Allison Clough Clough itibaren Martynivka, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrayna itibaren Martynivka, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrayna

I never hear this book spoken of when people wax rhapsodic about the young adult lit that really moved them. To me, this was as seminal and creative as the Roald Dahls I returned to over and over again. It's got everything! Magic, mystery, Tallulah Bankhead ...

I thoroughly enjoy this series from Kathleen George. She's from Pittsburgh and it's where her stories take place. It really makes you feel like you're right along for the ride or in the action because you know exactly where she's talking about. Oddly enough, I'd never heard of Sugar Lake and I am pretty well-traveled around Pittsburgh. I knew the other places though and pictured the "cottages" in my head based on other places I know like that. In addition, I used to know a lot of Pittsburgh police and have kind of given my own faces to the characters in this series. All of her stories are very true to life and so it's refreshing that she's not writing about something that is really a stretch to buy into. Her characters are strong when they need to be and vulnerable when called for as well. Oftentimes, you end up feeling sorry for one of the "criminals" (for lack of a better word) because she makes you very sympathetic to their plight. It only takes me a few hours to read these because they are definite page turners. I always try to support the local writers and this one gets a two-thumbs up!

I am very glad that J.K Rowling didn't sell out or do anything selfish with this book. I was rather sad to find my favorite characters (minus a few) among the dead, but SPOILER ALERT at least she didn't kill Harry. That would have been a little selfish, I think. I think the dialog was great, the way everything tied together was great, and the only thing I really gripe about is the epilogue at the end. I mean, it was really a little lame after everything else.