mother that this man is her father.

Personal Response: I enjoyed this book. I liked how the protagonist, Jane, takes charge of her own self-discovery and becomes the storyteller instead of being the audience.

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Self-discovery, along with self-discovery of the world.  
Age Range: 8-12
Subjects: Self Discovery, Adventure, Family, Family Relationships, Babysitting, Beach, Coming of Age, Friendship, Brothers and Sisters,

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Another Kind of Cowboy by Susan Juby


 
Title: Another Kind of Cowboy
Author: Susan Juby
Publish Date: December 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 352pp
ISBN: 0060765178
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Unlikely pair, Alex Ford and Cleo O'Shea—both sixteen--become best friends through horsemanship. 

Summary: Alex Ford has loved horses and dressage forever, in fact he even pretends his bicycle is a horse until his father actually wins a real live horse in a poker game.  Alex is elated by this.  Turnip is not the best horse, but together they become a winning team in Western riding.   Having an affinity of dressage, Alex finds out that his father’s girlfriend has a dressage horse that she doesn’t ride.  When a stable opens near his home, Alex begins to take lessons in dressage.  This is when he meets Cleo, an incredibly wealthy dressage riding student with a colorful background involving drugs and alcohol and plenty of rebellion.  Together, they become friends and untangle their life issues: Cleo is looking for love and Alex has been hiding his homosexuality.  Cleo helps him gather self acceptance and strength to be who he is. As Alex gains confidence and self acceptance, his aspirations and his personal relationships seem full of promise.

Personal Response: I liked this book, yet I felt it was extremely predictable and everything seemed to happen so easily—the stable opening up near Alex’s house, the dressage horse that Alex’s father’s girlfriend doesn’t ride, the trainers supporting Alex as they are an elder gay couple.  At the same time, I felt this was an inspiring story for teens to read—it shows the hardships of hiding who you are and explores an unlikely friendship. 

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Self-discovery, Fitting in
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: Friendships, Homosexuality, Relationships, Humor, Family Relationships, Dysfunctional Family, High School, Horsey, Dressage, Alcohol, Drugs, Self Discovery, Fitting In,

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Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen


Title: Little Black Lies
Author: Tish Cohen
Publish Date: October 2009
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 320pp
IBSN: 1606840339
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Sara Black, the new kid in town, fell into her first lie of being from London, England, when really she is from Lunden, Massachusetts.  From then on, the lies escalated, turning from little white lies into big black lies, all in the name of fitting in. 

Plot Summary: As the new eleventh grader at Anton High School, Sara Black just wants to fit in, especially because Anton High School is perhaps the most elite public school in the country. She figures by being the new student, she has the ability to fudge her previous life and dually hide her tarnished family past by telling a few white lies.  Though, she runs the risk of breaking her fathers heart in doing so as her father is the janitor of the school and suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  When another social climber gets jealous of Sara, she decides to take on Sara’s stories, putting Sara’s reputation on the line. 

Personal Response: I think this is a good read as it goes into detail about the pressures of fitting in, and the length teens go to make sure they are part of the in crowd.  An interesting aspect of this novel was the description of the “in-crowd” in which were based on intellect, rather then the usual sports, good looking, cheerleader types. The students actions are formatted based on the pressures they face in order to succeed in life.  The author keeps the readers engaged with all the predicaments Sara enters and provides meaningful lessons threaded throughout the story. 

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Awkward new student wants to fit in. 
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: High School, Dysfunctional Family, Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, Friendship, Lying, Moving, Popularity, Outcast, Privilege, Mean Girls, Cliques, Love, Social Life

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Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers


Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Publish Date: January 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 256pp
IBSN: 0312573804
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Regina Afton is part of the mean girls clique but not for long as she becomes ostracized by her clique after her best friend, Anna’s boyfriend attacks her and Anna chooses to believe Regina led him on.

Plot Summary: Regina Afton was a member of the mean girls, the Fearsome Fivesome, until Anna the groups leader, finds out that Regina and her boyfriend slept together.  But Regina didn’t willingly hook up with up Anna’s boyfriend, rather she was forced.  Anna does not want to hear this so she shuns Regina, all the while Kara, another member of the mean girls clique, is enjoying Ragina’s ban.  Together, Kara and Anna set out to destroy Regina with cruel attacks that escalate while Regina chooses to fight back with physical violence.  As this is all happening, Regina self-reflects about her former life and behaviors, she realizes that she didn’t always treat people well.  Her one source of support is one of her former targets, Michael, whom Regina took part in making his life miserable.  Michael see’s the connection they have and although his feelings towards her are full of disdain, he reaches out to help Regina. 

Personal Response: A very compelling read about the lengths a person will go to fit in and additionally the lengths a person will go to seek revenge.  In fact, this story was pretty gritty, I found myself cringing as I read about all the blackmail and fighting. This is a very emotional read and definitely packed with page-turning action.  

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Fitting in.
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: Bullying, Cliques, Revenge, High School, Sexual Assault, Popularity, Friendship, Social Life, Suicide, Mean Girls,

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Shinchi's Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell



Title: Shinchi's Canoe

Author: Nicola I. Campbell
Illustrator: Kim LaFlave
Publish Date: December 2008
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Pages: 40pp
IBSN: 0888998570
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Picture Book

Annotation: Shi-shi-etko is returning to boarding school with her younger brother, Shin-chin, whom is six and has never been away from home before. Being forced to learn a new language and way of life, Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chin find ways to remember their native traditions. 

Plot Summary: Shi-shi-etko and her brother Shin-chin are part of the Native people living in Canada. They have to attend boarding school that is far from home.  Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chin do not want to go, nor does their family want to send them, but that is the law so they are forced.  At school, Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chin are not allowed to speak their native language, or to one another, so they sneak around in order to hold on to their native traditions. 

Personal Response: A very touching story that recounts the experiences of Native siblings sent away from their families to attend school.  I thought the overall tone of the story was very moving in that it showed the closeness of the siblings and the love of their Native traditions. The illustrations are soft, yet bold with feeling and capture the essence of the story and the bonds of the Native people.  I think this is a great read for the history of Native people living in Canada while evoking a heartfelt story about the love of family. 

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Honoring and remembering your heritage.
Age Range: 4-7
Subjects: First Nations, Native American, Indian, Residential Schools, Picture Book, Brothers and Sisters, Family Relationships, Love, Traditions

Series:
Shi-Shi Etko (2005)

Shinchi's Canoe (2008)


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A Sled Dog for Moshi by Jeanne Bushey
The Donkey of Gallipoli: A True Story of Courage in World War I by Mark Greenwood

Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis



Title: Parvana’s Journey
Author: Deborah Ellis
Publish Date: August 2003
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Pages: 199pp
IBSN: 0888995199
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Historical Fiction

Annotation: Parvana is a thirteen-year-old girl disguising herself as a boy in the Tabliban-era in Afghanistan.  She sets off from Kabul in search of her missing mother, brother and sister and collects new “family” members, who have all suffered from the war.

Plot Summary: The sequel of The Breadwinner opens with the burial of Parvana’s father and her search for her mother, brother and sister.  Parvana, who continues to dress up like a boy, sets out on a journey to locate her missing family members.  On this journey, she meets other victims of war whom are around her age.  Together, they travel and become each others family, through hunger and sickness.  They end up in a camp of refugees and though do not get a happy ending, there remains hope.  Mud City is the final installment to this trilogy. 

Personal Response: I was so impressed with The Breadwinner, I had to read the sequel and will probably continue the journey with Mud City. Parvana’s Journey continues the theme or glimpse of women’s rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule. The story in engaging and at times extremely sad. A great series to open discussions about the affects war has on children and the rights Deborah Ellis is donating a portion of the book price to Women for Women, an organization that supports Afghan women.
http://www.womenforwomen.org/

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Children who have to be braver then they are suppose to be.
Age Range: 10 and up
Subjects: War, Bravery, Afghanistan, Taliban, Survival, Historical Fiction, Independence, Poverty, Family, Government, Culture,  Women’s Rights, Children,

Series: Afghan Trilogy
The Breadwinner (2001)
Parvana’s Journey (2003)
Mud City (2004)

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Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel


Title: Silverwing
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publish Date: September 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 224pp
IBSN: 1416949984
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy

Annotation: Shade is a young bat who get’s left behind when his family migrates for the winter.  On his journey to rejoin the colony, he meets new friends, discovers enemies, and all the

Plot Summary: A young bat named Shade decides he wants to prove his bravery by catching a glimpse of the sun.  In doing so, he breaks an ancient law and the owls retaliate and burn down their roost, forcing the bats to begin their migration. Shade gets caught in a storm and is left behind by his colony during the migration. Full of customs, the imminent war between the bats and birds, and the escapee vampire bat, provides a challenging journey for Shade to return back with his colony.

Personal Response: Love the animal adventure Kenneth Oppel takes his readers on.  Sliverwing is an exciting story with dramatic suspense and a thrilling plot and is not a typical fantasy story as the main character is a bat.  The ending of the novel leads the reader to the next installment, Sunwing.

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Making your own way and facing your fears.
Age Range: 8 and up
Subjects: Betrayal, Friendship, Fear, Friendship, Enemies, Adventure, Fantasy, Family, Family Relationships, Bullying, Courage

Series: The Silverwing Saga
Silverwing (1997)
Sunwing (1999)
Firewing(2002)
Darkwing (2007)

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The Republic of Nothing by Lesley Choyce


Title: The Republic of Nothing
Author: Lesley Choyce
Publish Date: February 2007
Publisher: Goose Lane Editions
Pages: 382pp
IBSN: 0864924933
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: On the birth of his son, Ian, Everett McQuade, an Anarchist, proclaims Whalebone Island in Nova Scotia an independent republic.

Plot Summary: It’s the early 1950s on Whalebone Island in Nova Scotia and Everett MacQuade has marked the birth of his son, Ian, by declaring the island's independence. Whalebone is place of independent fishers, children whom have never had a formal education, pioneers of equal rights, and refugees from the city.  Ian is at a point in his life where he is questioning his parents—his mother Dorothy, whom had suffered some sort of amnesia from her early life and has an uncanny sense of perception and his father Everett, whom is politically inclined.  This leaves Ian wondering if anarchy is good for Whalebone.

Personal Response: What a ride this story was. From circus elephants and exotic furniture washing up on shore to refugees from the outside world settling in to live in a place of peace during time when peace was somewhat scarce (1960s, Vietnam war, atom bomb, etc.), The Republic of Nothing offers readers an in-depth look into the political rights and wrongs as well as the internal rights and wrongs. 

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Political and philosophical. Coming of Age.
Age Range: 12 and up
Subjects: Family, Friendship, Love, Relationships, Politics, Anarchy, Resilience, Independence

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Different Dragons by Jean Little


Title: Different Dragons
Author: Jean Little
Publish Date: May 2007
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pages: 112pp
IBSN: 0143312308
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Timid Ben faces many challenges on his first stay away from home without his family.  He confronts his fears and becomes friends with a Labrador Retriever named Gully.

Plot Summary: Ben is not looking forward to his stay with his Aunt Rose while his family goes away.  During this stay, Ben will have to sleep alone, deal with the bossy girl next door, live through a thunderstorm, and deal with his fear of big dogs, all by himself. Aunt Rose had meant the big dog, Gully a Labrador Retriever, as a gift but Ben doesn’t like this gift, he is scared of the big dog.  Then, a thunderstorm hits and Ben and Gully survive together underneath the bed. This begins a beautiful bond. 

Personal Response: A simplistic plot with a sweet message about overcoming your fears and finding the courage that lays within. I especially liked the bond Ben makes with Gully, very sincere and touching.  I think this is a good story for younger children who are experiencing fears.  As adults we so easily forget what it is like to be little with fears—the world can be scary place. 

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Overcoming fears.
Age Range: 8 to 12
Subjects: Dogs, Fear, Thunderstorms, Family, Family Relationships, Friendship, Courage, Realistic Fiction

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Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Title: Paper Bag Princess
Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator:  Michael Martchenjo
Publish Date: February 1992
Publisher: Annick Press, Limited
Pages: 32pp
IBSN: 0920236162
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Picture Book

Annotation: A prince is kidnapped by a dangerous dragon who happened to burn up all the clothes in the palace with his dragon breath.  The princess finds a paper bag to wear as she sets out to save the prince. 

Plot Summary: A young princess goes off to rescue the young prince (whom she loves and hopes to marry) after a dangerous dragon has taken him captive and burned all the clothes in the palace.  The princess decides she will wear a paper bag to go save the prince. She tricks the dragon and enters the cave where the prince is being held.  When the prince sees her, he tells her how poorly she is dressed.  Her retort is that he is a fine and handsome prince, but completely useless and in the end they do not end up together. 

Personal Response: I really appreciated the theme of this story as it allows girls (from a young age) to see that if a man does not treat you the right way, you do not have to be with him (very empowering). Along with this running theme is lots of humor and a fluid style of writing that is both accessible to children and adults.  I really enjoyed this book!

~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Empowering girls—you don’t have to be with someone that doesn’t treat you well.
Age Range: 4-8
Subjects: Girl Power, Princess, Humor, Courage, Fantasy

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The Witches of Willowmere by Alison Baird


Title: The Witches of Willowmere

Author: Alison Baird

Publish Date: September 2003
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pages: 224pp
ISBN: 0141313730
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Annotation: Sixteen year old Claire is having dreams of the 17th century Salem witch trials.  As she struggles to understand why she is having these dreams, she becomes increasing fascinated with magic and the Wiccan belief system. 

Plot Summary: Clair is sixteen years old and basically living on her own.  Every time she passes by the Willowmere, her curiosity arouses as she is intrigued by the beautiful and mysterious estate.  The owner of the estate, Dr. Myra Moore, befriends Clair and tells her about the Wiccan belief system.  As Claire learns about this belief system, she wonders if this can help her understand why her mother left her.  In addition, she wonders why she is having vivid dreams of the Salem witch trials of the 17th century—and what her connection is to the girl in her dreams. 

Personal Response: I really loved this story and look forward to reading the next two books in the series. Alison Baird does an excellent job at weaving in teenager dialog and keeping the reader intrigued.  The ending definitely left you hanging—I am glad I don’t have to wait for the next book to come out.


~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Self discovery. Good verses evil.
Age Range: 14 and up
Subjects: Wiccan, Abandonment, Witches, Urban Fantasy, High School, Identity, Teenager, Reincarnation, Good verses Evil,

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