| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this is the first book in a fantasy series that will appeal to Twilight fans. There are some gruesome scenes, including a girl losing her entire family in a car crash and watching them cross over to the other side. Another teen is murdered, though readers don't see it happen, and two more teens are threatened. Several scenes are quite bloody. There's also some swearing, heavy petting, and one teen develops a drinking problem. Even so, Ever is a relatable character and readers will empathize with her difficulty accepting her new reality. Fantasy fans who enjoy this book will be happy to learn there are several more books in the series and even a spin-off about Ever's dead sister.
Ever Bloom is the only survivor of a car crash that kills her entire family. After the accident, she has regular, in-person conversations with her dead little sister, develops intense psychic powers allowing her to read minds, and see auras. When a super sexy, rich, mysterious student named Damen shows up, Ever cannot see his aura, nor read anyone else's mind when he touches her, either. Who is this guy, and why is Ever drawn to him -- and scared of him -- all at the same time?
Author Alyson Noel does a great job drawing readers into EVERMORE. The audience will hit it off with strong but vulnerable Ever, and be drawn to the mysterious Damen, much like everyone else is in the book.
However, audiences will grow tired of the constant, incessant references to how hot Damen looks all the time. After Damen arrives we are treated to and beaten over the head with how incredibly attractive this mysterious teen boy appears to everyone -- male, female, adults, teens -- EVERYONE. And the novel's end reveal is a hard swallow, relying on past information readers only learn at the last minute. It feels like a bit of a letdown after what had been an interesting journey. Still, most teens will be willing to overlook these quibbles and surrender to the gripping story -- and its sequels.
Families can talk about immortality. Would you like to be a teen forever? What is appealing about this premise? What other books can you think of that include immortal characters?
This book has several sequels, and has sparked a spin-off series about Ever's dead sister (Radiance). Will you continue to read all the books in this series? Why do they appeal to teens?
| Author: | Alyson Noel |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | St. Martin's Griffin |
| Publication date: | February 3, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 320 |
| Paperback price: | $9.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
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