Impossible

Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Published in 2009 by Speak
364 Pages
Warning: dialogue about sex, language, moments that may scare some young readers, rape, teen pregnancy
Genre: Magical Realism, Family, Romance

Lucy has grown up in a foster home, unaware of the curse on the women in her family for the past several generations. Uneasy about recent visits from her insane mother, Lucy begins to worry why her mother is the way she is. When Lucy is raped at her prom, pieces begin to fall together. She discovers her mothers diary with details about the family curse that once fell upon her mother and have now fallen upon Lucy with her pregnancy. Unsure of what to think, Lucy involves her foster parents about the next course of action to take. Lucy decides, with the hep of her family, she will complete three impossible tasks to break the family curse. From this moment, readers will not be able to put the novel down.

I love this novel. It is addicting from the first page. Nancy Werlin merges magic with reality seamlessly and creates a strange and surprising universe full of twists and turns. The magical details Werlin presents are easy to believe, and the reader wonders when they get up from reading if they will suddenly be required to sew a seamless shirt. I love the message this novel sends to readers about family. Werlin presents the idea that no matter what task must be completed by an individual, family can stand by that individual through each moment of the task; thus, a person must never shoulder a burden or task completely alone. Family will always be there to help lighten the load and make whatever sacrifices are necessary.

I would suggest this book be read by a teen who believes that they can only count on their own power to accomplish something. This novel teaches the importance of teen work and even believing that help can come from beyond the grave, loved ones, a higher power, whatever. This novel simply teaches the benefits on relying on more then oneself.

Looking for Red

Looking for Red by Angela Johnson
Published by Simon Pulse in 2003.
116 pages
Warning: smoking teens, language and death
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Magical Realism, Death

Looking for Red is the story of a young girl, Mike, whose brother has recently disappeared, and assumed to be dead. Not aware of how he died, the novel portrays the last moments Mike saw her brother and the healing process which takes place afterward. Mike truly "grows up" in the final two chapters of the novel, truly coming to grips with her brother's death.

Here is an excerpt from the novel:

"I stand on the beach sometimes and holler across the waves. And I don't think anyone even pays attention anymore. I've been doing it for so long that I can't remember when I didn't. So it came to me a while back that if I scream enough, he'll come back."

While Red, her brother, never returns as a mortal, be does visit Mike and other family members and friends as a spirit. His visits teach valuable lessons.