Cold Spell

Gr 9 Up—Kai and Ginny have been in love since they were children. They live in a shabby apartment building on the wrong side of Atlanta, and it has been them against the world, forever. As the end of high school approaches, strange events tear Kai from Ginny. A mysterious woman steals him away, but it is not simple infidelity at work. There is an entire supernatural world at play with our own, with werewolves that steal young girls and a Snow Queen who steals young men. Ginny fights to get Kai back, finding allies along the way. While individuals and scenery are described in vivid detail, the characterizations are weaker. Readers are told about, rather than shown, the teens' all-consuming love. Kai is described as an immensely talented violinist, while Ginny has no special qualities. In fact, a character describes her as not doing anything yet, so potentially she can do everything, which is a nice way to spin a bland, Mary Sue-type character. The pace is fast and the action is almost nonstop, helped along by a deus ex machina of a rich couple who have the talents and connections that Ginny needs, and who form an instant bond with her. If readers are willing to turn a blind eye to some of these issues, they can enjoy the action, the great descriptive language, and the swoony love story, loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's "Snow Queen."—Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT