I couldn't resist blogging about Auracle by Gina Rosati because who doesn't want to read a book about astral projection gone awry? I have to say I was a little skeptical about a book whose plot involves the main character's body being taken over by someone else when she's careless enough to astral project out of it. I mean, c'mon. I kind of like my main characters to be corporeal. But Rosati handles the plot deftly, creating a character in Anna Rogan who we can relate to even when she's having trouble relating to herself, literally. She has to get her body back from her high school nemesis who has stolen it. Her partner in crime, or at least in body-switching, is her best friend Rei who is aware of her mystical gift. Rei is struggling with teen issues of his own - figuring out what he wants to do with his life and coping with his parents' expectations of him. He is also drawn to Anna romantically despite the fact that a romance between them could ruin their friendship and that his parents wouldn't necessarily approve. Needless to say everything works out in the end, or at least it's as okay as it can when there's one too many spirits around all vying for the same body. It's an engaging, fun and sweet tale that uses the paranormal to bring out issues relating to finding oneself (both figuratively and literally - ok, I'll stop with the astral projection metaphors now). It's also very mild on the sex and violence so easily suitable for younger readers. The story is engaging without being a gory action/adventure thrill-ride, and the relationship issues are not portrayed graphically. A really lovely debut novel.
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