Starcrossed

April 18, 2011
Overwritten and overreaching, yet intermittently compelling, Angelini's debut novel, first in a planned trilogy, follows 16-year-old Helen Hamilton's stumbling discovery of her mythic identity. A new school year is starting, and a new family has joined the small island community of Nantucketâthe Delos clan, wealthy, beautiful, and numerous. Helen hates them all, Lucas Delos in particular, with a mindless ferocity that even she doesn't understand. He responds with a strange acceptance of her attacks that draws Helen into an unwilling collusion as they try to find a way to coexist. Lucas, however, is reluctant to explain the knowledge he clearly has, until a terrifying accident forces his hand. Angelini includes family drama, school angst, and a Homeric horde of characters to complicate the basic love story; many have mythologically meaningful namesâCassandra, Ariadne, Tantalus, etc.âthough their connections to their namesakes are complex and ambiguous. Nevertheless, the awkward, fate-shadowed romance between Helen and Lucas has many moments of sweetness and emotional connection, which should keep readers invested. Ages 12âup.