Review of: Strange Angels

Author: Lili St. Crow
ISBN: 9781595142511
Pages: 304
Published by: Razorbill (May 2009)
Genre(s): Paranormal, Young Adult
Grade: C+
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09 -

My first impression of Strange Angels is that it is pretty similar to (one of my favorite shows) Supernatural. In the 1st season of Supernatural we learn that the brothers were raised my their ex-Marine father because their mother was killed when the younger one was just an infant. The boys and their father have gone on to hunt and kill demons, ghosts and other "bump-in-the-night" things. In Strange Angels Dru is an only child and a girl, that was about the extent of the differences.

Over all, I enjoyed the 'meat' of Strange Angels. Given that it is paranormal YA, the plot is believable. There is a second book int the series coming in the Spring of 2010 and I will be on the look out for it; I'm willing to the series and author another shot.

My 'issues' with this book: For a book labeled YA I think there is too much swearing and drinking done. Dru is 16, disdains smoking, but thinks nothing of adding Jim Beam to her Coke? Also certain parts felt formulaic. More than once things 'unreel' before her (stairs and roads).

What follows in my 15yo old daughter's review of Strange Angels. It is all in her own words; I didn't change a thing.

Strange Angels by Lili St Crow was, in my opinion, a thrilling book. It had me hooked until the very last page and left me wanting more. It had a delicate balance of high heart pounding action and a slight taste of teenage romance. The fight scenes were so elaborately described, they appealed to all of my senses. I could feel the burn of the zombie goo and smell the rotting stench of it's body. It leaves a vivid picture in my head even weeks after reading it. ~SVG

Buy Strange Angels by Lili St Crow:
IndieBound {} Powell's {}Amazon

Middle Grade Book Challenge

The Middle Grade Challenge is sponsored by Bambi Reads.

Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can join.

2. Read 12 middle grade novels (Challenge 1) or read 25 MG books (Challenge 2). You can read comics too, or listen to audio books. These can be in any language. You don't have to make a reading list now; you may select them as you go and you're free to make changes to your list.

3. The challenge begins September 1st, 2009 through August 31st, 2010.

4. You can join anytime between now and August 31st, 2010.

5. When you sign up with MckLinky right below, you will be redirected to another page. Type in your name, followed by the name of your blog. [e.g.: Linda Ellen (Bambi Reads)]. Then type in your blog's URL. Please follow these instructions or your link will be removed.

I'm joining at the 1st level (12 books):

1. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall {borrowed from the library - my review}
2. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery {borrowed from the library}
3. The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox {received from the author - my review}
   
4. Anne of Avonlea by LM Montgomery {borrowed from the library}

Book ideas:
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridely Pearson {own}
The Giver by Lois Lowry {library has}
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card {library has}
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan {library has}
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan {library has}

School is starting...

for my 15yo daughter late this coming week. I have been absent from my blog (and twitter, but that is a separate issue) most of her summer break.

Starting Tuesday September 1 I will resume posting on a regular basis. I owe quite a few reviews and will be working on those in the intervening 10 days. My regular posting will be taking place here, my new blog.

You can now find me on Twitter as: KsJournal