Immortal City
Celebrity angels are targets in fun paranormal thriller.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Immortal City is the first book in a series in which angels are celebrities and there's a serial killer who's murdering famous angels. A mixture of urban fantasy and gritty noir, it features teens and adults as main characters -- something not usually found in YA -- and will appeal to older, more sophisticated teens. Immortal City is stuffed with brand names, from designer lables to high-end automobiles to popular Los Angeles restaurants and stores to pop culture references. It's also heavy on the topics of politics, religion, fame, and money. Dead bodies are briefly described.
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What's the Story?
IMMORTAL CITY imagines an alternative Los Angeles called Angel City, where instead of human celebrities, angels have the power and fame. But Maddy, a human, couldn't care less. Despite having strange visions, she lives a quiet life with her uncle Kevin, who runs a local diner. She has an obsessed best friend who dreams of being protected by newly crowned guardian angel and immortal celeb Jackson Godspeed. Jacks has been preparing to become a guardian his whole life, but something is nagging at him. He yearns for something different. When he meets Maddy, who questions angels and their relevance to society, he discovers there's more to life than fame and fortune. But when a serial killer starts murdering angels, and Jacks is next on the list, the tables are turned ... and Maddy becomes the protector.
Is It Any Good?
You don't have to be familiar with the Los Angeles area, Hollywood, and the entertainment industry to get a kick out of suspenseful, romantic Immortal City. Although, after reading it, kids may yearn to purchase the latest cell phone, visit Hollywood hotspots, or get decked out in designer duds, just like the cool characters in the book. Sometimes the name-dropping reaches overkill, but it's a "Hollywood" book, after all. Immortal City definitely has an edgy, noir vibe because of the serial killer plot and the investigation surrounding murdered angels. Viewpoints vary between Maddy, Jacks, and Detective Sylvester. It's quite surprising that an adult is one of the main characters -- adults are usually secondary characters or absent in YA novels. Due to the mature subject matter, Immortal City, has adult crossover appeal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Immortal City's alternative version of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Would Angel City be a cool place to live, or would you feel like Maddy? Do you like the twist of angels being celebrities?
How would you feel if someone extremely famous or well-known became interested in you and you were suddenly thrust into the limelight? Do you think young people are influenced by celebrities?
In Immortal City, angels save lives, but only people who can afford protection have guardian angels. How would you feel if you knew someone had a guardian angel but you didn't?
Book Details
- Author: Scott Speer
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, High School, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Razorbill
- Publication date: April 2, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 336
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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