Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways (Rhiannon Godfrey, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by K. Osborn Sullivan for TeensReadToo.com
Rhiannon Godfrey has problems. Her parents just moved the family from Las Vegas to a small town in the state of Washington. Her fashion-forward style doesn't exactly fit in with her new classmates. In fact, Rhiannon seems to be the only person in town who is not walking around in cowboy boots and a belt buckle the size of a dinner plate.
On top of that, a ghost is living in Rhiannon's new bedroom and needs help unraveling a 100-year-old mystery so she can cross over. There's also a snotty group of girls at school who delight in making Rhiannon's life difficult. The fact that she possesses psychic powers that aren't completely under control doesn't help.
Rhiannon keeps fighting the urge to use her powers to teach the mean girls a lesson. Sure, catching their hair on fire might feel good for a minute, but Rhiannon's mom would be so disappointed.
HER WICCAN, WICCAN WAYS is an entertaining paranormal adventure. It leads the reader through both the everyday high school agonies of friends, clothes, and boys, while adding exotic supernatural experiences and a pair of well-meaning Wiccan parents. It makes for a fun combination. Just when you think Rhiannon has a handle on her complicated life, an unexpected wrinkle pops up to push her back to square one again.
I enjoyed this book, and I liked the characters in it. I appreciated the fact that some of Rhiannon's problems were obviously someone else's fault (popular girls being nasty, for instance), while others were of her own making (not telling anyone about the evil spirit in her closet, for example). Regardless of how the problems landed in her lap, though, Rhiannon made an effort to deal with them.
Of course, if she had been my daughter, I would have been furious that she tried to handle so many dangerous things on her own. I had to keep reminding myself that this is the nature of YA books. No one wants to read about the teenage main character's parents solving all the problems. The teens have to be as independent as possible. Even if that's sometimes hazardous or scary.
I recommend this exciting book, and I think it will especially appeal to readers who like stories about ghosts, the paranormal, and trying to fit into high school life. It's got all that good stuff, along with a spicy touch of romance.
Rhiannon Godfrey has problems. Her parents just moved the family from Las Vegas to a small town in the state of Washington. Her fashion-forward style doesn't exactly fit in with her new classmates. In fact, Rhiannon seems to be the only person in town who is not walking around in cowboy boots and a belt buckle the size of a dinner plate.
On top of that, a ghost is living in Rhiannon's new bedroom and needs help unraveling a 100-year-old mystery so she can cross over. There's also a snotty group of girls at school who delight in making Rhiannon's life difficult. The fact that she possesses psychic powers that aren't completely under control doesn't help.
Rhiannon keeps fighting the urge to use her powers to teach the mean girls a lesson. Sure, catching their hair on fire might feel good for a minute, but Rhiannon's mom would be so disappointed.
HER WICCAN, WICCAN WAYS is an entertaining paranormal adventure. It leads the reader through both the everyday high school agonies of friends, clothes, and boys, while adding exotic supernatural experiences and a pair of well-meaning Wiccan parents. It makes for a fun combination. Just when you think Rhiannon has a handle on her complicated life, an unexpected wrinkle pops up to push her back to square one again.
I enjoyed this book, and I liked the characters in it. I appreciated the fact that some of Rhiannon's problems were obviously someone else's fault (popular girls being nasty, for instance), while others were of her own making (not telling anyone about the evil spirit in her closet, for example). Regardless of how the problems landed in her lap, though, Rhiannon made an effort to deal with them.
Of course, if she had been my daughter, I would have been furious that she tried to handle so many dangerous things on her own. I had to keep reminding myself that this is the nature of YA books. No one wants to read about the teenage main character's parents solving all the problems. The teens have to be as independent as possible. Even if that's sometimes hazardous or scary.
I recommend this exciting book, and I think it will especially appeal to readers who like stories about ghosts, the paranormal, and trying to fit into high school life. It's got all that good stuff, along with a spicy touch of romance.
