The Fitter, Happier UnLibrarian's Blog of Young Adult Books

by Megan DeTour
LIBR 265-10 Materials for Young Adults
Spring 2009, Professor Wrenn-Estes
Master of Library & Information Science
San Jose State University, California

The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong

The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong

By: Kelly Armstrong
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publish Date: July 2008
ISBN: 0061662720
Page #: 416pp
Age Level: Young Adult
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Supernatural/Paranormal


Series Title: Darkest Powers

The Summoning (2008)
The Awakening (2009)

Subjects: Ghost Stories, Group Homes, High School, Mental Illness, Schizophrenic.

Annotation:

Fifteen year old Chloe Saunders is sent to live at Lyle House, a home for mentally-disturbed teens, when she starts seeing ghosts. It is there that she learns the truth about her gift and much much more. . .

Summary:

Chloe Saunders thought she was a typical teenager; getting by in high school, waiting for her crush to ask her out to prom, and LOVING movies but then it happened-she saw a ghost. At first Chloe assumes it must be her imagination, but when a mysterious janitor with severe burns chases her at school, Chloe understandably panics and reacts badly, landing her in a home for children with mental problems. The Lyle House is a group home where she will stay along with six other teens to receive counseling. Chloe is determined to recover quickly but instead of things getting better they get worse as Chloe stumbles upon the ghost of an old man desperately trying to tell her something important. The Lyle House turns out to be so much more than it originally appeared to be.

Megan says:

I really enjoyed The Summoning and am looking forward to reading the sequel as there are many twist and turns at the story’s end, leaving an interesting cliffhanger that will almost force readers to continue the ride. I liked the way Chole narrates the story from a film director perspective (comparing her life to film). I found this made the story more fascinating as she was a theater arts student before she was admitted to the asylum. I recommend this book to all teens who love the supernatural elements.

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★