04 November 2011

BANISHED by Sophie Littlefield [review]

Banished by Sophie Littlefield

Published:
October 10th, 2010 | Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Age: Young Adult
Pages: 304
Acquired: Borrowed from library

Overall:

Review: Another blogger asked if I would like to read Unforsaken by Sophie Littlefield for her blog and it sounded really good, but when I accepted it... I realized it was the second in a series, so I had to read the first one immediately.
And I'm so glad I did. This book was simply sooo good! From the beginning I knew that I'd love this book and didn't want to put it down. But of course I had to, every time something got in the way.
But when I could, I picked it up and read, read, read.
I usually wait a day or two to give reviews, so that the book and story can sink in, but I just finished this one not 30 minutes ago and I had to get on here and review!

Banished is about a girl, Hailey, who learns that she was healing powers after saving a girl's life in gym class. When things start to become less clear, she starts to ask questions, but being the oddest girl out, no one wants to help her. She never knew her dead mother, and has no idea who her father is so she wouldn't get answers there. Then there's her crazy and evil grandmother who sells drugs out of their house and treats Hailey as if she were nothing. All Hailey has is her "brother" Chub and dog Rascal.
That's until her aunt, Prairie comes looking for her.

After Hailey, Prairie, Chub and Rascal finally escape an attack on Hailey's grandmother and the other Banished in town they begin their journey to Chicago and Hailey slowly begins to learn how little she knew about her life.

The entire time I felt so bad for Hailey, but loved how strong she was. She learns she's a healer and the bad and good things that come along with it. Little Chub, adorable and I commended her for basically being his mother at 16 while Chub is 4 with developmental problems.

I was surprised at most things that happened. I'm usually a few steps ahead in a book but everything that happened to Hailey, happened to me, because I just didn't see it coming. Especially the twist towards the last third of the book.

The only reason I give this book 4 stars is because there is no romance in the book, but it does hint at some romance in the next one. I wish I'd only gotten one book from the library so I could read Unforsaken now!

Plot:
Characters:
Ending:
Writing: 1/2
Cover:


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Author Info:
Sophie Littlefield
grew up in central Missouri, daughter of a history professor father and an artist mother. She earned a degree in computer science and made very little use of it. After living in Chicago for ten years, she and her husband packed up the kids and moved to Northern California in 1998.
She is an Adult and Young Adult author.

Check out Sophie on: website | twitter | facebook | blogger | goodreads
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Maira Gall