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Who Is Mackie Spence?
A love story about a girl who comes back from a near-death experience with powers no one can explain
With a strong, appealing boy narrator, Who Is Mackie Spence? is a story no boy would be ashamed to read and no girl would want to miss
This ecological and mythological story is spiced with everyday questions of young love: if someone you care about has a destiny beyond your town-even beyond your world-do you give her up?
Jeremy has known Mackie Spence all their lives, growing up together on a small island in the Atlantic. But after a near-drowning accident, Mackie is changed. She's different, and if no one else can see it, Jeremy can. But maybe he's only looking through the eyes of love, as his feelings for Mackie have gone way beyond childhood friendship. She's even more beautiful, but it's as though she has a new soul . . . or something. Jeremy can't explain it; he's a jock, a real-world kind of guy. Then things start happening that he couldn't explain even if he could find the words. One night, at the local nature rehab center where Jeremy and Mackie volunteer, Jeremy sees with his own eyes how terrified, dangerous, injured birds of prey grow calm in Mackie's presence. It's as if they know her. She doesn't understand or even seem to notice. Without being some kind of stalker creep, Jeremy makes it his job to grow more protective of Mackie, and sees her with wild otters and other creatures in situations that are beyond belief. And finally, something happens that not only changes Jeremy's future, but the way he will see life, forever.
With a strong, appealing boy narrator, Who Is Mackie Spence? is a story no boy would be ashamed to read and no girl would want to miss
This ecological and mythological story is spiced with everyday questions of young love: if someone you care about has a destiny beyond your town-even beyond your world-do you give her up?
Jeremy has known Mackie Spence all their lives, growing up together on a small island in the Atlantic. But after a near-drowning accident, Mackie is changed. She's different, and if no one else can see it, Jeremy can. But maybe he's only looking through the eyes of love, as his feelings for Mackie have gone way beyond childhood friendship. She's even more beautiful, but it's as though she has a new soul . . . or something. Jeremy can't explain it; he's a jock, a real-world kind of guy. Then things start happening that he couldn't explain even if he could find the words. One night, at the local nature rehab center where Jeremy and Mackie volunteer, Jeremy sees with his own eyes how terrified, dangerous, injured birds of prey grow calm in Mackie's presence. It's as if they know her. She doesn't understand or even seem to notice. Without being some kind of stalker creep, Jeremy makes it his job to grow more protective of Mackie, and sees her with wild otters and other creatures in situations that are beyond belief. And finally, something happens that not only changes Jeremy's future, but the way he will see life, forever.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2014
1 person is currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Lin Kaymer
1 book9 followersLin Kaymer is deeply attached to the wildlife of Puget Sound. Lin worked as a graphic designer and newspaper columnist. She loves to write during the rainy months of the year. Her favorite writers include Charlotte Bronte, Alexandre Dumas, Ruth Ozeki, Charlaine Harris, and Studs Terkel.
To learn more visit Lin at http://www.LinKaymer.com
To learn more visit Lin at http://www.LinKaymer.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 29, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
2.5 stars
**I won a copy of this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. In exchange I will offer my honest review**
It is hard to hone in on what I really feel about this book. I have not read the other reviews however I did notice that they have been a little less than favorable. I am afraid to admit it that I am leaning that way as well and here is the reason why.
This book seems to be geared to the younger end of the YA spectrum, perhaps middle school age. I think people expecting a high school type read may be disappointed. The book is very clean and the characters seem to less mature than any of those I know of the same age. I think as a result people can't identify. It is not common to see a 16 year old asking permission to do absolutely everything and it was the case in this story for both Jeremy and Mackie.
Unfortunately this makes it hard to see the good parts. It is a cute story. Young romance mixed with a bit of mythological paranormal (if that exists??). I think properly marketed to a young audience that this story could see a lift in its current reviews.
For me I thought it was a cute story.
2.5 stars
**I won a copy of this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. In exchange I will offer my honest review**
It is hard to hone in on what I really feel about this book. I have not read the other reviews however I did notice that they have been a little less than favorable. I am afraid to admit it that I am leaning that way as well and here is the reason why.
This book seems to be geared to the younger end of the YA spectrum, perhaps middle school age. I think people expecting a high school type read may be disappointed. The book is very clean and the characters seem to less mature than any of those I know of the same age. I think as a result people can't identify. It is not common to see a 16 year old asking permission to do absolutely everything and it was the case in this story for both Jeremy and Mackie.
Unfortunately this makes it hard to see the good parts. It is a cute story. Young romance mixed with a bit of mythological paranormal (if that exists??). I think properly marketed to a young audience that this story could see a lift in its current reviews.
For me I thought it was a cute story.
July 2, 2015
Jeremy Tarleton has developed feelings for one of his oldest friends. But how can he tell her? Mackie has been different this fall, ever since she nearly drowned in the summer while boating with her family. Jeremy volunteers at a wildlife shelter, and Mackie starts helping there as well. That's when Jeremy notices her strange relationship with the animals in their care. The minute they see Mackie, they not only calm instantly, but they defer to her - something Jeremy has never seen before. Mackie is drawn to sick and suffering animals and appears to have an impact on their improvement and well-being.
Mackie broke up with her boyfriend, Brody, after her accident, and once he gets wind of Mackie and Jeremy working together, he sees Jeremy as a threat to his plan to be with Mackie. And once Jeremy and Mackie start to spend time together, Jeremy discovers that Brody never accepted the break-up and has been continuously texting Mackie, refusing to let go.
One night after a dance, Jeremy, Mackie and their friends play an innocent game with the Ouija board. it's obviously a joke until Jeremy and Mackie both get weird messages. Just one more unexplainable thing in a long line of strange occurrences. Are past lives somehow involved in what is going on with Mackie? And is it Jeremy's destiny to rescue her...again?
This book is a Dagwood sandwich. There are so many different stories going on. It seems as soon as a new element is introduced, the story shifts and only focuses on that one thing. Then it changes again. It's like a giant digression, over and over, like there was too much story for just one volume. When it started, I just had no idea as to where it was going, Well, actually I thought I did, but then it would change paths, over and over. I couldn't tell if it was a contemporary fiction, fantasy, or Greek tragedy. Things get tied up, so it doesn't leave you hanging, but I feel like there was way too much going on. And for all of the action, so little happened.
The book is told in first person from Jeremy's perspective. He seems like your average high school junior, but he's a boy and his descriptions of things were, many times, just not something a 16-year-old boy would notice, much less think. He called his underwear "briefs" (hey, maybe they do that in Oregon) and used the exclamation "Stinkeroo!" He mentioned a clothes tree and the foyer and many other words that I do not associate with this age of a boy. I think that's the danger of writing in first person; everything becomes his words, and these were too adult and specifically, things more associated with what women would notice. Overall, there was just way too much description about everything and it seemed to take up more in the book than the story did.
And something you don't see every day in YA - the parents were really paying attention! Always asking who was going and who was driving and when they had to be home...plus the healthy eating was amazing! While it was refreshing to see parents actually parenting, it seemed a little forced (along with the healthy eating) as to be slightly on the unbelievable side. There were only a couple of "bad" kids, and they drank and did drugs. It was super easy to tell the bad apples, Mom and Dad!
And when something bad happens, the adults/police/friends/Jeremy don't even think to look in the obvious direction. Bottom line, this seemed like a tale that an adult would want a teen to read. I was disappointed, to say the least.
Who Is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer was published January 2, 2015, by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher for their generosity.
Rating: 2.5
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Fantasy Thriller Romance
Ages: 12 and up
Mackie broke up with her boyfriend, Brody, after her accident, and once he gets wind of Mackie and Jeremy working together, he sees Jeremy as a threat to his plan to be with Mackie. And once Jeremy and Mackie start to spend time together, Jeremy discovers that Brody never accepted the break-up and has been continuously texting Mackie, refusing to let go.
One night after a dance, Jeremy, Mackie and their friends play an innocent game with the Ouija board. it's obviously a joke until Jeremy and Mackie both get weird messages. Just one more unexplainable thing in a long line of strange occurrences. Are past lives somehow involved in what is going on with Mackie? And is it Jeremy's destiny to rescue her...again?
This book is a Dagwood sandwich. There are so many different stories going on. It seems as soon as a new element is introduced, the story shifts and only focuses on that one thing. Then it changes again. It's like a giant digression, over and over, like there was too much story for just one volume. When it started, I just had no idea as to where it was going, Well, actually I thought I did, but then it would change paths, over and over. I couldn't tell if it was a contemporary fiction, fantasy, or Greek tragedy. Things get tied up, so it doesn't leave you hanging, but I feel like there was way too much going on. And for all of the action, so little happened.
The book is told in first person from Jeremy's perspective. He seems like your average high school junior, but he's a boy and his descriptions of things were, many times, just not something a 16-year-old boy would notice, much less think. He called his underwear "briefs" (hey, maybe they do that in Oregon) and used the exclamation "Stinkeroo!" He mentioned a clothes tree and the foyer and many other words that I do not associate with this age of a boy. I think that's the danger of writing in first person; everything becomes his words, and these were too adult and specifically, things more associated with what women would notice. Overall, there was just way too much description about everything and it seemed to take up more in the book than the story did.
And something you don't see every day in YA - the parents were really paying attention! Always asking who was going and who was driving and when they had to be home...plus the healthy eating was amazing! While it was refreshing to see parents actually parenting, it seemed a little forced (along with the healthy eating) as to be slightly on the unbelievable side. There were only a couple of "bad" kids, and they drank and did drugs. It was super easy to tell the bad apples, Mom and Dad!
And when something bad happens, the adults/police/friends/Jeremy don't even think to look in the obvious direction. Bottom line, this seemed like a tale that an adult would want a teen to read. I was disappointed, to say the least.
Who Is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer was published January 2, 2015, by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher for their generosity.
Rating: 2.5
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Fantasy Thriller Romance
Ages: 12 and up
July 4, 2017
First of all this is a book that sounds fascinating but it still needs working on to get it to where it would be a lot better. Yes there will be some that may enjoy it in its previous format but as is shown by the current reviews this isn't going to be a grand winner.
There are two actual stories that with the exception of just a barely hypothetical thread don't even remotely connect with each other. One is fairly written but needs a bunch more work to get it off its face while the other is a definite improvement with a writing style that would have moved the original story along a lot faster while captivating the audience. Just reading the two halves you can find the unbalance of the story.
I am not the author, the editor or publisher so my two cents may not worth it but I am going to give it due to my need to review it. Honestly remove the Epilogue altogether and instead make a Prologue of the story. Upon making the Prologue remove all the "chapter names" and replace them with the asterisk or some other symbol to break-up the various bits that are given thus keeping a clean flowing continuity of the story. By also putting the Epilogue in the front instead of the back you are giving the story a running start that will have audiences flipping the pages to know what is happening - don't trust me on this then try reading the book with the Epilogue first followed by the actual story.
Second thing please fix the mythical errors. First of all Edith Hamilton's version is one of the worst out there and although I know schools like to tout it it isn't even worth two cents for all the incorrect bits in it. Not actually knowing where the sources of this mythoi is coming from three sacred animals were misrepresented: Athena has a little owl not a snowy owl, the crow is one of the sacred animals of Apollo and of course three-head Cerberus would be the sacred animal of Hades. Finally the last complaint I have with the mythoi faction is that Apollo isn't the sun god and no matter what the Romans may have believed or translated Apollo isn't in charge of the sun but Helios the Titan.
Alright now that I got all my fussing out of the way this is what I do find good. I loved the idea that the story came from a boy's point-of-view, which is unique and refreshing. Sadly Jeremy is flat while at times boring. At the beginning he was all about crushing, how she looks, feels or tastes so good and then slam he loses those thoughts to be replaced with wanting to dissect her. The same wishy-washiness also shows up where he is smart and talks about the animals while even knowing their scientific name but he doesn't call the orca by the right name the majority of the time or mentions that it really a dolphin.
The main female Mackie is just as hard to swallow as well for her behavior is just as static. She seems fun and fresh but then when she doesn't want something found out does a whole behavior swap - seductively coy and/or needy. She is the one that shoves as a catalyst while Jeremy just follows her or agrees with her. And it was since of both main characters you found it hard to relate to the story itself.
There were plenty of secondary characters who more or less were more well-developed than the main ones. You got more of a sense of morality with them, what made them who they were and how they flowed with each other instead of conflicting. This type of writing should have been done to the main characters to give them a foothold.
Otherwise with the Epilogue and the one big action scene it was good just slow to get to the point. For this book to get further along the lines it will be up to individual readers to bring it up or keep it down....
~A Book Set In High School~
**Received this book as part of the Giveaway at Goodreads.com for free in exchange for a review**
There are two actual stories that with the exception of just a barely hypothetical thread don't even remotely connect with each other. One is fairly written but needs a bunch more work to get it off its face while the other is a definite improvement with a writing style that would have moved the original story along a lot faster while captivating the audience. Just reading the two halves you can find the unbalance of the story.
I am not the author, the editor or publisher so my two cents may not worth it but I am going to give it due to my need to review it. Honestly remove the Epilogue altogether and instead make a Prologue of the story. Upon making the Prologue remove all the "chapter names" and replace them with the asterisk or some other symbol to break-up the various bits that are given thus keeping a clean flowing continuity of the story. By also putting the Epilogue in the front instead of the back you are giving the story a running start that will have audiences flipping the pages to know what is happening - don't trust me on this then try reading the book with the Epilogue first followed by the actual story.
Second thing please fix the mythical errors. First of all Edith Hamilton's version is one of the worst out there and although I know schools like to tout it it isn't even worth two cents for all the incorrect bits in it. Not actually knowing where the sources of this mythoi is coming from three sacred animals were misrepresented: Athena has a little owl not a snowy owl, the crow is one of the sacred animals of Apollo and of course three-head Cerberus would be the sacred animal of Hades. Finally the last complaint I have with the mythoi faction is that Apollo isn't the sun god and no matter what the Romans may have believed or translated Apollo isn't in charge of the sun but Helios the Titan.
Alright now that I got all my fussing out of the way this is what I do find good. I loved the idea that the story came from a boy's point-of-view, which is unique and refreshing. Sadly Jeremy is flat while at times boring. At the beginning he was all about crushing, how she looks, feels or tastes so good and then slam he loses those thoughts to be replaced with wanting to dissect her. The same wishy-washiness also shows up where he is smart and talks about the animals while even knowing their scientific name but he doesn't call the orca by the right name the majority of the time or mentions that it really a dolphin.
The main female Mackie is just as hard to swallow as well for her behavior is just as static. She seems fun and fresh but then when she doesn't want something found out does a whole behavior swap - seductively coy and/or needy. She is the one that shoves as a catalyst while Jeremy just follows her or agrees with her. And it was since of both main characters you found it hard to relate to the story itself.
There were plenty of secondary characters who more or less were more well-developed than the main ones. You got more of a sense of morality with them, what made them who they were and how they flowed with each other instead of conflicting. This type of writing should have been done to the main characters to give them a foothold.
Otherwise with the Epilogue and the one big action scene it was good just slow to get to the point. For this book to get further along the lines it will be up to individual readers to bring it up or keep it down....
~A Book Set In High School~
**Received this book as part of the Giveaway at Goodreads.com for free in exchange for a review**
May 12, 2015
Unfortunately, Who is Mackie Spence didn't really work for me. I had a lot of trouble connecting with the narrator Jeremy and I wish there was more mythology and fewer hormones.
I want to start with what I did like. I'm a big fan of mythology, especially Greek, and I think the mythology featured in this book definitely had potential to make an interesting story. However, the mythology ended up being a tiny portion of the book, which was disappointing for me.
I just didn't really connect with the narrator Jeremy. He was either just telling the reader about his general day-to-day life or dealing with his teenage boy hormones whenever he thought about Mackie. I also didn't find his voice very realistic for a teenage boy. First, he would often say random scientific facts, as if the author was trying to trick the reader into learning some biology. Second, I don't think any 17 year old boy would actually say "stinkeroo" if something was smelly.
Overall, the book felt pretty flat. Even in the parts I knew should have been exciting, I just didn't feel any excitement or tension. Overall, no really a fan of this one, which is disappointing, as I thought the mythology aspect had potential, but was terribly underdeveloped.
I want to start with what I did like. I'm a big fan of mythology, especially Greek, and I think the mythology featured in this book definitely had potential to make an interesting story. However, the mythology ended up being a tiny portion of the book, which was disappointing for me.
I just didn't really connect with the narrator Jeremy. He was either just telling the reader about his general day-to-day life or dealing with his teenage boy hormones whenever he thought about Mackie. I also didn't find his voice very realistic for a teenage boy. First, he would often say random scientific facts, as if the author was trying to trick the reader into learning some biology. Second, I don't think any 17 year old boy would actually say "stinkeroo" if something was smelly.
Overall, the book felt pretty flat. Even in the parts I knew should have been exciting, I just didn't feel any excitement or tension. Overall, no really a fan of this one, which is disappointing, as I thought the mythology aspect had potential, but was terribly underdeveloped.
March 20, 2016
2.5
okay first off..the writing was very like bullet point like. not that thats a bad thing..its just kinda robotic sounding. they did this and did I did this and then she did this. blah blah. it was good, but eh. I could have done without it.
I did like the animal aspect of it. obviously the author really loves that stuff. what was odd about the whole story was that when Jeremy found out about her powers or whatever the fuck was happening he was just like okay cool..totally believe you. lol
like wtf.
but then we learn that Mackie may or may not be a reincarnation of some demi god and then Jeremy may be her protector..I was like okay..im so done with this book haha.
I did like the ending with the whole Greek gods and all that stuff. it made for a laugh.
all in all this book was a bust. to say the least by all means take a read.
okay first off..the writing was very like bullet point like. not that thats a bad thing..its just kinda robotic sounding. they did this and did I did this and then she did this. blah blah. it was good, but eh. I could have done without it.
I did like the animal aspect of it. obviously the author really loves that stuff. what was odd about the whole story was that when Jeremy found out about her powers or whatever the fuck was happening he was just like okay cool..totally believe you. lol
like wtf.
but then we learn that Mackie may or may not be a reincarnation of some demi god and then Jeremy may be her protector..I was like okay..im so done with this book haha.
I did like the ending with the whole Greek gods and all that stuff. it made for a laugh.
all in all this book was a bust. to say the least by all means take a read.
August 18, 2015
It was interesting enough to read but left me wanting.... will there be a second book? The end kind of left me wondering some. It isn't something to write home about, had lots of potential but stayed undeveloped. I did enjoy it though.
I bought this book to send to one of my nieces. I hope she enjoys it like I did.
I bought this book to send to one of my nieces. I hope she enjoys it like I did.
January 5, 2016
Read my review here.
July 22, 2017
This book was AMAZING!!!! I HIGHLY recommend it.
August 27, 2021
i feel like this book had potential??? we never find out what really happened to Mackie Spence and there was many other unanswered questions. overall, sort of a bore.
August 24, 2015
For the full version of this review as well as other reviews and features go to SleepsOnTables.
***I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
Jeremy has been friends with Mackie his whole life but after she has a near death experience, he begins to feel more drawn to her. He develops feelings for her. However, he also notices strange things about her like how animals are always aware and trusting of her. Jeremy wants to find out what’s going on with Mackie Spence.
I think my biggest issue with Who is Mackie Spence? is that it felt like two different stories. You have the contemporary half and the fantasy half. The contemporary and fantasy aspects were not meshed very well in my opinion. It reads like the goal of this story was to have it be a contemporary and then the fantasy/mythological aspect was added in as an after-thought.
While I feel the fantasy felt like an after-thought is was a pretty intriguing concept that had potential. I would’ve liked to see more detail of the mythology in the actual story. There is some of this in the epilogue/ending of Who is Mackie Spence?, in the form of the original source of the myth. It’s just listed there at the end with no explanation. I think it would’ve been cool to extend the story and have Jeremy and Mackie discover the original myth together and then read their reaction.
This was a pretty short book, coming in at only 208 pages. It did not read like a 208 page book, more like a 300 or 400 page book. The story and plot did not flow together very well. It was difficult to stay focused and difficult to be motivated to continue reading.
Another issue was that Jeremy as a narrator seemed younger than his actual age. There were aspects of his character and daily routines that didn’t feel genuine. This was one of those instances where I could tell that this was an adult writing how they think teenagers think and act.
As I mentioned before I would’ve liked to have gotten more detail about the fantasy of the story. Mackie is very interesting to read and I wonder if maybe this story would’ve been more enjoyable had we had a few tastes of her point of view. The fact that she is apparently able to share her energy and sort of communicate with animals is really fascinating and I would’ve loved to get her firsthand experience with this unimaginable thing.
For me I didn’t connect with this book. It was missing that thing that made you become invested in the story. I found myself not being able to connect with the characters which is one of the most vital aspects of a story in my opinion. Who is Mackie Spence? had potential but it was very underdeveloped.
Favorite Quote:
The usual cliques have assembled in the hallway–the jocks, the jocks’ girlfriends, the techies, the druggies, various geek groups, and the wannabes. I pass the Jesus Freaks. I don’t buy what they’re selling. My motto is “see and verify.” -p. 16
Review in Review:
I rated Who is Mackie Spence? 1 star. This means I did not like it. It wasn’t developed well enough for my tastes. However, I can see where there is potential for this book to be really good.
***I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
Jeremy has been friends with Mackie his whole life but after she has a near death experience, he begins to feel more drawn to her. He develops feelings for her. However, he also notices strange things about her like how animals are always aware and trusting of her. Jeremy wants to find out what’s going on with Mackie Spence.
I think my biggest issue with Who is Mackie Spence? is that it felt like two different stories. You have the contemporary half and the fantasy half. The contemporary and fantasy aspects were not meshed very well in my opinion. It reads like the goal of this story was to have it be a contemporary and then the fantasy/mythological aspect was added in as an after-thought.
While I feel the fantasy felt like an after-thought is was a pretty intriguing concept that had potential. I would’ve liked to see more detail of the mythology in the actual story. There is some of this in the epilogue/ending of Who is Mackie Spence?, in the form of the original source of the myth. It’s just listed there at the end with no explanation. I think it would’ve been cool to extend the story and have Jeremy and Mackie discover the original myth together and then read their reaction.
This was a pretty short book, coming in at only 208 pages. It did not read like a 208 page book, more like a 300 or 400 page book. The story and plot did not flow together very well. It was difficult to stay focused and difficult to be motivated to continue reading.
Another issue was that Jeremy as a narrator seemed younger than his actual age. There were aspects of his character and daily routines that didn’t feel genuine. This was one of those instances where I could tell that this was an adult writing how they think teenagers think and act.
As I mentioned before I would’ve liked to have gotten more detail about the fantasy of the story. Mackie is very interesting to read and I wonder if maybe this story would’ve been more enjoyable had we had a few tastes of her point of view. The fact that she is apparently able to share her energy and sort of communicate with animals is really fascinating and I would’ve loved to get her firsthand experience with this unimaginable thing.
For me I didn’t connect with this book. It was missing that thing that made you become invested in the story. I found myself not being able to connect with the characters which is one of the most vital aspects of a story in my opinion. Who is Mackie Spence? had potential but it was very underdeveloped.
Favorite Quote:
The usual cliques have assembled in the hallway–the jocks, the jocks’ girlfriends, the techies, the druggies, various geek groups, and the wannabes. I pass the Jesus Freaks. I don’t buy what they’re selling. My motto is “see and verify.” -p. 16
Review in Review:
I rated Who is Mackie Spence? 1 star. This means I did not like it. It wasn’t developed well enough for my tastes. However, I can see where there is potential for this book to be really good.
October 27, 2014
DNF at 18%
Who is Mackie Spence? had some great ideas, but they were not executed very well. I found plot holes, insta-love, and flat characters within the first two chapters. Here are some of the things that really bothered me:
1. Mackie and Jeremy are “childhood best friends”, though nothing is ever discussed or remembered from their many years of friendship. No inside jokes, no stories, no memories, no one saying, “Do you remember that time our families went on vacation together when we were eight?” Nothing! I know some readers might be thinking, “She didn’t even finish the book! How does she know that they don’t mention any friendship memories/stories?” To those people, I should say touche, but here’s why I don’t: We get a few chapters of Jeremy obsessing over Mackie, and then BAM! They kiss! What? There’s no friendship present, there is no romantic build-up, and suddenly these two supposed child-hood best friends are kissing. It comes out of nowhere! In my opinion, a romance (especially a best friend one!) done right is one that develops over the course of the book, giving the reader time to accept the relationship, and if the romance is written right, eventually ship it.
2. Before the kissing, Jeremy is always thinking about Mackie, wishing he was with Mackie, or making sure he gets to be with her later. I felt that he wasn’t a very three-dimensional character. Shouldn’t a main character, a teenage boy main character, have some other interests? Shouldn’t he have other things to think about? I know the whole premise of Who is Mackie Spence? revolves around Mackie and her accident, but I almost wished the book was in Mackie’s point of view. I think writing from Mackie’s view would make her a stronger character and help with some of the issues I had with the book in general.
3. When Jeremy begins to volunteer with Mackie at an animal rehab center he notices that her presence calms down the animals. I think that situation would have been a great plot device to show us a sneak peek of Mackie’s power, but I didn’t really think a rehab center would let two teens and an old lady work alone with wild and injured animals. My old neighbor worked at a preserve called “Wild Care Inc.” and when I visited, no one was allowed to be with the animals alone, they always had to have a real employee with them at all times for safety purposes. Isn’t there any other job a preserve could have given volunteers, one that doesn’t involve being alone with wild animals?
Summing up: I did not find myself enjoying reading this book because of flat characters, insta-love, and a slow plot in general. I think some aspects were unrealistic and some characters weren’t fully developed, but Who is Mackie Spence? definitely had ideas with potential.
My rating: 1.5 stars.
Who is Mackie Spence? had some great ideas, but they were not executed very well. I found plot holes, insta-love, and flat characters within the first two chapters. Here are some of the things that really bothered me:
1. Mackie and Jeremy are “childhood best friends”, though nothing is ever discussed or remembered from their many years of friendship. No inside jokes, no stories, no memories, no one saying, “Do you remember that time our families went on vacation together when we were eight?” Nothing! I know some readers might be thinking, “She didn’t even finish the book! How does she know that they don’t mention any friendship memories/stories?” To those people, I should say touche, but here’s why I don’t: We get a few chapters of Jeremy obsessing over Mackie, and then BAM! They kiss! What? There’s no friendship present, there is no romantic build-up, and suddenly these two supposed child-hood best friends are kissing. It comes out of nowhere! In my opinion, a romance (especially a best friend one!) done right is one that develops over the course of the book, giving the reader time to accept the relationship, and if the romance is written right, eventually ship it.
2. Before the kissing, Jeremy is always thinking about Mackie, wishing he was with Mackie, or making sure he gets to be with her later. I felt that he wasn’t a very three-dimensional character. Shouldn’t a main character, a teenage boy main character, have some other interests? Shouldn’t he have other things to think about? I know the whole premise of Who is Mackie Spence? revolves around Mackie and her accident, but I almost wished the book was in Mackie’s point of view. I think writing from Mackie’s view would make her a stronger character and help with some of the issues I had with the book in general.
3. When Jeremy begins to volunteer with Mackie at an animal rehab center he notices that her presence calms down the animals. I think that situation would have been a great plot device to show us a sneak peek of Mackie’s power, but I didn’t really think a rehab center would let two teens and an old lady work alone with wild and injured animals. My old neighbor worked at a preserve called “Wild Care Inc.” and when I visited, no one was allowed to be with the animals alone, they always had to have a real employee with them at all times for safety purposes. Isn’t there any other job a preserve could have given volunteers, one that doesn’t involve being alone with wild animals?
Summing up: I did not find myself enjoying reading this book because of flat characters, insta-love, and a slow plot in general. I think some aspects were unrealistic and some characters weren’t fully developed, but Who is Mackie Spence? definitely had ideas with potential.
My rating: 1.5 stars.
January 5, 2016
Who is Mackie Spence? Jeremy always thought he knew, because they grew up together but ever since Mackie almost drowned she is different. But why is she different all of a sudden? When Mackie and Jeremy find themselves working together at the animal shelter, Jeremy watches in awe at Mackie’s touch. Not only do the animals respond to her, but they submit as if they know and already respect her, which they do not do to any of the volunteers. So what makes Mackie special? That’s the question running through Jeremy’s mind as he tries to understand how she has changed and as his heart begins to fall for her.
Who is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer is an interesting take on Greek mythology. It’s focus are not on the Olympians, but on the minor goddesses, which is different. The ending brought the story full-circle to clear up any confusion, but I wish that it was ordered differently because it felt incomplete and I wanted more. I really like the connection with the animals and the insight of how an animal shelter works, because it is something people rarely think of.
I would give the book 3.5/5 stars, because it was a quick and interesting read, but lacked to reel me in. The love interest was not as developed as it could have been, which left it standing until the ending cleared it up. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in animals or Greek mythology because it will have you questioning who Mackie Spence is with every flip of the page.
Originally posted at: http://www.teenink.com/reviews/hot_ne...
Free copy received from TeenInk in exchange for an honest review.
Who is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer is an interesting take on Greek mythology. It’s focus are not on the Olympians, but on the minor goddesses, which is different. The ending brought the story full-circle to clear up any confusion, but I wish that it was ordered differently because it felt incomplete and I wanted more. I really like the connection with the animals and the insight of how an animal shelter works, because it is something people rarely think of.
I would give the book 3.5/5 stars, because it was a quick and interesting read, but lacked to reel me in. The love interest was not as developed as it could have been, which left it standing until the ending cleared it up. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in animals or Greek mythology because it will have you questioning who Mackie Spence is with every flip of the page.
Originally posted at: http://www.teenink.com/reviews/hot_ne...
Free copy received from TeenInk in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2015
I received this book via Goodreads firstreads. This did not influence my rating or review in any way.
First of all, I would like to thank Goodreads firstreads and the people who posted this giveaway and sent it to me. I really appreciate being able to read this book and decide for myself who Mackie Spence is.
This would be a nice summer read for someone who doesn't have a huge to-read pile. Unfortunately, at this time I wasn't that lucky, carefree person. I had things going on the days after I received this book, and when I finally got to reading it I was looking for something with more fantasy. If I had read this book when I was looking for a light read, I'm sure I would have given it at least 3 stars.
Don't get me wrong, this was a pretty good book. I really think more people should try it if they are looking for a book and form their own opinions on it. I loved the aspects with the animal shelter and how it was a male POV, it just wasn't the right time for me to read it. I might be coming back to it this summer to see if I like it better then, but for now I'm only giving it 2 stars.
Next is The Reluctant Witch which I also received in a GR giveaway! Again I want to thank GR firstreads for giving me the opportunity to read these books that I might not have otherwise.
~Bri
First of all, I would like to thank Goodreads firstreads and the people who posted this giveaway and sent it to me. I really appreciate being able to read this book and decide for myself who Mackie Spence is.
This would be a nice summer read for someone who doesn't have a huge to-read pile. Unfortunately, at this time I wasn't that lucky, carefree person. I had things going on the days after I received this book, and when I finally got to reading it I was looking for something with more fantasy. If I had read this book when I was looking for a light read, I'm sure I would have given it at least 3 stars.
Don't get me wrong, this was a pretty good book. I really think more people should try it if they are looking for a book and form their own opinions on it. I loved the aspects with the animal shelter and how it was a male POV, it just wasn't the right time for me to read it. I might be coming back to it this summer to see if I like it better then, but for now I'm only giving it 2 stars.
Next is The Reluctant Witch which I also received in a GR giveaway! Again I want to thank GR firstreads for giving me the opportunity to read these books that I might not have otherwise.
~Bri
February 9, 2015
Jeremy has known Mackie all his life, but when Mackie survives a near drowning Jeremy notices strange things happening, things he can't put into words, let alone explain.
He feels drawn to Mackie and finds himself falling in love with her and her new abilities. But Mackie's ex boyfriend isn't to fond of their new relationship and his possessiveness towards Mackie Spence has Jeremy worrying about what his next move will be.
I was so close to DNF this book but something happened that drew me back in at the last second.
I wasn't a fan of the mythological aspect of the story which is shocking to me because I love anything to do with mythology and Greek gods and goddess. To me it just wasn't executed well enough to keep me interested. I almost wish it had been left out completely.
I found the relationship between Jeremy and Mackie weird, he goes on and on about how they've known each other since they were little but the back story was lacking any depth, it was as though he'd forgotten about her for the past ten years and only notices her when the story begins. And of course once he does notice her it's insta-love galore.
This just wasn't a story for me.
Until next time,
Ginger
In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review.
My review is my honest opinion.
September 30, 2015
{My Thoughts} – Jeremy seems to be the kind of boy that any girl could Ideally like and full head over heals for. He seems to have his heart in the right place and he seems to understand how a boy should really treat a girl. He knows how to make a girl feel wanted and how to help them feel like they are safe around him.
Mackie is a girl that has had a rough go at things lately. Over the last summer break she had nearly drowned and then was in a coma for awhile but she came out of it and it was like nothing had happened. She picked back up where she had left off in life but couldn’t remember what had happened the night she’d nearly drowned.
I really enjoyed getting to know both Mackie and Jeremy throughout this book. They are two very enjoyable characters. I also enjoyed all the references about Greek Mythology throughout the book and how it tied into the story and the way in which it had been written. I do think that anyone that likes Greek Mythology could find this book a rather interesting read, if not for the references then for the characters.
I do recommend this book for others that enjoy Greek Mythology and for those that just want a nice story to read. I look forward to letting my children read this book in the future when they are old enough, I know that they will probably enjoy it as much as I had or more.
Mackie is a girl that has had a rough go at things lately. Over the last summer break she had nearly drowned and then was in a coma for awhile but she came out of it and it was like nothing had happened. She picked back up where she had left off in life but couldn’t remember what had happened the night she’d nearly drowned.
I really enjoyed getting to know both Mackie and Jeremy throughout this book. They are two very enjoyable characters. I also enjoyed all the references about Greek Mythology throughout the book and how it tied into the story and the way in which it had been written. I do think that anyone that likes Greek Mythology could find this book a rather interesting read, if not for the references then for the characters.
I do recommend this book for others that enjoy Greek Mythology and for those that just want a nice story to read. I look forward to letting my children read this book in the future when they are old enough, I know that they will probably enjoy it as much as I had or more.
April 4, 2015
Who Is Mackie Spence? is an overall quick and short read with a few fast paced parts. I was pulled through the book, wanting to know the ending and figure out the overall question of who Mackie really is, but I don't think it was really met the way I would've wanted it to be. This book starts off with Mackie, who after surviving almost drowning and coming out of a coma, has developed the ability to heal animals. This mystery was what drew me towards the book first, but majority of the story was more on Mackie and her high school drama. Small parts throughout this novel did talk about Mackie and her healing animals, which was what gravitated me towards the end. However, it wasn't until the epilogue that really explained Mackie and her ability, which was quite disappointing. Mackie in the end did discover the cause of her ability, but it was in my opinion poorly explained and it didn't really like it.
Aside from the story, the characters did have some really good development. Despite the fact that the book was quite short, the characters did have great development and weren't too shallow. I loved the relationship between Mackie and Jeremy, although I did feel like some characters weren't really necessary in this novel.
Aside from the story, the characters did have some really good development. Despite the fact that the book was quite short, the characters did have great development and weren't too shallow. I loved the relationship between Mackie and Jeremy, although I did feel like some characters weren't really necessary in this novel.
October 3, 2015
3.9
I enjoyed this story.
It was a little slow for me at some parts but towards the end it was very fast-paced and it was enjoyable.
I liked that it was from Jeremy's POV s as I haven't read many books from a male POV so it was nice change. I also liked the Greek mythology aspects. At first I didn't think it would have anything to do with mythology so it was a nice surprise. It had many references and tied in well with the story.
I really enjoyed the characters of Jeremy and Mackie and their journey throughout the entire story. Jeremy is your typical cute boy but he has his heart in the right place. Mackie has had a rough time in her life and after she almost drowns she goes into a coma. When she wakes up she cannot remember anything and is acting like nothing had happened.
All in all this was an enjoyable story. It's not a very long book so it is an easy read if you're looking for something nice and quick to read. It did take me awhile to get into it but I enjoyed it in the end so I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a bit of mythology.
(Thank you to Merit Press for sending me a copy of this book and for letting me host a giveaway of this book)
I enjoyed this story.
It was a little slow for me at some parts but towards the end it was very fast-paced and it was enjoyable.
I liked that it was from Jeremy's POV s as I haven't read many books from a male POV so it was nice change. I also liked the Greek mythology aspects. At first I didn't think it would have anything to do with mythology so it was a nice surprise. It had many references and tied in well with the story.
I really enjoyed the characters of Jeremy and Mackie and their journey throughout the entire story. Jeremy is your typical cute boy but he has his heart in the right place. Mackie has had a rough time in her life and after she almost drowns she goes into a coma. When she wakes up she cannot remember anything and is acting like nothing had happened.
All in all this was an enjoyable story. It's not a very long book so it is an easy read if you're looking for something nice and quick to read. It did take me awhile to get into it but I enjoyed it in the end so I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a bit of mythology.
(Thank you to Merit Press for sending me a copy of this book and for letting me host a giveaway of this book)
April 1, 2015
Quite an unusual evocative novel with a charming mythical undertone throughout. I had some issues with the first person narrative in that the main character seemed quite a bit younger than his actual age. I also found the mythical epilogue quite odd - I would have put that at the beginning of the book as a prologue. It just didn't quite work for me at the end.
Having said that, as a whole I enjoyed Who is Mackie Spence? It was very easy to read and kept me eager for the action - which there wasn't actually very much of, but the relationship between Mackie and Jeremy was so sweet that it made up for it.
Something I was particularly fond of throughout the book was the author's knowledge of sick and injured animals which came through strongly during Jeremy's and Mackie's volunteer work at the animal shelter. (I loved Number 26!) and I must commend the author's beautiful description of Puget Sound - reading the book really made me want to visit!
All in all, a charming book for young adults.
Having said that, as a whole I enjoyed Who is Mackie Spence? It was very easy to read and kept me eager for the action - which there wasn't actually very much of, but the relationship between Mackie and Jeremy was so sweet that it made up for it.
Something I was particularly fond of throughout the book was the author's knowledge of sick and injured animals which came through strongly during Jeremy's and Mackie's volunteer work at the animal shelter. (I loved Number 26!) and I must commend the author's beautiful description of Puget Sound - reading the book really made me want to visit!
All in all, a charming book for young adults.
February 26, 2015
*Won through Goodreads*
For a first novel Who Is Mackie Spence? wasn’t horrible— it had a lot of potential. I mean how cool would it be to be able to heal animals?
I do wish that the past and present relationship between Mackie and Jeremy was more fleshed out. It’s like one second they would just see each other in passing and not really talk but then all of a sudden they were kissing and dating. There needed to be more background and build up. I also wish the whole goddess/ mythology element wasn’t there. I was into the whole “Mackie heals animals” thing but I wish there would’ve been a different explanation. Also, I would’ve preferred an epilogue about Mackie instead. I desperately wish I could read this story from her point of view. I want to know what happened while she was drowning.
Overall, I feel that this novel needed more depth all around. It wasn’t too bad, but it could've been so much more.
2.5 STARS
For a first novel Who Is Mackie Spence? wasn’t horrible— it had a lot of potential. I mean how cool would it be to be able to heal animals?
I do wish that the past and present relationship between Mackie and Jeremy was more fleshed out. It’s like one second they would just see each other in passing and not really talk but then all of a sudden they were kissing and dating. There needed to be more background and build up. I also wish the whole goddess/ mythology element wasn’t there. I was into the whole “Mackie heals animals” thing but I wish there would’ve been a different explanation. Also, I would’ve preferred an epilogue about Mackie instead. I desperately wish I could read this story from her point of view. I want to know what happened while she was drowning.
Overall, I feel that this novel needed more depth all around. It wasn’t too bad, but it could've been so much more.
2.5 STARS
October 5, 2014
Mackie and Jeremy have been part of the same social group for their entire lives but after Mackie almost dies, Jeremy notices that she acts different. Through their shared volunteering at the local wildlife shelter, Jeremy witnesses Mackie seemingly telepathically communicating with many injured wild animals. When Jeremy tries to talk to Mackie about this, she initially dismisses him and then tells him that she's had these new abilities since the near death experience. After Mackie rescues a whale, Jeremy reads up on what might be going on with Mackie and things she might be the physical being of a mythological goddess. The novel progresses well until it ends in a disjointed fashion. For this reader, this novel would have worked better if the ending had been different - less of the mythology and more wrap up of the characters the readers had read about for 200 pages.
February 6, 2015
Well, if you've been hoping to read the day to day adventures of a 15 year old boy from one of the san juan islands, this is the book for you. He's also, of course, the sort of self-righteously good kid that leads a fairly boring day-to-day existence, but that hasn't stopped the author from sharing every possible minute of it. Theoretically there are mysterious happenings involving young Mackie Spence. This is tied into ancient greek mythology in what one can only assume is a last ditch effort to make the book interesting. Alas, I fear it means to be a series. If it was a realistic fiction book or a fantasy book with some serious plot happenings, I would like it more -- as it is, it's neither fish nor fowl and it drags, drags, drags.
February 6, 2017
I tried to get into this book but it was not easy. While I liked the overall plot and story, it didn't quite meet my expectations for a YA/fantasy. The fantasy elements came a little late in the story for me to find it authentic. The relationship between Jeremy and Mackie feels a bit forced. And I felt like there were too many sentences/paragraphs dedicated to the daily routines of Jeremy. Overall, I feel like this book might have been better served if it had been longer - at least then the fantasy element wouldn't have felt tacked on near the end.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
January 5, 2015
I think this story had the potential of being something bigger, but at the end it just was too superficial to really get the most out of the connections. Mackie Spence has had an accident, she almost died. Now back at school an old childhood friend notices a difference around her, and he's also falling for her. Why do animals have a weird reaction to her? How does she know to help animals when they are in trouble? What really happened when Mackie almost drowned?
2 out of 5 stars.
2 out of 5 stars.
Read
December 3, 2015Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Splattered Stock Photo
BFF Charm: Meh
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talk Talk: What I Did Over Summer Vacation
Bonus Factor: Wildlife Rehab Center
Anti-Bonus Factor: Semi-Stalker
Relationship Status: It's Not Me, It's You
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Splattered Stock Photo
BFF Charm: Meh
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talk Talk: What I Did Over Summer Vacation
Bonus Factor: Wildlife Rehab Center
Anti-Bonus Factor: Semi-Stalker
Relationship Status: It's Not Me, It's You
Read the full book report here.
April 26, 2015
The concept listed on the jacket of this book was fascinating. The juxtaposition of teenage angst and Greek myth was ambitious. However, it did not work for me the way I had hoped. The teenage angst outweighed the literary element. It was almost like their were two story lines that never fully intertwined...and I didn't appreciate the story line that pulled rank.
Read
April 12, 2015DNFing this one, which sucks because I was really looking forward to this one! :(
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Read
July 20, 2015I liked the animal rescue theme and the details about Puget Sound. Jeremy is a likable narrator.
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