Beheld

Gr 9 Up—Sometimes life feels like it needs a little magic to make things perfect, and even talented teenage witches struggle to make things work. Kendra is an immortal witch, destructible only by fire—and perhaps love. When she meets James in 17th-century Salem, MA, they immediately connect, and their love takes flight. However, tensions surrounding the Salem witch trials force them to flee, and they are separated. Kendra travels through the centuries and provides a magical touch in four different fairy-tale stories as she searches for James. Can magic help her find her true love? This book offers an interesting way of exploring teenage life throughout multiple time periods and settings. The author has done research regarding the characters who are not fictional, and she skillfully weaves historical circumstances with the personal experiences of her characters. Young adult readers will relate to common social experiences and interactions. The stories contain some mild sexual content, such as kissing and implied intimacy, and the language used in present-day settings is also authentic, including words such as badass and slutty. Overall, this is a compelling read for young adult fans of fantasy and light romance. The unique use of settings and narration style will keep readers intrigued till the last page.