Monday, April 19, 2010

Helen Stringer: Spellbinder

One Word Summary: I see dead people
Summary: Belladonna has problems. Her parents are dead, she has no friends, and she's a freak. But that's nothing. The real issue is that the ghosts, which she can see, have disappeared. Belladonna needs all the help she can get to find the Spellbinder and save the world.
More Words: A fun ghost story to read in lieu of television. The ghost world reminded me of Libba Bray's other dimension in A Great and Terrible Beauty or the afterlife in What Dreams May Come, except way less frightening and much less sensual. I couldn't disassociate the villain from Meet the Robinson's (with a Pancho/Igor sidekick) from the Alchemist. Also I found the extremely obtuse adults (think A series of Unfortunate Events) unlikely and cliche. But Belladonna is a great character, a perfect fit for the plot. I enjoyed her evolving relationship with Steve and Elsie.
Feiwel And Friends (Macmillan) 2009

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