Starcrossed
Josephine Angelini. HarperTeen, $17.99 (496p) ISBN 978-0-06-201199-2
Overwritten and overreaching, yet intermittently compelling, Angelini's debut novel, first in a planned trilogy, follows 16-year-old Helen Hamilton's stumbling discovery of her mythic identity. A new school year is starting, and a new family has joined the small island community of Nantucket%E2%80%94the Delos clan, wealthy, beautiful, and numerous. Helen hates them all, Lucas Delos in particular, with a mindless ferocity that even she doesn't understand. He responds with a strange acceptance of her attacks that draws Helen into an unwilling collusion as they try to find a way to coexist. Lucas, however, is reluctant to explain the knowledge he clearly has, until a terrifying accident forces his hand. Angelini includes family drama, school angst, and a Homeric horde of characters to complicate the basic love story; many have mythologically meaningful names%E2%80%94Cassandra, Ariadne, Tantalus, etc.%E2%80%94though their connections to their namesakes are complex and ambiguous. Nevertheless, the awkward, fate-shadowed romance between Helen and Lucas has many moments of sweetness and emotional connection, which should keep readers invested. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. (June)
Details
Reviewed on: 04/18/2011
Genre: Children's
Downloadable Audio - 978-0-06-210362-8
Downloadable Audio - 978-0-06-201294-4
Open Ebook - 528 pages - 978-1-4472-0504-3
Other - 512 pages - 978-0-06-208016-5
Paperback - 512 pages - 978-0-06-201200-5
Paperback - 513 pages - 978-0-330-52973-0