Alex Smith (4)

Every now and then I'm presented with a book to read that I really don't know a lot about. It hasn't gotten crazy amounts of buzz, I don't see it plastered all over other blogs, and in fact were it not for it being offered to me I likely would have missed it. These books often turn out to be real hidden gems. Books that I want to sing praises for and share with others. True to form, Calling for Angels definitely fits this bill!

Centering around the life of Em, this book was pure joy to read. Em is a character that we can all probably relate with, no matter our age or country of origin. She is lost in the world of "clones" at her school, unwilling to conform to their standards and feeling like she is average in all aspects. What I loved about Em was how clearly not average she was! Alex Smith created a character who has her own pizazz, her own sweetness and snark, and yes this girl likes books which makes her a-ok in my book! Suffice it to say it was easy for me to fall in love with Em. She's my kind of character.

Em's life changes drastically all at once. She finds herself facing the clear reality that we all are thrown into at some point, realizing that the older she gets the more things will change. Her grandparents are getting older, her brother is drifting away, and Em isn't sure where she fits in anymore. Enter Zack and Kai. To say that there are two sweeter boys anywhere else would be tough for me. These two were both so amazing that I had a hard time declaring loyalty to one. Both adorable, both sweet. What's a girl to do with two such amazing guys around?

At the end of the day this book has a little bit of everything. I think younger readers will see themselves in Em and understand what she is going through, while older readers will appreciate the subtle way that familial relationships and the trials of growing up are woven into this book. There wasn't a page I read where I wasn't smiling at some point. Between Em's wit, Zack's adorable awkwardness and Kai's sense of humor this book is one sweet and amazing read. I really couldn't imagine a better way to spend 149 pages.… (mehr)

This book was a fun read from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl. The main character was easy to relate to and typical of that age group. While readers with a low tolerance for juvenile literature will want to steer clear, I'd definitely recommend it to the teenage set. I did find some problems with the writing that may not be noticed by a younger crowd, such as too much jumping between characters, lack of development for Kai's character, and some over-dramatized interactions.

Overall it was an enjoyable read without a lot of depth.… (mehr)

This book was a delightful story of a small portion of a fourteen year old's life. Em was an extremely likeable and relate-able character and I am sure that most readers can sympathize with many of her hangups. The book touched on religious topics without becoming preachy or self-righteous- the author kept the focus on the struggle of good beating evil. I really appreciated the fact that it is not a typical romance story and Em isn't easily taken with Zak.

It was a very cute and brief story. For the amount of pages it was, the character development was just fine. I would have like to hear more of Kai than his constant professions of love for Em. Other than that, the book is well organized and lovable. It seems more believable because a fourteen year old girl wrote it about people her own age. I think if I was fourteen when I read this, I would have enjoyed the novel even more than I did as an adult.… (mehr)

Em is 14 growing up in a small town and who sees herself as average. Things are changing in her life with her 'best friend' growing more distant, her brother rebelling, her Gran's mortality staring her in the face and the cute new boy at school who actually seems to notice her and not the 'clones'. In a moment of desperation she calls on her guardian angel, who turns out to be a 15 year old boy who has a chance at redeeming himself and escaping the clutches of hell.

I really enjoyed reading this book, especially the differing POV's of Em and Kai.… (mehr)