Halo

August 2, 2010
Junior angel Bethany, “created only seventeen mortal years ago,” has accompanied senior angels Gabriel and Ivy on a mission to Earth, the exact nature of which is yet to be seen. While awaiting events, Bethany attends high school and quickly acquires a best friend and a boyfriend, though she knows she ought to remain focused on her angelic mission. Much of the book details Bethany and Xavier’s travails as their Romeo and Juliet relationship develops; it is not until the end that Agents of Darkness make an appearance that will, presumably, feature more prominently in the rest of the planned trilogy. Teenage author Adornetto’s U.S. debut shows an impressive command of language; while there are some holes in her world-building (Bethany’s knowledge of earthly things is all over the place—she knows what a Peter Pan collar is, yet is ignorant of seatbelts), they aren’t likely to bother the target audience much. The fantasy is sweet and enjoyable, if theologically superficial, but the white and Catholic character of both Heaven and Earth may alienate some readers who don’t fit the assumed demographic. Ages 12–up.

August 15, 2010
Since the Dark Forces started targeting the sleepy beachside town of Venus Cove, angel Bethany Church, 17 in mortal years, and her siblings Ivy and archangel Gabriel have been sent to restore order. On her first trip to Earth, Bethany is only supposed to observe human behavior, not to befriend any of them. But how can she help succumbing to adolescence when the prom is only months away, she has a burning curiosity about human love and Xavier Woods, the hottest guy at her private high school, asks her out? The first half of this longwinded, repetitious novel with Catholic overtones explains the differences between angel and mortal lives and sets up Bethany's obsessive, abstinent relationship with Xavier, which begs for Twilight comparisons. The second half finally brings tension when manipulative transfer student Jake Thorn begins recruiting classmates to the dark side. Although the angels thwart Jake in a trite battle of forces, an open ending leaves room for his return. Readers who want to avoid flat, stereotyped characters should end here. (Paranormal romance. YA)

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November 1, 2010

Gr 7 Up-The first in a trilogy, Halo is the story of the angel Bethany, who has been sent with two other angels posing as her older brother and sister to a small town to encourage the human residents to seek a higher purpose and drive back impending evil. But Bethany is a young angel and finds the lure of high school, earthly friends, and the love of a human boy far more temptation than she ever expected. In spite of her youth (she's 18), Adornetto has written a compelling novel of good and evil that will find an audience among girls who can't get enough of otherworldly characters and situations and heart-wrenching romance. The novel suffers a bit from too much teen angst, but the author shows definite promise.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2010
Grades 7-10 Angel Bethany Church and her heavenly siblings Gabriel (yes, that one) and Ivy have been sent to a small town on a vague goodwill mission. Bethanys territory is high school, where she tries to blend in despite her ethereal glow and blissful navet'. Soon she is swept up into a chaste romance with impossibly good boy Xavier Woods while being tempted by a potential demon, Jake Thorn. Jake shows his horns by engineering the suicide of Bethanys classmate, and the forces of heaven and hell predictably clash. But when Bethanys and Xaviers lips meet in a kiss of true love, Jake is flung back to hell. The 17-year-old authors angel mythology is solid, though her self-conscious writing often lapses into clich', and her plotline follows a path that has been well trod post-Twilight. Still, there never seem to be enough lengthy tomes to satisfy the legions of paranormal-romance fans, and this first title of a planned trilogy fits the bill. For readers who have had enough supernatural star-crossing, recommend A. M. Jenkins superior Printz Honor Book, Repossessed (2007) instead.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)