Unearthly

Hand debuts with an engrossing take on the angel mythos that centers on human/angel hybrids living modern lives. All semihuman descendants of angels have a "purpose," something they were put on Earth to do, and 16-year-old Clara is no exception. Following the clues in her visions, Clara and her family move from California to Wyoming to find the boy she believes she's destined to save from a forest fire. Locating Christian is fairly easy; figuring out why and how she's supposed to get close to him isn't. As Clara negotiates high school cliques and homework, learns to use her wings, and suffers oddly stimulating arguments with her best friend's brother, she finds she will have to make decisions that could break her heart or deny her very purpose. Hand avoids overt discussion of religion while telling an engaging and romantic tale with solid backstory. Her characters deal realistically with the uncertainty of being on the cusp of maturity without wrapping themselves in angst. While the exciting climax satisfactorily concludes many of the story's threads, some questions are left to the next book of the trilogy. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)