archicri

I actually quite enjoyed this as a quick fun read. There was a slight learning curve at the beginning as there is a whole set of slang words the characters use that you can't always figure out just on context alone. There's a glossary in the back for the purpose of helping you past this, but you don't realize it's there until the end. And to be frank, if you have to include a GLOSSARY for your readers to figure out what your characters are saying, perhaps you need to chill a bit on the made-up words, eh? Anyway. The overall story is, as I said, a quick fun read. There are no crazy surprises or twists, just a straightforward tale of a girl who wants to get rid of her parking fairy and perhaps garner a fairy that provides her a benefit rather than a benefit for everyone else. There's of course a boy involved, a popular girl who ends up being nice instead of snotty, and the witty best friend who is good at everything. It's all more or less predictable, but the way the story is told makes it feel fresh and not just the same story told over and over and over. I credit Larbalestier's crafting of the world in which the story takes place (not exactly the US but not really the UK but not Australia but...well you get the idea) for keeping things new and interesting. There's the unfamiliar vernacular used by the characters as well as a different community structure and things operating just a little left of center from what we're used to. That kept me delighted throughout. The book does read like it's for a younger audience than what YA Fiction is usually aimed at, but I'm a grown adult and still enjoyed it. It does have a tiny bit of a Disney Channel tween feel to it, but with less cookie cutter and more talent.

2022-11-14 16:18