By: Meg Cabot
Pierce Oliviera is a troubled girl. Things haven’t been the same for her since the day she died. She didn’t stay dead though and during the time she was she sees a strange world with two lines and two boats. She also meets a mysterious boy, who takes her away from the lines to somewhere warm. He bestows the gift of a magnificent gem on her and she runs. Then strange things stat to happen to Pierce and her mother takes her to Isla Huesos to make a new start.
The new start gets complicated when the mysterious boy turns up. His name, it seems, is John Hayden and he is very much tied to the island and her in a way Pierce has yet to understand. Despite everything that is going on,and her fear that he will take her away from all she knows and loves Pierce finds herself drawn to him.
Cabot has woven together an intriguing story where both the past and present events in Pierce’s life are opened up to us piece by piece. Both timelines are necessary to the story and the way they are worked together is clever and keeps you hooked. There was a moment when I threw the book down and said ‘if I turn that page and Pierce reacts a certain way I’m done’, thankfully she didn’t. For me this book was a nice change of pace if you fit it into the paranormal genre, though I’m not convinced it sits there very well as there are no werewolves, vampires or angels. It even had a moment I didn’t see coming which is a pleasant surprise when you read as much as I do. This is an interesting concept spun in to an enjoyable read by a deft hand.
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 26 April 2011
Format: Paperback 304 pages
Categories: Fantasy Romance School Stories
ISBN 13: 9780330453851 or 9780330453868 (Australia)
Purchase: here or use the logo on the side to go to Booktopia
Disclaimer – I received this book from Pan Macmillan to review.
TheKylieVerse 
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