Spring 2005 Review

Kira lives with her mom in Willistown. At a sleepover, she is hypnotized by her friends and has a strange vision from when she was younger in what seems like a foreign country during a war. The next day, Kira's mother disappears and a woman claiming to be her "Aunt Memory" arrives at her house. Aunt Memory warns her that her mother is in danger and Kira is the only person who can save her. Kira is taken to a hidden country in California called Crythe. There she must learn her true heritage and save an entire race.

The plot is quite interesting: Crythe is described as a hidden country within America. The citizens are a separate race of humans with special memory powers and extraordinary intelligence. The downfall is that the plot is written for only middle school students; the novel is an easy read with no themes or symbols to analyze. However, the ending was different and I did enjoy the way all the events fell into place in the last few chapters.

Kira is a believable character: she attends Willistown High School, and struggles in her studies like a lot of high school students; she attends sleepovers with her friends and has one best friend, Lynne. Lynne is my favorite character because she is the comic relief. Lynne is a genius and always knows how to overcome an obstacle. Lynne is a great friend, especially when she hides out in Kira's suitcase when Kira is kidnapped, and she never leaves Kira's side when Kira is in danger.

I recommend this novel to anyone who is in the mood for an adventure, and who needs a break from all the analyzing in high school English.