YA Review: A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa Basso

I've been reading several YA books, and when I think they could be appropriate for middle grade, I review them on Monday. Books that aren't I schedule on a different day. Today is one of those days! Lucky for you...

Date Published: January 24, 2013
ISBN: 0985029420
Genre: YA, Paranormal Fantasy
Themes:Loss, loneliness, friendship, loyalty, identity, confidence, romance
Series: The Angel Sight Series


About The Book: Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing? —Goodreads

First Line: "Doctor Graham said I was in remission the day he signed my release papers."

Great Quote:   "What would angel lips taste like? Sunshine? Marshmallows? Or something altogether different? Maybe buttered-popcorn jelly beans."

What Others Are Saying: "Basso’s first entry in her Angel Sight series is guaranteed to please. From her independent but troubled heroine to the two tempting heroes and an unusual paranormal aspect, readers will love the slightly dark feel, and eagerly anticipate the next book."—RT Book Reviews

Author of THE IRON WITCH, Karen Mahoney, says, “A SHIMMER OF ANGELS has a courageous heroine who finds herself in the middle of two gorgeous angels, a fascinating world, and a story that builds to an exciting climax. I'm looking forward to more from Lisa M. Basso!"

Other Blogger Reviews:
My Library In The Making
Supernatural Snark
Operation Awesome

My Analysis:
1. POV is through Rayna's eye's, there were a few times I questioned her ability to know about something. For the most part consistant.
2. 321 pages
3. The Hook: Right in the first sentence, why was Rayna in an institution.
4. Inciting event: Rayna sees Cam for the first time.
5. Plot and Pace: Moved right along. Several instances of telling instead of showing, even if they were Rayna's thoughts.
6. Voice: Genuine and definitely YA. Uses slang and cuss words.

What I Thought: I'm pretty particular about my paranormal and angels with wings aren't my first choice. Since this is Basso's debut, I decided to make an exception and try it out. For the most part, I was glad I did. I liked the premise and was interested to see how she carried it through the narrative. I enjoyed watching Rayna discover herself through her interactions. She was in her head a lot, but then again, most sixteen-year-olds are. Besides looking closely at craft (The writer in me.) I like to keep in mind who the audience is as I review a book.(The consumer in me.) I believe Basso has done an excellent job of creating the high school scene and insecurities that go with that. I enjoyed the story for what it was, a YA story that explores another perspective from the eyes of someone who can't trust themselves about what they see. I think learning to trust what you see and your gut is one of the hardest lessons we have to learn. Quite often we don't until we're adults. Basso portrays this struggle well. 

About The Author: 

Lisa Basso

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Month9BooksYA Book Central has a great interview with Basso where she shares her playlist!

Who: Lisa M. Basso was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a lover of books, video games, animals, and baking (not baking with animals though). As a child she would crawl into worlds of her own creation and get lost for hours. Her love for YA fiction started with a simple school reading assignment: S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. When not reading or writing she can usually be found at home with The Best Boyfriend that Ever Lived ™ and her two darling (and sometimes evil) cats, Kitties A and B. 
—Goodreads

Has anyone else had a chance to read this?

YA Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Every once in a while I read a YA book that I would recommend to capable middle graders.This is definitely a book I can say would have appeal for older middle grade readers. 
About The Book:
 New soul: Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul: Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart: Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? -Goodreads

First Line: I wasn't reborn.


One Great Line: I yelled until my voice became shards of glass whistling through my throat. (319)

Awesome Character Quote: Sam said, "Clearly this rule was made to keep Ana out of Heart. It's cruel and unfair to exclude her simply because she hasn't been alive for five thousand years." (89) My favorite character!!

What Others Are Saying: INCARNATE has an eerie and intriguing premise and I am looking forward to seeing where Jodi Meadows takes it next. - Robin McKinley, bestselling and Newbery Award winning author of THE HERO AND THE CROWN, SPINDLE'S END, DRAGONHAVEN, and PEGASUS

Lyrical and thought-provoking, INCARNATE is the kind of book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. I loved it! - Rachel Hawkins, New York Times Bestselling author of HEX HALL and DEMONGLASS

What I Thought: I'd be lying if I didn't admit the incredible cover led me to move this YA to the top of my list. Gorgeous!! But, if that doesn't grab you then the premise surely will: A new soul in a world of incarnated old souls. When I opened the cover, Meadows grabbed my soul and pulled me in. Her narrative, sometimes lyrical, sometimes intense kept me turning the pages. Each chapter ended with a question to be answered which made it incredibly difficult to put the book down. This was my vacation book and it totally transported me to another world. I especially love the nuances of a souls worth, faith and control. She carefully leads you to ponder on these issues as you're swept up in Ana's quest to figure out who she is. Can't wait for the next one in the series!

About The Author: Jodi Meadows

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Who: Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. -Meadows Website

Join us on May 16th when Jodi will be stopping by the blog for an interview!!