Splendor

October 15, 2013
Arnold's follow-up to Sacred (2012), though still somewhat hobbled by its predecessor's flaws, presents an artful and satisfying coming-of-age arc for protagonist Scarlett. In a gutsy move, the novel opens with an explicit description of the artificial insemination of Scarlett's beloved mare, Delilah. Delilah's pregnancy becomes Scarlett's touchstone for her senior year, the developing foal a metaphor for Scarlett's slow, continuing rebirth. As the Catalina summer swings into fall, Scarlett has come to some peace with the death of her brother, though her family remains broken. Her boyfriend, Will, is off to Yale, but her best friend, Lily, has returned from Europe for the school year. Scarlett has cause to worry about both of them: Will is determined to use his psychic power to predict violence to save lives, and Lily has become even wilder, dangerously so, than before. Caring for her mare keeps her grounded; she sees to her spiritual side by studying cabala with a Jewish mystic on the mainland. While Arnold is fettered by the narrative construct she established in the first book, she downplays its more melodramatic aspects by focusing closely on narrator Scarlett and her emotional journey. The result is a fluidly written character study that finds Scarlett coming to terms with her spirituality, her relationships and her future. This honest, contemplative sequel rises above its weaknesses, just like Scarlett herself. (Fiction. 14 & up)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-This sequel to Sacred (Delacorte, 2012) captures only a fraction of the intensity and characterization found in the first book. Scarlett, now a senior in high school, is dealing with the separation of her parents, her boyfriend Will's departure to college on the other side of the country, and her friend Lily's need to push boundaries. In the midst of these changes, the teen forms a relationship with Sabine, a student of Kabbalah. Favoring the company of Sabine's family over her own disconnected household, she turns to her new friend for guidance about her recurring, prophetic dreams involving Will. Distracted by her studies and by her pregnant horse, Scarlett overlooks the seriousness of Lily's rebellion and destructive relationship with Gunner, the sexy newcomer to their Catalina Island high school. The intense, almost supernatural connection between Will and Scarlett is not fully explained in this book, so teens will need to have read Sacred to understand Will's gift for detecting danger before it happens. The book explores Kabbalah, a school of thought founded within the context of Judaism, in a way that is informative but often heavy-handed. The potential connection between Scarlett's dreams, Will's psychic abilities, and Kabbalah are barely touched upon, significantly diminishing the palpable tension felt in the first book. Fans who enjoyed Sacred will tolerate Splendor out of curiosity.-Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.