Wildefire

Knight's debut novel is an edgy twist on the magical boarding school theme. Ash Wilde, 16, is a Polynesian girl adopted, along with her biological sister, Eve, by an American family. A catfight over a philandering boyfriend ends with a warrant for Eve's arrest and Ash's banishment to Blackwood Academy, 3,000 miles from home. There she meets Ade, Lily, Serena, Raja, and Rolfe, a rainbow coalition of sorts united under the influence of Serena. Each teen has a godlike ability%E2%80%94except for Ash, who has only memories of her sister's horrifying rage and strength. Ash would rather play tennis and flirt with park ranger Colt Halliday, but she can't deny her affinity for the strange events and visions associated with Serena. Despite cherry-picking gods and goddesses from around the globe, Knight doesn't delve too deeply into any of the mythology he makes use of, and his heroes feel a little Captain Planet in their studious diversity. Not that it much matters: it's a fun, well-written, and engaging read with a last-sentence twist that suggests a sequel is all but inevitable. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. (July)