Other

June 1, 2010

Supernatural activity is back in the state of Washington. In this clunky debut novel, homeschooled Gwenhwyfar Williams, an Other, feels she should hide her half-pooka identity, inherited from the Welsh shape-shifting father she never met, from small-town and small-minded Klikamuks. As more and more Others, including her best friend Chloe, a dryad, turn up murdered, Gwen knows a serial killer is stalking her kind. In her rush to find the killer, which becomes more plodding than intense, the teen also tries to reconcile her feelings for her longtime boyfriend, Zack, whose family of Christian zealots has historical ties to the Klan-like White Knights, and fellow Other Tavian, a half-kitsune, or fox-spirit, and manga artist. She also begins to rethink her "born" Otherness superiority over "bitten" Others, like vampires and werewolves, when she discovers their persecution. Fans of urban fantasy will take interest in Gwen's questioning of her sexuality and marvel at her animal abilities and intimacy, while other readers will find the theme of prejudice applied heavy-handedly throughout. (Fantasy. YA)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

July 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up—-his fresh take on a modern fantasy is set in Washington State. Shape-shifters, vampires, werewolves, and the like are called "Others," and "normal humans" are well aware of their existence. Others are being murdered, and it seems that a serial killer may be on the prowl. Several deaths are too close for comfort for teenage half-pooka Gwen. She discovers a dead couple, both water sprites, and her friend, a Dryad, hanging from a tree in the forest. Gwen searches for answers, all the while unsure of whom to trust and what exactly it means to be Other. In another wrinkle, Gwen's boyfriend comes from an ultra-Christian family who feel that Others are an abomination. He doesn't know that Gwen is half-pooka until after they lose their virginity to one another. The emotional turmoil of the characters is evident and will appeal to readers who have felt misunderstood or as if they don't belong-teenagers.—"Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2010
Grades 9-12 Kincys first novel is a standout blend of paranormal thriller and sweet teen romance. Gwen is half pooka (a Welsh shape-shifting spirit) in a slightly skewed modern world where Otherssupernatural creatureshave gone public. In Gwens backwoods Washington town, Others are met with suspicion, so her status as a person with paranormal identity is carefully hidden, even from her Christian boyfriend, Zach. When people in townall closet Others, including her friend Chloestart being murdered, Gwen knows a serial killer is on the loose. While simultaneously grieving and investigating her friends death, Gwen meets Tavian, a sexy teenage kitsune (a fox-like being) who recently moved to town. Though Kincy includes a strong suspect pool, the identity of the killer will likely be obvious to mystery buffs; the reveal, nevertheless, is chilling. Gwen is extremely likable as the impulsive, conflicted heroine, and although Tavian is a bit perfect, their romance is a dynamic counterpoint to the suspenseful mystery. Parallels between Others and other marginalized groupsparticularly homosexualsare a bit pointed but provide a realistic frame of reference.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)