The Replacement

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff 

New York: Razorbill, 2010

343 pages

3 out of 5

Mackie is not one of us.  Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a replacement--left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago.  Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate.  But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem.  He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs. (Description from Amazon).

The premise is interesting and unique but I wasn't immediately gripped by the story. There are times when I feel novels explain too much and other times when I feel the set-up is lacking.  This was sort of an in-between for me in that sense.  The description does provide some set up--yes, Mackie is definitely a replacement and he's allergic to the human world.  But the story still felt like it was jumped into a bit without much explanation.  More is given along the way, but as someone who does not read this genre often, a little background would have uncluttered my brain a bit more.

Mackie is an interesting, well thought out character who contends with the typical teenager problems like figuring out girls while also working to appear normal.  Mackie's "condition" is not necessarily a secret; the town of Gentry has a long history of pretending things are normal while putting up safeguards to keep their children safe in their beds.  The only other two characters worth mentioning are Roswell, Mackie's best friend, and Tate.  Roswell is the quintessentially normal son of the most normal family in Gentry and knows Mackie is different, but sticks by his side anyway.  Tate is Mackie's love interest.  There's a lot of bickering and confusion, but that's teenage love for you. 

Many of the scenes involving Mayhem just seem surreal to me.  At first I felt like I was reading a different novel.  The intertwining worlds did eventually make sense and flow more smoothly. 

Overall it was an interesting read and I like that it takes a bit of a different look at the paranormal.  

In My Mailbox (15)

IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a weekly meme to share titles borrowed, bought, scavenged, traded and won.

Borrowed:

The Charmed Return by Frewin Jones

(My guilty thank-goodness-the-semester-is-over pleasure)

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner (ebook)

Bought:

On Pointe by Lorie Ann Grover

Diary of a Teenage Stud Vol. II: Stop, Don't Stop by Jonah Black

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo

On Raven's Wing: New Tales in Honor of Edgar Allan Poe (Adult)

In My Mailbox (14)

 IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a weekly meme to share titles borrowed, bought, scavenged, traded and won.

Borrowed: 

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

You Hear Me? Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys edited by Betsy Franco

Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block

Bought:

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

Scavenged: 

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch*^

True (. . . Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan 

(I loved Ida B, so as soon as I saw this I got super-excited!)

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*YA Debut!
^The ARC cover is much better. 

Poetry Month: Zorgamazoo

National Poetry Month is in its 15th year.  To celebrate, I will be posting quick reviews of poetry books and novels in verse throughout the month of April.  

Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston 

Razorbill, 2010 (Reprint)

288 pages

5 out of 5

"Here's a story that's stranger than strange.  Before we begin you may want to arrange: a blanket, a cushion, a comfortable seat, and maybe some cocoa, and something to eat."

In rhyming couplets, readers learn the take of the lost Zorgles of Zogamazoo.  Morty Yorgle is a hero, at least the lottery says so, and it becomes his quest to learn what happened to the Zorgamazoo Zorgles.  Along the way he meets Katrina Katrell, a precocious young lady on the run from her guardian and looking for adventure.  The two discover a foul plot to remove these special creatures and their mythical brethren from Earth to leave its inhabitants bored. Can Morty and Katrina return enchantment to Earth along with the Zorgles or Zorgamazoo? (my own description from an assignment of all places!)

Weston channeled both Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein to create this fun adventure. Within twenty pages I knew I had to own this book.  It's perfect if you're feeling energetic or want to feel energetic.  The rhythm of the text makes fast-paced sections feel as urgent as they should, while still not feeling like a race to get to the end.

To avoid the gush-fest that is attempting to burst forth from my fingertips, I'm going to simply end with a very adamant you should read this book.  Giggles are guaranteed, especially if you read it out loud. 


It's also won the 2010 Silver Birch Award (Ontario Library Association) and is an E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor book for 2009.
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Disclosure: I purchased this book for my own reading enjoyment (after I borrowed it through inter-library loan).
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I thought I had already published this!  It's the end of the semester, so I'm a bit scattered.  My apologies. Things should return to normal Sunday.

April is National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month is in its 15th year.  To celebrate, I will be posting reviews of poetry books and novels in verse throughout the month of April.