Hexed. Michelle Krys. Toronto, ON: Doubleday Canada, 2014. 371 pp., hardcover & eBook, $19.95 (pbk.). ISBN 978-0-38568-050-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-38568-051-6 (eBook). Subject Headings: Supernatural-Fiction. Witches-Fiction. Magic-Fiction. Books and reading-Fiction. High schools-Fiction. Popularity-Fiction. Grades 7-10 / Ages 12-15. Review by Laura Dunford. *** /4 Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

excerpt:

She's gone.

My heart knots up as if someone's squeezing it, wringing it out like a wet dishrag. What do I do?

I thrash through the pile of untouched homework and old dishes on the computer desk until I find the house phone. My hands tremble as I dial 9, but I stop there, because what will I tell the police? Two sorcerers just stole into my room and kidnapped my mom, and they won't give her back until I unlock the secret spell that binds The Witch Hunter's Bible? Yeah, I'm sure that'd go over real well.

Hexed, an urban fantasy set in present day Los Angeles, follows the story of 16-year-old Indigo Blackwood, a popular cheerleader who discovers she is a witch just in time to face off against a group of sorcerers bent on killing her kind. Bad boy warlock Bishop takes her under his wing and, along with his ex-girlfriend, teaches her how to use her powers and helps her fight the sorcerers.

     Despite some heavy scenes and devastating setbacks, Indigo's voice remains consistent and keeps the tone of the story upbeat and fun, even when she's facing an angry dragon at prom! Readers should be aware, however, that there is some use of profanity and scenes containing sexuality, though nothing explicit.

Recommended.

Laura Dunford is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program at the University of British Columbia.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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