Beautiful Creatures

Narrator Kevin Collins is eminently likable as Ethan Wate, a teenager trying to navigate the loss of his mom and emotional distance of his dad, the intriguing new girl at school, and the increasingly mysterious goings-on in his small Southern town. Even better, Collins is just as convincing as the town's cast of characters, including love interest Lena, caretaker Amma, best friend Link, high-school mean girls, and the imposing ladies of the DAR. Occasional sound effects, which are used mainly to distinguish dream sequences or flashbacks, distract from the narrative instead of enhancing it. But listeners will be charmed by the setting and story elements--call it Southern gothic meets contemporary witchcraft--and by Collins's skill with all of it. J.M.D. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

December 2, 2009
Garcia and Stohl's debut is a tale of star-crossed teenage lovers entwined with history, magic, and family. Narrator Ethan, a high school senior being raised by his distant father and their tarot-reading housekeeper, longs to escape the history and sameness that afflicts his hometown of Gatlin, S.C. He gets his wish when he meets beautiful Lena, who arrives in town to live with her reclusive Uncle Macon (making her an outcast as well). Ethan and Lena connect quickly and intensely: he sees her in his dreams, they can converse telepathically, and the discovery of a buried locket gives them Civil Warera visions. Ethan realizes that there is a magical dimension to stultifying Gatlinand that he, Lena, her family, and even his mother's death are all wrapped up in it. As Lena's 16th birthday approaches, bringing life-changing consequences, more questions are raised than answered, and the protracted climax is a long time coming. But readers who like angst-filled teenage romance will be swept up by the haunting and detailed atmosphere, the conventions and strictures of Southern life, and a compelling and dimensional mythology. Ages 12up. "(Dec.)" .

December 1, 2009
Gr 7 Up-Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. Then Lena Duchannes arrives, and this strange new girl is the very one who has been occupying his dreams. She and her kin are Casters, beings who have supernatural powers. Getting to know her exposes Ethan to time travel, mortal danger, and love. The teens can hardly bear to be apart, but Lena's 16th birthday, when she will be Claimed for dark or light, is only 6 months away. To save her, they fight supernatural powers and the prejudice of closed-minded people. Yet, good and evil are not clearly delineated, nor are they necessarily at odds. In the Gothic tradition of Anne Rice, the authors evoke a dark, supernatural world in a seemingly simple town obsessed with Civil War reenactments and deeply loyal to its Confederate past. The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love. The satisfying conclusion is sure to lead directly into a sequel. Give this to fans of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" (Little, Brown, 2005) or HBO's "True Blood" series and they will devour all 600-plus pages of this teen Gothic romance."Amy J. Chow, The Brearley School, New York City"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2009
Grades 9-12 Ethan has lived in Gatlin, South Carolina, his whole life, as have generations of his family. If theres one thing he knows, nothing changes. Enter Lena Duchannes, and suddenly nothing is the same. Like most southern gothics, this story hides a secret, one that links Ethans and Lenas families. Otherworldly elements abound: Lena, from a family of spell casters, is waiting for her sixteenth birthday to see if shell be claimed by the Light or the Dark. Meanwhile, Lena and Ethan, who can read each others thoughts, are traveling back in time to the Civil War, when two star-crossed lovers meet their fates. Throw in secret mystical libraries, a literal witch hunt, dead parents, and the snarky girls and sports teams of high school, and theres a lot going on here. Maybe too much. The 600-plus pages could have been cut to make a tighter, better story. Despite the bulk, theres plenty teens will like: romance, magic, hauntings, and the promise of more to come.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)