Nobody's Goddess

Gr 8 Up—When the first goddess cast her spell a 1,000 years ago, she decreed that all men must wear masks until each finds his one true love—his goddess. Noll lives in a small village where men are at the mercy of their women. Meanwhile, she and Jurij play as childhood friends until Jurij recognizes his goddess in Noll's sister, Elfriede. Noll is devastated. With no other eligible candidates in her village, the teen sets out on a pilgramage to find answers. On this quest, Noll encounters a magic sword, which allows her to travel between the past and present to find the answers she desperately needs about the first goddess; the spell, which man was meant for her; and how to save Jurij. McNulty has created a setting which seems both familiar and foreign. There are many terrestrial qualities to this 16th-century village, such as mountains, meadows, forests, and lakes. But there are also hints of magic throughout. Slightly underdeveloped world-building makes it difficult to keep track of all the rules. As the plot develops, the heroine encounters the lord of the castle. The story line then follows the pattern of many "Beauty and the Beast" adaptations. The lord takes Noll to his castle where she is imprisoned, and they only have each other for company. The character development flounders a bit as McNulty sets the scene. Despite its slow beginning and choppy pace, the story is fun and engaging, featuring a female protagonist who will resonate with young teens.