Homefree

Homefree #1

by Nina Wright

Easter Hutton just might have the worst mom in the world. Does she really think her slime-ball boyfriend will divorce his wife just because Mom is pregnant? Missing her best friend and her dad, Easter just wants to blend in at her new school, which proves difÞcult when she starts experiencing involuntary bouts of astral-projection. She can't decide which is worse: these mysterious jaunts or the antics of her selÞsh, eccentric mother.

Everything changes when Easter discovers Homefree, an underground organization devoted to helping teenagers, like herself, with paranormal gifts. Suddenly she doesn't feel like an outsider anymore. Maybe a normal life-with real friends and a boyfriend-is possible after all.

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural

234 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

An actor turned playwright and novelist, Nina Wright is a member of the Authors Guild and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She writes the humorous Whiskey Mattimoe mystery series for adults as well as books for younger readers. Nina holds master's degrees in English literature and applied linguistics. She has taught creative writing, speech, drama, English lit, and English as a Second Language to adults and teens.

Nina's first love is story-telling . . . on both the page and the stage. She's also passionate about teaching others to find their own voices so that they can tell their stories.

Reviews

[Jaynie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good and has kind of a cool plot. The writing is also great and you definitely get immersed in the story, the only complaint I have is that it really doesn’t set up to have a second book and apparently there is a sequel to this so I’m kind of confused what is going to happen but I guess I’ll have to read it. It’s a nice quick read and hopefully the second book will help my confusion.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easter Hutton, the protagonist in the book, Homefree by Nina Wright, deals with many issues that many teenagers deal with today. Some issues include bullies picking on other students and making fun of them for their “special talents” (Wright’s reason for why they were picked on). Not only was Hutton one of these students that were picked on, she often loose concentration on class and start to doze off in addition to her family condition where her father left and her mother was pregnant with another man. Thinking that she has enough to deal with, Easter was told to work for this organization, Homefree, to gather other kids like her by her special talent, astral-projecting or the ability to bring her mind and/or body to another location. With home not being home, Easter focus on her “job” which she later discovers a similarity between the students and herself. The similarities that they share not only made Easter help them but herself. When I began reading the book, I found it confusing because one moment Easter was at location but a few sentences later, she was at another location: from Florida to Indiana. However, as the book progresses, it was clearer when Easter is going to move to another location so it more easy to follow. In addition, this book was really not how I imagined it would be about. For example, when I read the title without the blurb, I thought it was about how the protagonist would want to escape his/her home because of some conflict going on. But when I read the book, it was not about what I thought rather it was totally different. Furthermore, besides thinking about the issues that teenagers face today, the book also reminded me of déjà vu by Sarah, one of the characters in the book with the special talent of psychic dreams. How would someone know when they are experiencing déjà vu? Can our mines know the future just that we are unaware of it?

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Easter Hutton thinks she "just might have the worst life in the world". Her parents are divorced, she's had her fair share of step-dad/boyfriend experiences, and now her mother is pregnant. Add to that a temporary home in a rundown Florida trailer park and a new school where her classmates would rather throw raw eggs at Easter than talk to her, and the reader will agree that her life is not the greatest.

If all that is not bad enough, Easter has begun "astral-projecting". One minute she is in French class and the next, she's back in her old apartment in Atlanta with a blind man and a mad parrot. What is going on?

As her personal life seems to be exploding around her, Easter's strange new experiences bring her in contact with other teens who have similar special abilities. With the help of some old friends and new acquaintances, Easter discovers there's a place for special people - Homefree - and she's been invited.

In HOMEFREE, author Nina Wright creates a wonderful mix of reality and fascinating paranormal activity. Easter's less-than-perfect life is so believable that when the "weird" stuff starts happening, the reader just hangs on and goes along for the ride. This book would be a great addition to any classroom or library.

[Lois Szymanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina Wright's "Homefree" is a strong read. Easter Hutton's life is turned upside down when she begins astral projecting herself into places she has been in the past, an old apartment where a high school nemesis now lives, a house she once shared with her mom and the restaurant of her mom's latest boyfriend, a married snake who has sent Easter and her pregnant mother away, promising to take care of them but in fact, deserting them.

It's enough to have a mom who goes through boyfriends like most people go through underwear, now Easter must figure out why she is crashing into her past. It isn't long before she is "dropping in" on a group of bullies at her old school who are planning to hurt another student. She wants to help, but what can she do? She is an unseen character in the room.

Easter meets Mr. F, and old man with a parrot who lives in yet another home from her past. He presents a puzzle she must solve. Somehow, it all has something to do with the disappearance of her best friend, Andrew. What does all this have to do with the group of teens with special gifts that all belong to a group called Homefree? Easter is about to find out.

This was a quick and fun read that deals with some of the real life problems teens face.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting to say the least. Homefree is a special school for those teenagers who have "special" talents--like teleporting. This was obviously the first of a series of books as the author spent a lot of time setting up the characters. The concept of Homefree was not introduced until over halfway into the book and the ending made it clear that there is another book (which I plan to read).

[Reader17 Der · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down the last two nights. I had to finish reading it.

The way it ended was good! Some of the characters in the book I didn't like they way there where (Mother, Short Ron, Dustin, Amber, James Dean) but that is what makes a good book you really get into the characters. One of my favorites in this book is Cal and believe it or not Roger.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was recommended by a teen and the writing was fantastic. The story is a little hard to swallow--and I love sci-fi/fantasy books. I can see loving this as a teen, but now I am too hard and jaded.

[Heaven gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not good at all. Poor plotting and poor characterization make this a subpar book.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it. It bored me. Do not recommend it.

[Phillip Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting approach to YA genre. This could be a fantastic series. Feels modern with a bit of a supernatural/scifi twist.