Sunday, June 19, 2011

Raven by Suzy Turner

Raven is Suzy Turner's debut novel for young adults.  In it we follow the character of Lillian Taylor as she goes on an epic journey across the world to find herself and the family that she has lost.  Over the course of her journey, Lilly learns that there is far more to life than the meager existence that she has lived for the past 13 years.  She learns that she has family across the world who she has never met and who are dying to have her home with them. She also learns some hard to swallow truths about herself and her parents.  It's a wonderful story of a young woman finding herself.

Lilly's life is the same day in and day out.  Everyday she wears ugly yellow clothes, cold soup from cans and silence.  She's watched every hour of every day.  Lilly isn't allowed to make friends or to have fun.  School, food, sleep and silence- that's her life until one day, she comes home from school and finds her parents are missing.  When they are not found, she is sent to live with her paternal grandfather who she has never met across the world.  She must leave England to go to Western Canada.  When she reaches Powell River, she meets the family that she never knew she had and begins to unlock the mysteries of her life.  What makes Lilly special?  Well, you'll just have to read Raven to find out!

I loved this book because it was so new, interesting and different.  The beginning is almost painful to read as we see Lilly struggle through her life, completely isolated.  Then after she is sent to Canada, she begins to grow and change.  She becomes more sure of herself.  She learns about what life is really like and how to live it.  Lilly finds love and experiences the joy and pain of first love.  She also finds out the truth behind her life and begins to delve into her parents' disappearance.  Lilly also learns that she has possibly inherited a gift from both of her parents.  This gift opens a world of possibilities for her and she's forced to accept that there might be more to the world than meets the eye.  I loved Lilly's character but I also enjoyed Rose.  Rose is like a mentor and a mother figure to Lilly and she has lived an amazing life.  She's not your typical older lady.  She's an artist who is a little eccentric and who has a secret gift of her own.  All in all, this was an enthralling read that is everything but ordinary.  I would say that it is suited to readers 12 and up.  Please make sure you come back tomorrow for my interview with Raven's author, Suzy Turner!!!

Raven receives 4 Fairies for being unique and wonderful! 


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