Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen love hits town curse in emotional, imaginative fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE POOLS—hot springs once said to have miraculous healing properties—have long been the center of community life in the quaint New England town of Covington, and it's there that newcomer Lexie and local rich boy Chester share an instant connectiion. The story goes that many years ago, some young women went to the hot springs and were turned into ravens—but nothing like that ever happened again and nobody thinks about it much as Lexie and Chester's sweet fiirst love grows. One cold day in winter, only a few hardy souls brave the pools, and all of them turn into birds overnight. One of them is Lexie's little sister. Another is Chester. Lexie's determined to get them back before they're gone forever, while other townspeople want to kill them.
Is It Any Good?
This imaginative, emotionally intense tale of magical realism in a small New England finds two teens joyously in love—till one falls victim to a long-forgotten curse and is transformed to a swan. Lead character Lexie shows a lot of heart, determination, and creative thinking as she tries to care for—and save—her loved ones despite their changed form, and the free-verse narrative cuts to the chase of each moment. E. Lockhart's characters show relatable emotion as past secrets unfold; lots of grief and loss, and learning to live with both. More than one character is struggling with depression and self harm. Lexie and Chester have a strong connection from the first moment, and watching it trying to survive in the face of unthinkable change is an emotionally riveting, highly relatable ride.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Pools that look into sudden transformations, magical and otherwise, and how it feels to be caught up in them—or to love someone who is. How do you like the way The Pools looks at these situations? What other stories do you now that do it well?
How does Lexie reflect perseverance, courage, and creative thinking trying to undo the curse on her loved ones?
If someone you loved became someone, or something, you couldn't even recognize, how would you deal with it?
If a long-forgotten curse were to strike the place where you live, what do you think it would be like—and what would you do about it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : October 6, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 21, 2026
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