Calling the Shots

Angels Unlimited #4

by Annie Dalton

Mel gets "the call," a strange, out-of-body experience that tells Angel Academy students that they are ready for their first guardian angel module. At first, it seems like a suitably fluffy 1920s America, full of flappers and limos, jazz and silent movies. But Mel's got her hands full when she has to look after Honesty Bloomfield, a sullen, withdrawn girl who is traveling across the country with her family. They are bound for Hollywood? but is it the city of dreams or nightmares?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Angels, Paranormal, Time Travel

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Annie grew up as an only child in the English countryside during the 1950s. Her father was not always around but when he was, he would tell her fantastical stories, often with her as the principal character. Annie missed him and his stories, which led her to the fantasy section at her local library, thus sparking life-long love of fiction.

After undertaking jobs such as waitressing, cleaning and factory work, Annie went on to study at University of Warwick and soon started writing.

Annie lives in Norfolk. She has three children, Anna, Reuben, and Maria (the inspiration for the first “Angels Unlimited” book, “Winging It”) and two grandchildren, Sophie and Isabella.

Reviews

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great continuation of the Angels Unlimited series. I like this book because it delves into two big issues - depression and accepting that small things can be meaningful - but Dalton does a good job of keeping it lighter and more understandable for children.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read, but it just gives me hope of a sort, when I'm going through hard times. It's light and it's about what comes after death. Heaven and angels.

[Buchwelten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Engel & Co Bücher sind für mich absolute Wohlfühl-Bücher. Mit diesen Bücher kann ich zwischendurch einfach mal Abtauchen und Lisa auf ihren Engelseinsätzen begleiten. Von Band zu Band entwickelt sich die Protagonistin zu ihrem Vorteil weiter. Es macht Spaß, sie dabei zu begleiten. Das Ganze ist so warmherzig geschrieben. Selbst bei traurigen Ereignissen wird immer irgendetwas Positives, Hoffnung und Zuversicht vermittelt. Das macht diese Buchreihe u.a. für mich so besonders.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Sterne
In diesem Buch wird ein schwieriges Thema behandelt und für Kinder gut aufgearbeitet. Dazu mag ich, dass hier wieder einiges an geschichtlichem Wissen vermittelt wird.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy this series. :) Wish I'd found it when I was younger, but they're still fun to read now!

[Joséphine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending 2018 with an old favourite from when I was 11/12. That was around the time that I had just started schooling in English, so even though I knew the language was really simple in this series, I appreciated it. I was able to expand my vocabulary while reading stories that were actually targeted at my age group, and not first graders.

I loved the stories back then too, and can still see their charm today. There were other more memorable periods and locations in other books, but 1920s USA wasn’t too shabby in Calling the Shots either. I liked that Mel was separated from her friends for the first time and had to take care of a mission herself. The family she was placed with didn’t have it easy, so it made sense a guardian angel would be assigned to them.

Pretty sure this is also one of the first few works of fiction that I read as a child that shed light on racism and it’s impact, while also expressing indignation towards such bigotry.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one in the series when Mel and her friends are sent on assignments alone for the first time and Mel ends up going back to the 1920s.

This really is a good series for young adults.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literally a keeper.

[Art Hyrst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Character - 7
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 7

Rating: 6.57 / 3 stars

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit more boring but still a good time

[Kiki_chieuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le ton léger et enfantin de la narratrice me plaît toujours autant. Elle a la naïveté et l'égocentrisme des plus jeunes ainsi que la détermination et la bonne humeur qui va avec.

Résumé en narration à chaque début de tome. Un peu long pour un si petit livre? Je ne sais pas ; perso j'aime bien, ça me remet dedans. Je pense aussi à ceux qui laissent passer beaucoup de temps entre deux tomes ou ceux qui découvrent la saga avec un tome autre que le un (comme moi) et qui peuvent ainsi lire sans soucis. C'est confortable même pour moi qui me suis lancée dans un “Un soir, Un tome”. Par contre, les passages copier-coller, c'est moins bien. Notamment la présentation de l'archange Michael.

Hollywood, 1920. Une mission que j'ai trouvé intéressante. Comme chaque fois, dès qu'ils sont sur Terre, j'ai du mal à lâcher le livre.

[JWinter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved this one when I was younger, definitely on the younger side of YA, though. Very sweet.

[beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was probably my third favourite from what I can remember. I finished it really quickly though, in about 45 minutes. I have no idea what happened there. I was going to read Fogging Over, but then I remembered I totally did not understand it last time I read it, so I couldn't be bothered. I didn't understand it even more than I didn't understand Flying High. 

Brice is back! Yay! He is really confusing me. Cause in Losing the Plot, his name was Edward Brice, and Brice was his last name. But in Flying High, his name was Brice de Winter, and Brice was his first name...

I'm probably going to read Fogging Over tomorrow night, or maybe I'll get a book from the library and I'll read it later on... Not sure yet. 

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was okay, the author shows her age by using words my generation wouldn't have ever used as kids ("groovy"?), since this was published when my age was about the same as Mel's, it's not too much to expect some research into the actual words we said back then. I think kids stopped using "groovy" unironically 20 years before this book was published, lol.

Compared to some of the others in the series, this one was weak. It took me ages to finish despite its length, and I see why I didn't remember the plot from when I first read it 15ish years ago. I have yet to read one I remember being my favourite back then so I guess my quest to revisit my childhood books continues.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this when I was little and I loved it aw

[Eve Lumerto · Rating 4 out of 5]

<3

[Lonely Panda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think it was my least favorite in the series. Well, we do learn more about Mel and Lily's relationship but the background story (the academy's mission) was not that interesting.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series as a teen!

Guessing the read date just to properly shelve this

[Michelle Wiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book and thought I would give it a go, despite it being a children's book. I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed it and would actually read some more in the series.

[Pája · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book of the series so far