Star Touched

October 1, 2017

Gr 10 Up-In this debut novel, 18-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her "star-touched" powers after a meteor wipes out most of the world's population. The story takes place eight years after the Cataclysm as Tatiana flees persecution and seeks refuge in a small city of survivors. She struggles between starting a new life and revealing her widely feared abilities. As she becomes part of a new "family," their safety comes into jeopardy as a mob of crooks tries to control the town using violence and corruption. Tatiana's past comes to light when she is poised to help save her new friends, but the teen must learn to trust this new community. The story is told from three different points of view, and Tatiana's chapters reveal bits of her past and tell the story of her bond with Fifi, her teacup poodle. Other strong characters, such as Gareth and Bobby Sue, help tell the tale of the star-touched while demonstrating true bravery and integrity. The narrative flows well among the different perspectives. This work explores themes like power, greed, and corruption. Certain parts are very mature and feature brothels, phallic images, bloody fight scenes, and violence. The protagonist is a strong character who attempts to define herself while finding a place in the new world. The book ends with an epic battle of good versus evil and sets up for a sequel. VERDICT An action-packed read for libraries where thrillers, suspense, or mysteries are popular.-Christina Pesiri, Michael F. Stokes Elementary School, Island Trees-Levittown NY

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