The Death Catchers

June 15, 2011

Faced with the essential paradox of prophecy—if you see the future, can you change it?—14-year-old Lizzy Mortimer races to save the people whose deaths she foresees and prevent Doomsday in this uneven modern-day Arthurian tale.

Like all the women on her father's side, Lizzy sees her first "death-specter" at the age of 14. Understandably upset, Lizzy finds help from her aphorism-spouting, Creole spice–loving Grandma Bizzy. When feuding enchantresses from Avalon start appearing in the twee coastal town of Crabapple, Calif., searching for the Last Descendent, Lizzy uncovers the Arthurian origins of her "Hand of Fate" and the high stakes for her amateur sleuthing. Lizzy comes off as younger than 14, even when crushing on high-school senior Drake Westfall, and high-school issues such as bullying, learning disabilities and overbearing/abusive parents receive a heavy-handed treatment. Spunky Bizzy outshines less well-developed characters, but Lizzy begins to blossom in the last few pages. The novel is written as a make-up final paper for English class, with literary techniques—transitions, setting and climax—explained in each chapter, and this framing device distracts from the central action. Despite a robbery subplot and an increasing number of rules about Lizzy's new "gift," foreshadowing is rampant and the end predictable.

Readers looking for rebooted mythology should stick with Rick Riordan. (Paranormal adventure. 10 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

February 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-In this exciting fantasy, Arthurian legend journeys to the Northern California coast to a community where Morgan le Faye's daughter settled more than 1000 years ago. Writing her story as a letter to her teacher as an argument for why she should pass English despite not having turned in her final project, 14-year-old Lizzy tells how she discovered that she was a Death Catcher like her grandmother, able to see people's impending deaths and prevent them. When she discovers that Morgan's sister Vivienne le Mort is planning to kill Drake, a boy at her school and the last living descendant of King Arthur, and thereby bring about the end of the world, she risks her own life to thwart these plans and save him. Her need to maintain absolute secrecy despite the fact that Drake's name is etched on her wrist while he is under the threat of death lends the story a sense of teenage reality as well as suspense. There is a gentle and sweet romance between Drake and Lizzy, and they are interesting and likable. Lizzy's quirky grandmother is carefully drawn, even though her colloquial speech (dropped "g's" and a plethora of "ain'ts") wears thin. The fantasy elements, specifically the transplanting of the Arthurian myth and the idea that Doomsday will affect the whole world, are not entirely believable, but the realistic aspects of the story are strong enough to carry readers along. This first book in a series will be enjoyed by a wide range of fantasy lovers.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.