Reviewed by Andrea for TeensReadToo.com
SELINA PENALUNA by Jan Page is a story told from two different people, but in three different ways.
Selina grew up thinking that she was a merrymaid. She knew all about the story that her mother told her - that one day her mother dropped her into a deep pool but swears a different child came up. She tells her version of the story in the viewpoint of a child/teen.
Ellen and Jack are twins. Due to the war, they had to evacuate and live with a different family. Ellen loved the new life, but Jack never adjusted. The story is told from Ellen's point of view as a child/young adult, and later as a senior citizen.
Jack and Selina fall in love, but Ellen is jealous. When tragedy befalls Jack, Ellen blames Selina and sees her ghost everywhere.
This was an interesting story, although it took me a while to get into it. The language told from Selina's viewpoint was a little hard to read at first. I felt sorry for Ellen; she just wanted to be loved, both by the family that took the twins in and by her brother. But I didn't like Jack or Selina. I felt that Jack's character was just rude and obnoxious and I couldn't connect with Selina.
However, I really liked the twist at the end. I didn't see it coming at all! And just as a side note - I absolutely LOVE this cover. It's beautiful!
SELINA PENALUNA by Jan Page is a story told from two different people, but in three different ways.
Selina grew up thinking that she was a merrymaid. She knew all about the story that her mother told her - that one day her mother dropped her into a deep pool but swears a different child came up. She tells her version of the story in the viewpoint of a child/teen.
Ellen and Jack are twins. Due to the war, they had to evacuate and live with a different family. Ellen loved the new life, but Jack never adjusted. The story is told from Ellen's point of view as a child/young adult, and later as a senior citizen.
Jack and Selina fall in love, but Ellen is jealous. When tragedy befalls Jack, Ellen blames Selina and sees her ghost everywhere.
This was an interesting story, although it took me a while to get into it. The language told from Selina's viewpoint was a little hard to read at first. I felt sorry for Ellen; she just wanted to be loved, both by the family that took the twins in and by her brother. But I didn't like Jack or Selina. I felt that Jack's character was just rude and obnoxious and I couldn't connect with Selina.
However, I really liked the twist at the end. I didn't see it coming at all! And just as a side note - I absolutely LOVE this cover. It's beautiful!
