Messenger

August 22, 2016
Williams’s engaging, supernatural-tinged novel opens in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., on Evie Messenger’s 15th birthday—the day that Messenger women are traditionally bestowed with a special skill that determines their life path. When no new ability presents itself, Evie assumes that the “Messenger Gift” has skipped a generation. After a few days, though, she realizes that Tommie—the intrusive girl who has dogged her ever since her birthday party—is a ghost, and that Evie isn’t just able to communicate with spirits but is expected to help them cross over. Being a teenager is difficult enough without having to tackle the dead’s unresolved issues, too. Can Evie strike a balance, or will her gift render normal life impossible? Relatable characters and a down-to-earth narrative carry Williams’s story to a pat yet emotionally gratifying conclusion. The plot is slight, but clever twists and efficient worldbuilding keep the pace swift, and Williams (Never Said) makes smart use of her premise to encapsulate what it’s like to straddle the line between childhood and adolescence. Ages 12–up. Agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary.

A girl who's recently moved to a small Florida town knows the women in her family gain control of supernatural Gifts on their 15th birthdays, but the nature of her own gift might not make Evie happy.At first, Evie Messenger is sure she has no Gift at all. When a medium fails to see what her Gift might be, the white teen doesn't press the issue because she's happy to be an "oddball," a Messenger woman with no Gift. But that night, she meets a pale, black-haired girl named Tommie, who keeps showing up and has some sort of undefined problem. It turns out that Evie indeed does have a Gift, a terrifying one: she can directly communicate with the dead. Tommie, of course, has died, but she doesn't know it. Complicating matters is the fact that Tommie was the daughter of JimDaddy, Evie's new stepfather, and the girlfriend of Buddy, Evie's new boyfriend. Evie not only must deal with this tangled web, but also come to terms with her Gift and learn how to use it properly so that she can help the dead souls that come to her. Williams creates a recognizable world with Evie and her working-class, white family, whose colloquial speech ("Now lookit") provides extra dimension. Even though her Gift may be supernatural, Evie herself comes across as a well-rounded, likable character. Another solid outing from Williams. (Paranormal fiction. 12-18) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 6-9-Evie Messenger's 15th birthday is the catalyst for this paranormal coming-of-age story. Throughout the generations, the Messengers have each received a "gift" for helping others. They don't know what their gift will be until their 15th birthday. Unexpectedly, Evie discovers that she can see, hear, and communicate with the dead. In addition to the usual complications possessing paranormal talents in the mortal world brings, Evie's first experience is even more complex, as the first ghost she sees is Tommie, the deceased daughter of her new stepfather. To make matters more confusing, Tommie also happens to be the former girlfriend of Evie's current crush, Buddy. Luckily, the teen is surrounded by a loving extended family who help her cope. Although this book is set in the present day, the genteel, classic tone hints at a bygone era without seeming dated. All of the characters are fully formed, including the adults, who are often one-dimensional in YA. The Southern setting and manners add to the overall charm. There are no great surprises or twists, the romance between Evie and Buddy is tame, and the ending will likely be expected by readers, but none of that mars this sweet offering. VERDICT A gentle tale with lots of heart that should find an audience with all but the most cynical readers.-Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT

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