Jaz Primo's âGwen Reaperâ is just a sweet little coming-of-age story about a high school football player who moves to a small North Dakota town and a young lady who had lived there for some time. Oh, did I mention that the young lady had been in a multi-year funk after watching her brother and father die in a car crash, basically withdrawing from society and embracing home-school? And that she has a pet bulldog â and a pet alligator? And that the young lady has some sort of, uh, powers regarding the loss of life?

I admit, I found the plot to be somewhat predictable (although the climax could have been building to alternate and opposite conclusions â it didn't become clear until I actually reached that point in the story.) So what â I found the plot to Cinderella to be rather predictable, as well, but that doesn't make IT any less of a classic for multiple generations! The important thing is that the characters are incredibly likeable, and I found myself rooting for them to succeed harder than I've rooted for any fictional characters in quite awhile. Furthermore, the pacing of the story was quite comfortable and â predictable or not â I found it difficult to put this novel down.

I've wanted to read this novel for awhile, and found it worth the wait. I give it high recommendations.

RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.

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