After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.
At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…
This was given to me by one of my students and when ever they recommend to me, I never know what I am going to get. This was a wonderful surprise. It's set in Buffalo, New York - which I love because I'm from around the area and know the references.
Anyway, the story starts with Chloe as a little girl, scared of her basement because she does not understand that she is seeing ghosts. Fast forward to Chloe's 9th grade year and a really bad day in school. She gets her powers and BAM - she's dead people and her Aunt sends her to Lyle house. She meets Liz for a split second and she's gone. She meets Rae - the pyro and friend. Tori- the bitch with a really bad temper. Simon - the flirty and protective brother of Derek. Derek the abnormally scary teenage boy who also has a temper. All kids who need help but not the normal type of help, you would think.
There are tons of relationships - delicate relationships - my favorite is actually with Derek and Chloe. He's super protective of her and I'm not sure why. He also doesn't like many people and is very blunt as well, but his relationship with Simon and Chloe, show that he is a considerate and kind person, he just doesn't show it like others.
The group orchestrating the Lyle house aka the bad guys, may have a reason for what they are doing or they don't. But I need to know more about them. Never have I wanted the "bad guy" to not be. There could be a great reason. Or they could be really, really bad guys. (again, more info is hopefully going to be in The Awakening).
Some quick thoughts:
There's a romance budding - I can feel it!
Chloe really needs to figure out how to use her powers or she is going to be in some serious trouble.
Aunt Lauren - hmmmmm
And what did Chloe's dad do in his past?
Derek may like Chloe - heartbreak in the future?
Great review! Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and I really like this series. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review!! I love Kelley Armstrong. This is an awesome series.
ReplyDelete"Never have I wanted the "bad guy" to not be.".... i know exactly what you mean! i couldnt (wouldnt) believe it.... alas, thanks for sharing your thoughts! another book we can add to our talk list :)haha!
ReplyDeleteIm glad you all liked this series and yes Diana...another one to add to our list!
ReplyDeleteI've never been able to get into this series. I will have to give it another try.
ReplyDeleteAmy@adumbrations (new follower)
http://amysadumbrations.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
Sounds like an interesting set of characters! And it's always fun when you're familiar with the book's setting. Although it can sometimes backfire if the author screws up the setting. That almost ruined The Dark Divine for me. I live very close to where the book is supposed to be set and she got it laughably wrong. I think an author shouldn't set a story in a real place unless they've visited or at least researched it on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteIts nice that your students suggest books to you. :) And glad it worked out that you liked it. Thank you!
ReplyDelete