Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Summary: Mackenzie (Mac) lives in Hemlock, a town plagued by vicious werewolf attacks, one of which took the life of her best friend Amy. Since Amy’s death, Mac’s close-knit group of friends hasn’t been the same, and Mac discovers all are hiding secrets that have the potential to destroy their friendships. The town’s response to the increase in werewolf attacks is to hire Trackers, a militant anti-werewolf group that finds its roots in white supremacy. Mac is haunted by Amy’s ghost while trying to uncover the truth behind Amy’s death, and conflict between her friends Jason and Kyle thrusts her into the heart of the pro/anti werewolf battle with violent results.
Number of Pages: 405
Age Range: 15-17
Review: I admit a bias against books about the supernatural (werewolves, vampires, zombies and the like) but I was pleasantly surprised by Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock.
Teen girls are going to love this book. Mystery, romance, a love triangle, werewolves – it has everything. And it’s well-written to boot. The character of Mac is smart, self-sufficient, and definitely not a wall-flower. Her voice is honest and witty, and makes the book a pleasure to read.
What I loved the most though was that this is more than a simple fantasy book. It deals with issues of grief, guilt and making choices, all while challenging Peacock’s characters to look past the perceived monster to see the human being underneath the werewolf. I loved the angle of Lupine Syndrome, making being a werewolf into a disease.
I enjoyed the pacing, and the unfolding of the mystery behind Amy’s death into complex elements sets up further books in this series. Looking forward to reading them.
Memorable Quotes:
“Did I ever think about what was under Kyle’s indie rock T-shirts and jeans? Well, yeah. He was good-looking and I had a pulse. But thoughts weren’t action. Besides, some things were too important to mess with. ‘Kyle is my best friend. Why would I risk screwing that up?'” – Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, pages 13-14
“‘He wants you to have faith in him, I think.’
I opened my mouth to say that I did, but the words wouldn’t come out. ‘I just didn’t want him to get hurt.’
‘You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved,’ said Kyle with a shrug.” – conversation between Kyle and Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 60
“The intercom buzzed. ‘Wow,’ I muttered, ‘we’re more popular than a pretty girl at a Star Trek convention.'” – Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 118
“Old people asked each other where they’d been when JFK was shot; my generation asked each other if they could remember the day werewolves officially came out of the closet.” – Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 161
“‘Does it ever get any easier?’ I asked, thinking about Amy.
He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. ‘In some ways. After enough time passes, you realize that maybe a whole day went by where you didn’t think of them. Then you feel guilty because you’re not supposed to forget – even if it is just for a day.'” – conversation between Mac and Ben from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 180
“Derby eyed him and hesitated. He was the kind of man who wouldn’t think twice about slapping a girl, but a muscular, seventeen-year-old boy was a different story.” – from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 283
“It was official: my life belonged on the CW.” – Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 327
“I was starting to wonder if love was just the universe’s idea of a Kick Me sign. Amy, Jason, Trey, Kyle, Tess, me – all love seemed to do was mess things up and hurt you. Maybe not being able to say those three words wasn’t such a bad thing after all.” – Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 334
“I knew things couldn’t be that simple, but that didn’t stop me from lying to myself. Sometimes, lies gave you more strength than the truth.” – Mac from Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, page 403
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock is published by Katherine Tegen Books (2012).
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Sporeville by Paul Marlowe
Summary: Elliott Graven and his father, the doctor, have moved to Spohrville, Nova Scotia in response to a job offer for the position of town physician recently made available by an untimely death. Turns out the previous doctor’s death is the tip of the iceburg in Spohrville – a man named Professor Strange is controlling the whole town through mysterious means, using the townspeople to work in his silver mine and submit to his cruel experiments against their will. Elliot’s allergies end up protecting him from Professor Strange’s mind control, and together with a local named Denis and a werewolf name Paisley, he sets out to end Professor Strange’s evil plans.
Number of Pages: 204
Age Range: 13-15
Review: Jaunty, funny, exciting and disturbing are a few of the words I would use to describe Paul Marlowe’s Sporeville, the story of Elliott and his father moving to smalltown Nova Scotia after the death of his mother in a shipwreck. Set in 1886, it’s an adventure with cannons, secret liars and zombie-like villagers as well as a mystery wrapped up together, and while at times my reading was motivated by a morbid fascination with Professor Strange’s evil ways, I truly enjoyed this clever and engaging book.
Paisley, of course, was my favourite character, although even though I knew there was something supernatural about her, I didn’t realise she was a werewolf until Elliott figured it out himself. I loved her spirit, intelligence, and loyalty to Elliot, even though she’d only known him a few days before she needed to rescue him.
I also appreciated Marlowe’s well-developed sense of humour throughout the novel. At times I was sick to my stomach when I read about all of Professor Strange’s experiments, but Marlowe seemed to know just when to lighten the mood for his reader. I laughed out loud more than once, and I included a couple of the quotes in the Memorable Quotes section.
According to Marlowe’s website, Sporeville is considered to fall under the Steampunk genre. I’m not too familiar with the Steampunk genre myself, but if this is it, I can’t wait to read more. Good thing it is the first book in a series.
Memorable Quotes:
“Being a man of science, or at least hoping one day to become one, Elliott had a brain which didn’t believe in such things as ghosts, or corpses walking around abroad in the world, and yet his body was rather less decided on the matter. More or less of their own volition, his feet backed away from where the person or thing had disappeared, while his heart and stomach fought to get away faster by way of his throat. Or so he would have described the sensation had he tried to analyse it. Instead, his mind was busy trying to settle the rest of his parts down with reassuring assessments of the situation.” – from Sporeville by Paul Marlowe, page 14
“Paisley had by now retreated to the main hallway, from which she was regarding events with that bemused satisfaction that one has when watching one’s parent’s drive someone else mad for a change.” – from Sporeville by Paul Marlowe, page 19
“‘Y’understand, of course, there’s always a certain failure rate whenever you’re breakin’ new ground. Twenty percent, as ah recall, were successful.’
Just what success was in this case, Elliott hesistated to guess. Unfortunately, Strange filled in the void that Elliott’s imagination preferred to leave blank.
‘That’s to say, twenty percent forgot which side they were on, rather than forgettin’ how to hold a musket, or stand up, or breathe, for example. Complicated thing, the mind. Even a Yankee mind.'” – Professor Strange from Sporeville by Paul Marlowe, page 139
“Survival of the fittest, Strange had said. He must have lifted that idea from Charles Darwin, who had written something of the sort. Only Darwin had never meant to suggest that only the strong, or the cruel, or the selfish survived; merely the successful creatures did, whatever means they might use to win.” – from Sporeville by Paul Marlowe, page 141
“‘The table should absorb most of the damage,’ Mr DeLoup consoled his wife, who was mournfully patting the doomed furniture.
‘Why couldn’t it have been the lacquered wardrobe?’ Mrs DeLoup asked her husband. Or perhaps she was demanding an answer from Fate. She spoke in tones of such dismay that Elliott could almost imagine her standing over the dying hero of Trafalgar, on the deck of HMS Victory, wondering why the bullet hadn’t struck down some louse-ridden sailor instead of the Admiral.
‘Desperate affairs require desperate measures, my dear.'” – conversation between Mr and Mrs DeLoup from Sporeville by Paul Marlowe, pages 180-181
Sporeville by Paul Marlowe is published by Sybertooth Inc (2007).
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The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason
Summary: Ruby Carson is a teenager living in the 1960s with some unique challenges. Her brother, Percy, is highly sensitive, a near-drowning at a skating party gave her a vision that seems to be coming true, and the town she grew up in is about to be under water. Her best friend Sarah has recently moved away, so Ruby is left to deal with everything on her own. Things are further complicated by the fact that the townspeople are angry about having to sell their land to the government, and Ruby finds herself coming of age during a very uncertain time.
Number of Pages: 270
Age Range: 16-18
Review: Set in the 1960s with a cast of vivid characters, Riel Nason explores the gradual disintegration of a town that is about to be at the bottom of a new lake.
This is a richly detailed journey through a young woman’s perspective, and the story flows like a gentle river as the reader watches a catastrophe unfold in slow motion. I loved the complexity of the relationships among the townspeople, especially the way Mr. Cole relates to Ruby and her family, and the variety of reactions the characters had to their situation.
As for the sibling relationship between Ruby and Percy, Ruby is a typical sibling dealing with a special needs brother, and she is honest about how it both positively and negatively affects her life. Even when she is annoyed and frustrated by Percy’s behaviour, she still harbours a deep love for him that is evident through her actions.
I like the theme of identity that runs through the book. Ruby has been typecast as being weird at her school because of a near drowning where she experienced a vision. Because of the teasing she receives, Ruby is convinced no one will see her as anything other than weird. Nason skillfully points out through her narrative that sometimes all it takes is one person to see you in a new light to change your perspective. Ruby matures gracefully as the town around her is demolished, and having that different perspective helps her do so.
I also appreciated Nason’s talented use of foreshadowing through Ruby’s vision. When her vision began to come true, I got chills because I was so afraid of what could be coming next. Even though I had read this book before, the ending still surprised me.
I would recommend The Town That Drowned for older teens and adults. It’s haunting and memorable, and simply a lovely read.
Memorable Quotes:
“Everyone thought Percy was so different when he was really all about being the same.” – from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 14
“Weird is a disease and once you have it you have it. I’m fourteen years old and infected for good. There’s no miracle cure. There’s no special prescription. I am quarantined all along on the Island of Odd. It’s a chronic condition. A lifelong affliction.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 25
“Between my parents and Sarah I’m always hearing how a double dose of social comprehension since obviously none was given to Percy. I think I’m this way because compared to the effort involved in trying to decipher the complex puzzle that is my brother, figuring out everyone else seems easy.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 42
“I sit in the backseat with Percy and look over at him from time to time, wondering what he’s thinking. We see some of this from the school bus every day, but I figure this grand tour is more of the ‘easing him in’ that I hear my parents talk about at night. Percy isn’t saying anything, but he doesn’t have a book with him, so he’s forced to look out the window. Maybe their plan is working. I know it’s working on me. As we drive around now I realise that nothing seems too shocking anymore. I hope I can feel this way when our house is on the back of a truck or going up in flames.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 145
“I believe I may have just witnessed a miracle take place. So I remind myself to be positive. Enough with expecting imminent disaster. Maybe my time for happiness has finally come.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 162
“Let me say now if this happens, there will be casualties. I knew it, had known it, but didn’t want to, didn’t let myself. If someone you know starts talking only about the past and not the future, and gives away the things they have owned, touched, sentimentalized, given meaning to in this life, says goodbye to people, but then leaves without telling, has you clean their whole house so at least that won’t tarnish their memory – something bad is coming.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 197
“We’re living on borrowed time, in borrowed space. Our whole existence now is a freak of nature. The fact that Troy and his father were here, even temporarily, in our valley of change, seems like it could be a figment of my imagination.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 207
“Plus, the thing that really, really annoyed everybody, and absolutely confirmed that we weren’t invited to our own country’s big birthday bash, was the form at the back. It could be filled out if you had a hundred-year-old building that you wanted to mark with a historical plaque. Special centennial markers would be given to the owners of century homes so they could permanently display their significance. Mr. Foster said he doubted the plaques were waterproof. And several people said they were tempted to order a precious plaque so they could hammer it to their house just prior to its burning and see it melt in the flames.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, pages 213-214
“As far as Miss Stairs goes, my mother says lots of people have little hidden things about themselves, like an unseen birthmark, that you’d never know is there until something happens and the quirk expresses itself. Tragedy, sickness, death, accidents, you just never know. My mother also says the stress of the flood coming probably made Miss Stair’s situation worse – but at least it gave her a reason to seek help. You never know what some people are capable of, she says – until they are given a test, for better or worse. Unexpected problems bring unexpected results.” – from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 223
“I’m going because I think it’s something I’ll regret if I don’t. It’s part of this story I’m telling. We’re getting down to the end of all this now. There are last things to be done and remembered. This year the dance isn’t only for saying goodbye to people who are leaving, but also to the school, which will be demolished after graduation. I know it’s just a dance, but it feels important. I’ll go and stand by the wall. In a week I’ll be sixteen years old. I can do it. Somehow it’s like proof that I made it through. Years from now, I want to be able to say I was there.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 230
“And then I think about what Troy said. It’s something I’ve probably known for a while. I think I’m fine and it’s just the people in this place that distort me, like a reflection in the river, altering my image.
Sometimes different is a good thing.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 237
“I think Percy isn’t so much selfish as he is self-centred. I think selfish means putting yourself first at the expense of others – deciding to consider only yourself. But for Percy I don’t know that it’s ever a decision. It’s just the way he is.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 246
“I’m only letting myself worry until the water comes. That’s my promise to myself. And what I repeat in my head again and again. After the flood the river will be different, soaking up bits of old land, old memories. It will be bigger, bolder. It will sidle up beside us like someone wanting to be our new friend.” – Ruby from The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason, page 256
The Town That Drowned by Riel Nason is published by Goose Lane Editions (2011).
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Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White
Summary: Thirteen year-old Rachel is in foster care after the death of her mother and her brother Caleb. Bounced around from one foster home to the next, Rachel finds herself in trouble with the law and headed to Amelia Walton’s house, otherwise known as her last chance. Amelia has the touch for mending wounded spirits, and Rachel finds a true home with her and foster siblings Raymond, Crystal and Chelsea. But when Rachel’s paternal grandmother contacts her out of the blue, Rachel is faced with deciding who her family really is, and comes up with an idea to help mend Amelia’s wounded spirit in the process.
Number of Pages: 161
Age Range: 13-15
Review: Throughout my reading today I had the image of a woman taking care of a wounded bird. Because that’s who Amelia is, a caretaker of the wounded. Her gentle ways, unwavering understanding and support provide stability and love for those under her care, allowing them the chance to heal from injuries inflicted upon them, physical and emotional.
But the reason why Amelia is so good at helping the wounded heal is because she is also wounded. Under self-imposed house arrest for over thirty years due to a condition that causes growths on her face and body, Amelia fears going out in public will leave her open to stares and jeers. She has also been rejected by her own mother, and thus can relate to the problems of the children and teens in her care.
When Rachel comes to live with Amelia, it takes time, but she finds a home there with Amelia, Raymond and the twins. It’s almost as if they come to recognise each other as kindred spirits, and while Amelia is the adult who provides Rachel with stability and space (I especially liked the rule of having to spend an hour at the lake every day), Rachel returns the favour and pushes Amelia to expand her comfort zone bit by bit with the help of the other kids.
They are a family. So much so that when Rachel is presented with the opportunity to live with her grandmother and her father, I didn’t want her to. I was sick about it while she made her decision because I knew I wanted her to realise what she had, even if it meant not living with her blood relatives.
White writes in her acknowledgements that Anne of Green Gables was her inspiration and that she hopes people will care about Rachel as much as they care about Anne. It worked, because I do. By the end of the book I loved their whole family, and I wished that nothing would happen to change it. It’s an eclectic arrangement, even more untraditional than Marilla, Matthew and Anne, but it works and it is beautiful.
I loved all of White’s characters, but Raymond was my favourite. I know he’s just a supportive character, but what I did read about his background and his perspective and actions in general just got to me. He stole my heart.
After reading “Ten Thousand Truths” and “The Year Mrs. Montague Cried” and loving them both, I look forward to reading any books White writes in the future with great enthusiasm.
Memorable Quotes:
“Rachel knew that a trade was being made: a new, good kid for her, an old one that was cursed and evil.” – from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 4
“‘The peaches are really good.’ The sound of her own voice startled Rachel. She couldn’t even remember putting the thought together and deciding to speak it – the words had just come out and at first she wasn’t sure if Amelia had heard her.
‘Have another one,’ Amelia answered. ‘The whole basket is yours and they go bad so quickly. It’s like so much else in our lives. We have to enjoy it while we have it.'” – conversation between Rachel and Amelia from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 25
“She couldn’t get over the fact that she could walk right into a room next door and pick anything she wanted to read from hundreds of books. Right next door were enough books to fill her craving to read other people’s stories so she wouldn’t have to think anything about the miserable story of her own life.” – Rachel from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 27
“Rachel blew out the candles, cut the first piece, and passed it to Zac. She didn’t bother making a wish, though. What’s the point of making wishes when what you most wish for could never come true? she thought to herself.” – Rachel from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, pages 42-43
“‘Raymond has used food all his life to fill up a place that no amount of food will ever begin to fill. He came to me two years ago, abused and neglected, at a weight that was in danger of ending his life. Little by little, I have tried to fill those empty hurting places with a feeling of belonging and value. I will not take the pleasure of food away from him, but I will try to give him the things he needs to fill up the holes in his soul.’ Amelia picked up the tray and left the room.” – Amelia from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 55
“The way she felt seemed too good to be true and a part of her worried that something would happen to ruin things or take away this feeling.” – Rachel from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 73
“Rachel drank the last bit of hot chocolate from her cup and set it in Jodie’s backpack. As she strapped on her shoeshoes she thought about Jodie’s words: She’s harder on herself than anyone else would ever be.” – from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 81
“‘Rachel’s right,’ Jodie said. ‘By never questioning Amelia’s refusal to leave the house, we’ve let her tell herself year after year that she’s right to not let strangers see her. She needs to see that what strangers think is not important. She needs to know that the people who love her don’t believe her world should be limited to Walton Lake. We are going to do it, I just know it. And you, Rachel, will be the kid that finally changes the story that Amelia has told herself for thirty years.'” – Jodie from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 91
“Over the last few days she had thought a lot about how she felt the last time she had gone out, about the fear and self-consciousness that had almost paralyzed her at the seed store. She had told herself a few times since then that she had been right to stay here all those years and not expose herself to the judging looks of others. But standing here today, it occurred to her that the joy and privilege of being here was not hinged on the exile she had imposed on herself. In fact, her love of her home had become even clearer to her when she had finally let herself leave. She knew now that she had the choice. She could come and go and this place and this feeling would still be here for her when she got home. And no matter how it might seem, she knew that the feeling had nothing to do with how other people saw her.” – Amelia from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 105
“Take it from me: most of the beliefs in our shortcomings are spoken much louder from within than from anyone else.” – Amelia from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 135
“‘This isn’t about me, Rachel,’ Amelia answered. ‘All I have ever wanted for you, for any of my kids, is a place you can be safe, a place where you can find yourself, a place you can call home. When home can be another place, whether it happens now or when you are grown up and ready for a family of your own, I am more than happy to embrace that.'” – Amelia from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 153
“‘You are deserving of love, and the most important place that love comes from is within yourself.'” – Amelia from Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White, page 155
Ten Thousand Truths by Susan White is published by Acorn Press (2012).
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Nightwalker by K. V. Johansen
Summary: Orphan Maurey has been living the life of a servant at school ever since his guardian died and the money for his tuition just disappeared. A chance encounter with the King and his Chancellor reveals that Maurey is not only half-human, half-Nightwalker, he is also actually the King’s half-brother. Living in a kingdom known for its bitter hatred of Nighwalkers, a separate species from humans, Maurey’s life is in danger until he is rescued by a crafty Baroness named Annot. She encourages Maurey use his Nightwalker skills and reach out to the family he has never known for protection, but it ends up being the Nightwalkers that need him.
Number of Pages: 196
Age Range: 15-17
Review: A fantasy/paranormal/science fiction cross, Nightwalker is remarkably easy to get into and straight-forward. The characters of Maurey and Annot were interesting and relatable, and I liked the book’s theme of acceptance. Maurey is willing to help his people overcome their previously unfavourable attitudes towards Nightwalkers, which is surprising considering when people discovered he was half-human, half-Nightwalker, they were going to kill him, but admirable.
Nightwalker wraps up pretty neatly so I’m not sure where Johansen would go with another book, although since it says ‘Book One’ on the cover I’m assuming it is a series. I’d say it’s geared more toward mid-teens because of the maturity of Maurey’s character and the depth of his insights.
Memorable Quotes:
“I was only some dark-haired foreigner’s bastard, but the names were a good insult and an easy way to hate me. Small-minded people always feel better with someone to hate. It covers up their secret fear that there is something to the world outside themselves.” – Maurey from Nightwalker by K.V. Johansen, page 4
“‘I have to stay,’ I said, ‘at least for a while, long enough to make them see that I’m – human too. We have to start somewhere. If I can’t make these people, most of whom knew my mother, all of whom are supposed to be loyal to my brother – if I can’t make them understand that I’m a little different from them, what chance does a real embassy from my aunt the queen have?'” – Maurey from Nightwalker by K.V. Johansen, pages 185-186
“Holden was found guilty of murder and treason. He was sentenced to death by beheading. Annot and I attended the execution, not out of any vengeful desire to watch his dying, but because it would have been cowardice, of a sort, to have hidden away, when we were the agents of his downfall, the living representatives of those he had destroyed, the survivors of his crimes. . . I wept afterwards. I don’t know why. It was not for Holden, nor even for the parents I had never had a chance to know – but for a world, I think, where men like Holden could go to their deaths still believing that in killing people like me they had done what was right.” – Maurey from Nightwalker by K.V. Johansen, page 189
Nightwalker by K.V. Johansen is published by Orca Book Publishers (2007).
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About Amy
Amy Mathers has been passionate about reading from a very young age, and hopes others will share her enthusiasm for funding a teen book award. Read more Follow Amy
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