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The Otherworldlies #1
The Otherworldlies
Fern communicates with her dog, blisters from just moments in the sun, and has correctly predicted the daily weather for more than two years. Even so, she's always seemed to be a normal twelve-year-old girl . . . until one day when Fern closes her eyes in class and opens them seconds later on a sandy beach miles away from school. When Fern disappears again, this time to a place far more dangerous, she begins to realize exactly "how" different she is.
With the help of her twin brother, Sam, Fern struggles to gain control of her supernatural powers. The arrival of a sinister vampire in town--who seems to have an alarming interest in Fern's powers--causes Fern to question her true identity. Who "is" she? More importantly, who can she count on? Soon Fern finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old battle--one that could destroy Fern and endanger everyone she loves.
With the help of her twin brother, Sam, Fern struggles to gain control of her supernatural powers. The arrival of a sinister vampire in town--who seems to have an alarming interest in Fern's powers--causes Fern to question her true identity. Who "is" she? More importantly, who can she count on? Soon Fern finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old battle--one that could destroy Fern and endanger everyone she loves.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2008
36 people are currently reading
1909 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Anne Kogler
5 books124 followersJennifer Anne Kogler lives in California, where she was born and raised. She graduated with a degree in English literature from Princeton University in 2003. Her first novel, RUBY TUESDAY began as her senior thesis in college. Her most recent novel, THE OTHERWORLDLIES, is a 2011 Truman Award Nominee. Jennie has two books coming out in 2011: a sequel to The Otherworldlies, THE SIREN’S CRY (due in June), and THE DEATCH CATCHERS (due in August).
Jennie has appeared in front of a wide range of audiences. She delivered a graduation speech with her twin brother Jeremy (which she assumes provided a convenient bathroom break for the audience before Jerry Seinfeld took the podium), and has spoken at schools across the country, as well as at the Library of Congress.
She currently attends Stanford Law School and has worked as a an intern for the Late Show with David Letterman, a clumsy waitress after graduating college, and a legal intern for the U.S. Department of Justice. Jennie is a longtime fan of the L.A. Dodgers, which as it turns out, was a great thing to be in the 1980s and not so much since then. She remains hopeful.
http://www.jenniferannekogler.com/abo...
Jennie has appeared in front of a wide range of audiences. She delivered a graduation speech with her twin brother Jeremy (which she assumes provided a convenient bathroom break for the audience before Jerry Seinfeld took the podium), and has spoken at schools across the country, as well as at the Library of Congress.
She currently attends Stanford Law School and has worked as a an intern for the Late Show with David Letterman, a clumsy waitress after graduating college, and a legal intern for the U.S. Department of Justice. Jennie is a longtime fan of the L.A. Dodgers, which as it turns out, was a great thing to be in the 1980s and not so much since then. She remains hopeful.
http://www.jenniferannekogler.com/abo...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com
Twelve-year-old Fern McAllister is the black sheep of her family, set apart by pale skin that blisters after moments in the sun and dark black hair in a family of blondes. Her strange sensitivity to light, and seeming ability to communicate with the family dog, are secondary concerns to the kids at her middle school who tease her for having an absent father. Despite gaining herself the nickname "freaky Fern," she leads a generally happy life, thanks to her mother's caring and her twin
brother Sam's friendship.
But one day in the middle of English, Fern simply disappears. No one can find her; no one has seen her leave the room, much less her desk. Unbeknownst to her classmates, Fern has somehow managed to teleport to Pirate Cove, her favorite part of a nearby beach. Frightened and unsure of how she got there, Fern tries to tell the truth, but her mother isn't believing it and neither is the school's headmaster. The next time she vanishes and reappears, it is to a much more dangerous location, and by then it's impossible for Fern to keep her activities under wraps. It's only after a series of dangerous accidents that Fern discovers the truth of her identity and the full extent of her powers as an "otherworldly," the politically correct term for any creature that is not entirely human.
Kogler does a wonderful job of detailing the average twelve-year-old's insecurities and the way that they are magnified in Fern, who is anything but average. She presents a compelling picture of what it's like to grow up different in a world where schoolchildren are cruel and ostracize people who don't fit in. I found Fern, Sam, and their mother to all be very sympathetic and believable characters, whose motivations were easy to accept.
I also enjoyed Kogler's conception of the titular "otherworldlies," which made this book refreshingly different from other vampire stories I have read. Her use of Greek myths as the starting point for a number of inhuman creatures and supernatural powers put a new spin on the traditional vampire myths.
Overall, THE OTHERWORLDLIES was a satisfying read, with a plot that asked more questions than it answered but still managed to come to some kind of conclusion. Kogler's left herself open for a sequel, perhaps even an entire series, about Fern's future, and I for one look forward to whatever she comes up with next.
Twelve-year-old Fern McAllister is the black sheep of her family, set apart by pale skin that blisters after moments in the sun and dark black hair in a family of blondes. Her strange sensitivity to light, and seeming ability to communicate with the family dog, are secondary concerns to the kids at her middle school who tease her for having an absent father. Despite gaining herself the nickname "freaky Fern," she leads a generally happy life, thanks to her mother's caring and her twin
brother Sam's friendship.
But one day in the middle of English, Fern simply disappears. No one can find her; no one has seen her leave the room, much less her desk. Unbeknownst to her classmates, Fern has somehow managed to teleport to Pirate Cove, her favorite part of a nearby beach. Frightened and unsure of how she got there, Fern tries to tell the truth, but her mother isn't believing it and neither is the school's headmaster. The next time she vanishes and reappears, it is to a much more dangerous location, and by then it's impossible for Fern to keep her activities under wraps. It's only after a series of dangerous accidents that Fern discovers the truth of her identity and the full extent of her powers as an "otherworldly," the politically correct term for any creature that is not entirely human.
Kogler does a wonderful job of detailing the average twelve-year-old's insecurities and the way that they are magnified in Fern, who is anything but average. She presents a compelling picture of what it's like to grow up different in a world where schoolchildren are cruel and ostracize people who don't fit in. I found Fern, Sam, and their mother to all be very sympathetic and believable characters, whose motivations were easy to accept.
I also enjoyed Kogler's conception of the titular "otherworldlies," which made this book refreshingly different from other vampire stories I have read. Her use of Greek myths as the starting point for a number of inhuman creatures and supernatural powers put a new spin on the traditional vampire myths.
Overall, THE OTHERWORLDLIES was a satisfying read, with a plot that asked more questions than it answered but still managed to come to some kind of conclusion. Kogler's left herself open for a sequel, perhaps even an entire series, about Fern's future, and I for one look forward to whatever she comes up with next.
July 2, 2008
Fern is an unusual girl, and in middle school, that’s just not acceptable. Every day, she has to deal with others’ spite over her strange qualities and habits such as blistering from sun exposure, a knack for accurate weather prediction, hearing voices without bodies, and talking with her dog. But what she doesn’t know is that she isn’t normal; she’s a vampire, or an Otherworldy. And among those, she’s one of the most special, because her unique ability to teleport distinguishes her as one of the foretold Unusual Eleven. Fern soon finds herself in the midst of an ages-old battle between the two factions of Otherworldies that could destroy her, the people she loves, and possibly the entire world.
The Otherworldies was a fantastic and action-filled combination of vampirism, ancient mythology, and supernatural powers; it was incredible how Kogler linked the three together even though they may seem to be unrelated. The plot was very fast moving and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as the story neared its ending. I loved how this story kept me guessing right up until the end and how some of the characters I thought were insignificant turned out to be crucial to the plot. You really have no idea what’s going to happen next. Besides having a well-written plot, The Otherworldies also has creative characters. My favorite was Fern; I found her to be much more mature than her twelve years would suggest as well as witty and resourceful.
Readers looking for a suspenseful, well-written, and unique read should most definitely check out The Otherworldies. Although I believe this novel is considered in the middle grade genre, teens and adults will also enjoy this story.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
The Otherworldies was a fantastic and action-filled combination of vampirism, ancient mythology, and supernatural powers; it was incredible how Kogler linked the three together even though they may seem to be unrelated. The plot was very fast moving and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as the story neared its ending. I loved how this story kept me guessing right up until the end and how some of the characters I thought were insignificant turned out to be crucial to the plot. You really have no idea what’s going to happen next. Besides having a well-written plot, The Otherworldies also has creative characters. My favorite was Fern; I found her to be much more mature than her twelve years would suggest as well as witty and resourceful.
Readers looking for a suspenseful, well-written, and unique read should most definitely check out The Otherworldies. Although I believe this novel is considered in the middle grade genre, teens and adults will also enjoy this story.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
January 10, 2009
Reading young adult fiction is such a slippery slope. Sometimes it just doesn't work for anyone other than its intended audience.
I imagine that would be the case with The Otherworldlies, the debut novel of author Jennifer Anne Kogler. It wasn't that it was such a bad book, really -- it just wasn't for me.
Vampire books are trendy now, and Kogler has gotten on the bandwagon with her take on the theme. Her heroine, 12-year-old Fern, has always been a little different. Her first two baby teeth were sharp canines, she is "allergic" to the sun -- getting a blistering sunburn in a matter of minutes -- and can talk to animals. And as if those things don't make it hard enough to fit in in middle school, she also randomly disappears from class spontaneously and reappears in strange places.
And I thought acne and training bras were bad.
Of course, Fern soon learns that she is, in fact, a vampire through the help of an unlikely friend at school. The question is, is she a Rollins -- a good, Cullen-esque type of vampire that doesn't feed from humans and wants to live side-by-side with the "Normals", or is she a Blout, a superior vampire that feels it's their divine right to take what they need from the human race.
The fact that an uber-bad Otherworldlie named Vlad has taken an interest in Fern doesn't bode well, either.
I think the reading level and social situations posed by the book make it most appropriate for middle school students -- they should love Fern and her brothers, and the fantastic new twist on vampires that Kogler has imagined. The Otherworldlies is the first of a series, so there are lots of adventures ahead for Fern. I won't, however, be following along.
I imagine that would be the case with The Otherworldlies, the debut novel of author Jennifer Anne Kogler. It wasn't that it was such a bad book, really -- it just wasn't for me.
Vampire books are trendy now, and Kogler has gotten on the bandwagon with her take on the theme. Her heroine, 12-year-old Fern, has always been a little different. Her first two baby teeth were sharp canines, she is "allergic" to the sun -- getting a blistering sunburn in a matter of minutes -- and can talk to animals. And as if those things don't make it hard enough to fit in in middle school, she also randomly disappears from class spontaneously and reappears in strange places.
And I thought acne and training bras were bad.
Of course, Fern soon learns that she is, in fact, a vampire through the help of an unlikely friend at school. The question is, is she a Rollins -- a good, Cullen-esque type of vampire that doesn't feed from humans and wants to live side-by-side with the "Normals", or is she a Blout, a superior vampire that feels it's their divine right to take what they need from the human race.
The fact that an uber-bad Otherworldlie named Vlad has taken an interest in Fern doesn't bode well, either.
I think the reading level and social situations posed by the book make it most appropriate for middle school students -- they should love Fern and her brothers, and the fantastic new twist on vampires that Kogler has imagined. The Otherworldlies is the first of a series, so there are lots of adventures ahead for Fern. I won't, however, be following along.
April 8, 2008
I have found another Vampire book that I love. This one is for teens and is NOT a romance. It is about a girl named Fern who is a bit odd. She is allergic to the sun, has really sensitive eyes and does not fit in at school. Where as her twin brother is perfectly normal and fits in just great at school. Fern discovers that she is actually a Vampire and that there is more to being a Vampire than just being allergic to the sun. Fern with the help of her twin, Sam, finds out what it is to be a vampire. I found this book to be suspenseful, intriguing, and a really good read. I read the book in one day, it was fantastic and I had a hard time putting it down. What a great vampire book. I hope that she writes a sequel because I really want to know what happens to Fern.
April 7, 2009
Fern is really weird--or at least she's not normal. She can talk to her dog, Byron, hears Voices in her mind (that are usually talking about her), has predicted the correct weather for over two years, and blisters after just moments in the sun light. But, really, other than that, Fern's somewhat similar to your average twelve-year-old . . . until she disapears in the middle of her English class to find herself at the beach. Doesn't sound TOO bad, right? But what if the next place she disapears to isnt as . . . CALMING, lets say? Fern still has no clue JUST how different--and powerfull--she is.
When the arrival of an extremely dangerous vampire becomes known, Fern starts to wonder who she really is. More troublesome, what is she? And who can she trust?
What i thought: This novel was shocking. It completely amazes me, how unlike it is from every other vampire-related young adult novel. I must say: the idea is absolutely fantastic; the characters are strong (not as in lifting weights strong. like the way they are formed and come together); the voice has life . . . but i'm just not feeling it. Honestly, it has just fantastic structure and a great base--but i dislike the way that Kogler dealt with it. It is similar Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society in this way; they both were great ideas, and could have been amazing . . . but, sadly, it did not meet its potential--no where near.
Truly, the characters were just great though. Fern was surprisingly strong throughout the entire novel, and very ocasionally came near her breaking point. Sam, her twin, was a great kid, and a sturdy shoulder to lean on. Mrs. McAlister was definitely not without a back bone. Mr. Bing was like the perfect grandfatherly image--despite the fact that he probably isnt a grandfather. But . . . it just doesnt go. The novel, i mean. It clearly could have came together wonderfully--but it does not.
The main reason for this is that it is just . . . slow. Even if it was at an exciting part, it was STILL slow. Achingly slow. I cannot pinpoint it exactly, but there was something that kept me from being sucked in completely. It was like doing to Hokie-Pokie; one minute my arm would be in, the next minute my leg would be in--but i'd never be in all the way. No, actually, thats not true. I was completely sucked in at one point--that point being fairly close to the end of the novel, which i suppose makes it even MORE like doing to Hokie-Pokie.
Despite this, i admired Kogler's writing style. Not so much her style, actually, but her voice. (no, not her literal VOICE. i mean her voice on paper) Kogler's words were all very clear, and so were their meanings. It was not hard to follow, but the voice was most definately one of a kind.
Overall, voice/plot/character-wise, i give it 5 stars, but everything else-wise, i give it 2 stars. Frankly, i think this book could have been so much better.
When the arrival of an extremely dangerous vampire becomes known, Fern starts to wonder who she really is. More troublesome, what is she? And who can she trust?
What i thought: This novel was shocking. It completely amazes me, how unlike it is from every other vampire-related young adult novel. I must say: the idea is absolutely fantastic; the characters are strong (not as in lifting weights strong. like the way they are formed and come together); the voice has life . . . but i'm just not feeling it. Honestly, it has just fantastic structure and a great base--but i dislike the way that Kogler dealt with it. It is similar Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society in this way; they both were great ideas, and could have been amazing . . . but, sadly, it did not meet its potential--no where near.
Truly, the characters were just great though. Fern was surprisingly strong throughout the entire novel, and very ocasionally came near her breaking point. Sam, her twin, was a great kid, and a sturdy shoulder to lean on. Mrs. McAlister was definitely not without a back bone. Mr. Bing was like the perfect grandfatherly image--despite the fact that he probably isnt a grandfather. But . . . it just doesnt go. The novel, i mean. It clearly could have came together wonderfully--but it does not.
The main reason for this is that it is just . . . slow. Even if it was at an exciting part, it was STILL slow. Achingly slow. I cannot pinpoint it exactly, but there was something that kept me from being sucked in completely. It was like doing to Hokie-Pokie; one minute my arm would be in, the next minute my leg would be in--but i'd never be in all the way. No, actually, thats not true. I was completely sucked in at one point--that point being fairly close to the end of the novel, which i suppose makes it even MORE like doing to Hokie-Pokie.
Despite this, i admired Kogler's writing style. Not so much her style, actually, but her voice. (no, not her literal VOICE. i mean her voice on paper) Kogler's words were all very clear, and so were their meanings. It was not hard to follow, but the voice was most definately one of a kind.
Overall, voice/plot/character-wise, i give it 5 stars, but everything else-wise, i give it 2 stars. Frankly, i think this book could have been so much better.
February 15, 2012
The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler is about Fern trying to figure out why she's so much different from her fraternal twin, Sam. She's paler than pale, to the point of needing massive amounts of sunscreen to go anywhere. She can accurately predict the weather — always and talk to her dog. All those things she has learned to live with, but accidentally teleporting from school to the beach in the middle of a class, is a whole other thing!
The first two thirds of Otherworldlies is set in San Juan Capistrano. Besides Fern's teleportation problem, and the ire it creates with her mother, there are the swallows falling dead from the sky. The dead birds add a feeling of dread to a story that would otherwise seem like a lighthearted YA paranormal novel.
As with many YA books, Sam and Fern are children of a single mother. Their mother runs the home with military precision, another usual plot device to complicate the hero's plans. Except, this time, the mother's reasons, once revealed make sense and make her a believable and sympathetic character.
I especially loved the setting, San Juan Capistrano and later Coronado Island in San Diego. As a native Californian, I always perk up when the setting is somewhere I'm familiar with. Both locations, while molded for artistic license, are still recognizable and still resplendent with their local personalities. How Coronado island is described, especially, made me giggle for the juxtaposition of the paranormal use and the mundane use.
I plan to read book two, The Siren's Cry which came out in 2011.
The first two thirds of Otherworldlies is set in San Juan Capistrano. Besides Fern's teleportation problem, and the ire it creates with her mother, there are the swallows falling dead from the sky. The dead birds add a feeling of dread to a story that would otherwise seem like a lighthearted YA paranormal novel.
As with many YA books, Sam and Fern are children of a single mother. Their mother runs the home with military precision, another usual plot device to complicate the hero's plans. Except, this time, the mother's reasons, once revealed make sense and make her a believable and sympathetic character.
I especially loved the setting, San Juan Capistrano and later Coronado Island in San Diego. As a native Californian, I always perk up when the setting is somewhere I'm familiar with. Both locations, while molded for artistic license, are still recognizable and still resplendent with their local personalities. How Coronado island is described, especially, made me giggle for the juxtaposition of the paranormal use and the mundane use.
I plan to read book two, The Siren's Cry which came out in 2011.
May 28, 2010
I hadn’t heard much things about this book, but the cover looked too great to pass it by. There are so many vampire books, that at first I thought that this may even look like those books, but I am glad that it wasn’t.
The characters are really great. Sam and Fern had the best siblings relationship that I ever read in a book. I loved that he was so protective of her and the whole time looked out for her. I liked Fern a lot, but in some situations she could use a back bone. In situations at school where friends of Sam told him his sister was weird, he could have been more helpful and tell them back off. But I did understand him a lot.
The power of teleporting is such a cool power to have. I mean common, wouldn’t that be fun! For Fern the power means that she gets a friend, Lindsey who doesn’t think Fern is strange or a freak and with the whole ride gets to know herself better.
As I said in the beginning the book has vampires in them, but they are not like the vampires we always read about in other YA vampire books. The vampires have of course powers, but they are combined with Greek mythology. I thought this was very original.
Suspenseful till the end, a great plot and cute characters. A must read for younger teens who love paranormal books/ vampires.
The characters are really great. Sam and Fern had the best siblings relationship that I ever read in a book. I loved that he was so protective of her and the whole time looked out for her. I liked Fern a lot, but in some situations she could use a back bone. In situations at school where friends of Sam told him his sister was weird, he could have been more helpful and tell them back off. But I did understand him a lot.
The power of teleporting is such a cool power to have. I mean common, wouldn’t that be fun! For Fern the power means that she gets a friend, Lindsey who doesn’t think Fern is strange or a freak and with the whole ride gets to know herself better.
As I said in the beginning the book has vampires in them, but they are not like the vampires we always read about in other YA vampire books. The vampires have of course powers, but they are combined with Greek mythology. I thought this was very original.
Suspenseful till the end, a great plot and cute characters. A must read for younger teens who love paranormal books/ vampires.
June 3, 2008
This is a great book for the young teen crowd. Entertaining throughout the beginning, middle , to end. A fantasy read about vampires, yet not all too crazy and disbelieving. 12 year old Fern is an outsider where she lives and feels she has no one that can relate to her. She soon goes on an adventure and discovers who she truly is, and feels not so different but more so special. Loved this book!
December 18, 2011
This was a cute book. An easy read due to it being for the young ones but I liked it
September 20, 2012
I read this a while ago but I remeber that I liked it. And I just finished re-reading it so I can read the sequel.
October 21, 2008
It's so cool! I got to meet the author! awesome!
August 1, 2019
I've been meaning to read this book, and I finally got the chance when I stumbled upon a copy at a nearby Book Sale. I had high hopes since I really wanted to read this in middle school, but I toned it down a bit, as I am not really a kid anymore. However, all I can say is that this is a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
First, I love just how the author portrayed Fern. She is considered weird because she exhibits unusual (no pun intended) behaviors/symptoms that nobody seem to understand including her. She's just a 12 year old kid struggling at being normal while her siblings are excelling at making friends and being popular with popular. I think the way the author wrote about what Fern thinks and does is as realistic as it could be. Aside from Fern, the side characters are also great and I enjoyed reading about them. Another thing about the other characters is that they make me wonder if they can really be trusted. They all have this mysterious aura while doing things that would make you trust them. Idk, maybe I'm overreacting, but I love it like that since the book, literally screams first-part when I read the ending.
Though I enjoyed it, there were times where I get confused by names since some names sound alike and the new terms thrown everywhere esp on the last half of the book that didn't make it any easier for.me to remember. The story is also slow paced, so it might be boring for some people who like fast paced stories or just expect this book to be a quick, stand-alone read.
Btw, I really don't like vampires so much because of how they are usually portrayed, but in this book, I like just how the author made her take on vampires.
All in all, a fun and good book.
First, I love just how the author portrayed Fern. She is considered weird because she exhibits unusual (no pun intended) behaviors/symptoms that nobody seem to understand including her. She's just a 12 year old kid struggling at being normal while her siblings are excelling at making friends and being popular with popular. I think the way the author wrote about what Fern thinks and does is as realistic as it could be. Aside from Fern, the side characters are also great and I enjoyed reading about them. Another thing about the other characters is that they make me wonder if they can really be trusted. They all have this mysterious aura while doing things that would make you trust them. Idk, maybe I'm overreacting, but I love it like that since the book, literally screams first-part when I read the ending.
Though I enjoyed it, there were times where I get confused by names since some names sound alike and the new terms thrown everywhere esp on the last half of the book that didn't make it any easier for.me to remember. The story is also slow paced, so it might be boring for some people who like fast paced stories or just expect this book to be a quick, stand-alone read.
Btw, I really don't like vampires so much because of how they are usually portrayed, but in this book, I like just how the author made her take on vampires.
All in all, a fun and good book.
January 22, 2018
Kogler, Jennifer Anne The Otherworldlies, 383 p. Eos (Harper), 2008.
Fern has never looked like the others in her family, but she had no idea how different she actually was. Her twin brother, Sam, has done his best to protect her from the scorn of the students, but even he is feeling the strain. Then, something happens that alerts the entire world that Fern really is different. Now both friends and enemies are converging to control Fern's life and possibly her power.
Does that sound obscure enough? I don't want to give away too much - but you will LOVE this book! Every library that has Twilight in it needs to buy this one right away!! There - enough secrets given away.
MS, HS - ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.
Fern has never looked like the others in her family, but she had no idea how different she actually was. Her twin brother, Sam, has done his best to protect her from the scorn of the students, but even he is feeling the strain. Then, something happens that alerts the entire world that Fern really is different. Now both friends and enemies are converging to control Fern's life and possibly her power.
Does that sound obscure enough? I don't want to give away too much - but you will LOVE this book! Every library that has Twilight in it needs to buy this one right away!! There - enough secrets given away.
MS, HS - ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.
May 24, 2019
It's great intriguing book if you like fantasy fiction...
September 4, 2020
It was an ok read. I'm not finishing the series, but it wasnt terrible.
March 21, 2023
Very good and different! I enjoyed reading it.
September 22, 2024
DNF. Took too long to get to the point.
December 10, 2025
interesting for young readers
June 17, 2022
Twelve-year-old Fern McAllister, the black sheep in her family, is somewhat odd. Her pale skin blisters with sun exposure. Fern is an unusual middle school girl unacceptable to her peers. Every day, she deals with spite about her strange qualities and habits. such as blistering from sun exposure, a knack for accurate weather prediction, hearing voices without bodies, and talking with her dog. She doesn’t know that she isn’t normal but at middle school she is called "freaky Fern."
When Fern vanishes from English class no one saw her leave nor can anyone find her. She finds herself in Pirate Cove on a nearby beach. Neither her mother nor the school headmaster believe her explanation but Sam understands. Following several dangerous incidents Fern discovers who and what she is, learning the truth of her identity and powers as an "otherworldly," which describes those who are not entirely human. Among those, she’s special, because she can teleport making her one of the Unusual Eleven. This launcher her in an age-old battle between two factions of Otherworldies that could destroy her, those people she loves, and possibly the world.
The author describes Fern's twelve-year-old insecurities and what it's like to grow up different. Fern, Sam, and their mother are sympathetic and believable characters, with easy to understand motivations. And, the concept of "otherworldlies" made this read refreshing when compared to most vampire tales with Greek myths as the origin for inhuman creatures with supernatural powers. In short, this is as fun read.
When Fern vanishes from English class no one saw her leave nor can anyone find her. She finds herself in Pirate Cove on a nearby beach. Neither her mother nor the school headmaster believe her explanation but Sam understands. Following several dangerous incidents Fern discovers who and what she is, learning the truth of her identity and powers as an "otherworldly," which describes those who are not entirely human. Among those, she’s special, because she can teleport making her one of the Unusual Eleven. This launcher her in an age-old battle between two factions of Otherworldies that could destroy her, those people she loves, and possibly the world.
The author describes Fern's twelve-year-old insecurities and what it's like to grow up different. Fern, Sam, and their mother are sympathetic and believable characters, with easy to understand motivations. And, the concept of "otherworldlies" made this read refreshing when compared to most vampire tales with Greek myths as the origin for inhuman creatures with supernatural powers. In short, this is as fun read.
December 30, 2010
I've had this book on my pile to read for a while. It sounded interesting and a bit creepy. It ended up being and okay book and not at all what I thought it was going to be. This book is definitely more at a middle grade level and is more of a fantasy than anything even remotely creepy.
Fern is different from the other children. She can do things other kids can't; predict the weather, talk with her dog, and hear other people's conversations from far away. Different isn't necessarily good though, especially in middle school. Fern struggles every day to fit in and it is only her twin brother, Sam, that helps her make it through the day. Then one day Fern disappears from class only to reappear at the beach...well this is something that can no longer be ignored. One of her fellow classmates tells her that she is an Otherwordly, basically a vampire, and that Fern may be one of the Unusual Eleven (powerful Otherworldlies who have been lost to the race). Now Fern gets caught up in the struggle between the good and bad vampires.
There were some things I liked about this book and some things I didn't. I liked Fern's unique and interesting powers and the idea of her being a different type of race of human. I didn't like that the author then had to call the Otherworldlies a type of vampire; I kind of rolled my eyes and wished that Kogler hadn't gone with a YA vampire standard and that she had kept her characters as a unique race all in their own.
I liked the relationship Fern has with her brothers and her mother; I also enjoyed Fern's family playing such a big role in the story. It was great to see her mother included in the storyline since in so many of the YA books the kids are separated from their parents. I loved how supportive Fern's family was of each other.
I did not like the pace of this book. Things move very slowly in the beginning and it take forever to get to the meat of the story; once you start getting to the really interesting parts (about half way through) you feel like you never learn enough but are just scratching the surface. To me the story felt a bit shallow, like it never quite got where it wanted to go. Fern and Sam were interesting but kind of two dimensional; I never really liked either of them or sympathized with them.
I also thought this book was more of a middle grade novel than a young adult novel. Fern's problems are more at a middle grade level; mostly teasing and not getting along with classmates. She doesn't have a love interest and her interactions with the bad vampires never really get violent or desperate. The writing style itself is also fairly simplistic and at a lower reading level; there wasn't a ton of description and you never really hear Fern's thoughts to see how she is really feeling about everything. From the synopsis this sounded like it was going to be a creepy read, but it never feels creepy or even dangerous.
Overall it was an okay story. Fern is an interesting character, but hard to relate too. Kogler's concept of vampires is fresh and new; but worked better before she defined them as vampires, she should have left them as a separate race. The pacing of the book was slow and at times kind of boring; you feel like you are just barely scraping the surface of this world. I probably won't be reading any more books in this series. I just wasn't drawn into the writing or story and there are a ton of other young adult books out there that deal with these types of topics in a more interesting way. If you are a fan of YA and vampires check out Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead or any of the other plethora of vampire YA out there.
Fern is different from the other children. She can do things other kids can't; predict the weather, talk with her dog, and hear other people's conversations from far away. Different isn't necessarily good though, especially in middle school. Fern struggles every day to fit in and it is only her twin brother, Sam, that helps her make it through the day. Then one day Fern disappears from class only to reappear at the beach...well this is something that can no longer be ignored. One of her fellow classmates tells her that she is an Otherwordly, basically a vampire, and that Fern may be one of the Unusual Eleven (powerful Otherworldlies who have been lost to the race). Now Fern gets caught up in the struggle between the good and bad vampires.
There were some things I liked about this book and some things I didn't. I liked Fern's unique and interesting powers and the idea of her being a different type of race of human. I didn't like that the author then had to call the Otherworldlies a type of vampire; I kind of rolled my eyes and wished that Kogler hadn't gone with a YA vampire standard and that she had kept her characters as a unique race all in their own.
I liked the relationship Fern has with her brothers and her mother; I also enjoyed Fern's family playing such a big role in the story. It was great to see her mother included in the storyline since in so many of the YA books the kids are separated from their parents. I loved how supportive Fern's family was of each other.
I did not like the pace of this book. Things move very slowly in the beginning and it take forever to get to the meat of the story; once you start getting to the really interesting parts (about half way through) you feel like you never learn enough but are just scratching the surface. To me the story felt a bit shallow, like it never quite got where it wanted to go. Fern and Sam were interesting but kind of two dimensional; I never really liked either of them or sympathized with them.
I also thought this book was more of a middle grade novel than a young adult novel. Fern's problems are more at a middle grade level; mostly teasing and not getting along with classmates. She doesn't have a love interest and her interactions with the bad vampires never really get violent or desperate. The writing style itself is also fairly simplistic and at a lower reading level; there wasn't a ton of description and you never really hear Fern's thoughts to see how she is really feeling about everything. From the synopsis this sounded like it was going to be a creepy read, but it never feels creepy or even dangerous.
Overall it was an okay story. Fern is an interesting character, but hard to relate too. Kogler's concept of vampires is fresh and new; but worked better before she defined them as vampires, she should have left them as a separate race. The pacing of the book was slow and at times kind of boring; you feel like you are just barely scraping the surface of this world. I probably won't be reading any more books in this series. I just wasn't drawn into the writing or story and there are a ton of other young adult books out there that deal with these types of topics in a more interesting way. If you are a fan of YA and vampires check out Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead or any of the other plethora of vampire YA out there.
January 13, 2014
Check other reviews at http://bathtubreader.blogspot.com/
2.5 stars
A victim of too many ideas, the wrong audience, and itself. This book isn't horrible, I've read worse and the writing was actually pretty good. Kogler actually turns a phrase pretty well and does a good job with pace and creating likable characters. Fern, Sam, and their mother were great characters who made me smile and sometimes feel bad for them. In many ways they did their jobs well and I'm almost tempted to read the next book just to read about more about them - almost.
While the book moves well and the writing is decent, the story is silly and the kids don't act their age. Fern and Sam are in middle school yet most of the time act like they are in high school. There are also things they put together that most people won't connect yet they do at the crazy age of 12. A year ago I spent weeks with over 200 middle schoolers and I can tell Fern and Sam missed the mark. They were too well behaved, too mature (they had essentially no angst), too calm about crazy things happening, and too steadfast to things they should have questioned. That said, they were great characters and would have been close to perfect if they were a few years older and questioned things with more passion.
The story started off ok. An outcast girl who comes into powers and even a friend. Ok, yeah, nothing new but it's a trope I enjoy. Then it turns out she's a vampire. Once again, ok, the book is from 2008 and the vampire kids were in full swing. Plus, I still enjoy vampire stories, even if I'm the only one left. Then the Greek mythology starts to take hold and the eyebrows came together in a confused scowl. The Greek Gods were actually vampires? Um, no, this doesn't work for me. The mash up of Greek mythology and vampire lore didn't work. The random Greek creatures showing up and having bizarre jobs, living in zoos, and all the other randomness worked even less.
Moving past the strange Greek roots, the division of vampire society into the good, non-blood drinking Rollens and the evil, blood-drinking Blouts didn't work for me either. We're never given enough information about the Blouts. Why is it such a big deal that they drink blood? Do they kill every time they drink from someone? Other than disagreeing with the Rollens, why are they bad? We're given some pithy story about Blouts not wanting to live with "Normals" or humans but it's not really clear what the deal is with these vampires. In the end, I don't really care about either group and think Fern makes a good move staying with her "normal" family.
This is book one in what I guess was going to be a series that didn't pan out because there is a second book and this book doesn't give us as much closer as one might like for Fern. There are a number of loose ends and dangling story lines that want to be books. I read some reviews of the second book and it sounds like things only get more unraveled and leave the reader hanging with even less information than the first book. Kogler's website looks as though she's not writing seriously anymore and the last book she published had nothing to do with the Otherworldlies. She's not a bad writer and with some practice could be good fun but it doesn't look like she's in it for the long run.
2.5 stars
A victim of too many ideas, the wrong audience, and itself. This book isn't horrible, I've read worse and the writing was actually pretty good. Kogler actually turns a phrase pretty well and does a good job with pace and creating likable characters. Fern, Sam, and their mother were great characters who made me smile and sometimes feel bad for them. In many ways they did their jobs well and I'm almost tempted to read the next book just to read about more about them - almost.
While the book moves well and the writing is decent, the story is silly and the kids don't act their age. Fern and Sam are in middle school yet most of the time act like they are in high school. There are also things they put together that most people won't connect yet they do at the crazy age of 12. A year ago I spent weeks with over 200 middle schoolers and I can tell Fern and Sam missed the mark. They were too well behaved, too mature (they had essentially no angst), too calm about crazy things happening, and too steadfast to things they should have questioned. That said, they were great characters and would have been close to perfect if they were a few years older and questioned things with more passion.
The story started off ok. An outcast girl who comes into powers and even a friend. Ok, yeah, nothing new but it's a trope I enjoy. Then it turns out she's a vampire. Once again, ok, the book is from 2008 and the vampire kids were in full swing. Plus, I still enjoy vampire stories, even if I'm the only one left. Then the Greek mythology starts to take hold and the eyebrows came together in a confused scowl. The Greek Gods were actually vampires? Um, no, this doesn't work for me. The mash up of Greek mythology and vampire lore didn't work. The random Greek creatures showing up and having bizarre jobs, living in zoos, and all the other randomness worked even less.
Moving past the strange Greek roots, the division of vampire society into the good, non-blood drinking Rollens and the evil, blood-drinking Blouts didn't work for me either. We're never given enough information about the Blouts. Why is it such a big deal that they drink blood? Do they kill every time they drink from someone? Other than disagreeing with the Rollens, why are they bad? We're given some pithy story about Blouts not wanting to live with "Normals" or humans but it's not really clear what the deal is with these vampires. In the end, I don't really care about either group and think Fern makes a good move staying with her "normal" family.
This is book one in what I guess was going to be a series that didn't pan out because there is a second book and this book doesn't give us as much closer as one might like for Fern. There are a number of loose ends and dangling story lines that want to be books. I read some reviews of the second book and it sounds like things only get more unraveled and leave the reader hanging with even less information than the first book. Kogler's website looks as though she's not writing seriously anymore and the last book she published had nothing to do with the Otherworldlies. She's not a bad writer and with some practice could be good fun but it doesn't look like she's in it for the long run.
January 11, 2011
Hmmm. Another vampire novel. Ok, so I'll grant that it was an interesting take on the whole vampire thing, but I couldn't help but feel that the word "vampire" is becoming a catch-all for mysterious supernatural beings. Fern is a twin, but couldn't possibly look or act any more differently from her twin. She's been ostracized at school and has some challenging physical issues, like blistering when out in the sun too long. She can communicate with dogs and make water move with her mind. And then she starts teleporting. While is troublesome if you find yourself on the very top of Magic Mountain with TV cameras pointed at you while you wait for someone to get you down. Lo and behold, Fern finds out that she not really who she thought she was. She's not even human. And there are a couple of warring factions of vamps that both have an unhealthy interest in her.
What follows is, well, kind of a mess. There's a lot of stuff going on here and a lot of it is difficult to connect to an actual purpose in the plot. For instance, the whole Greek mythology thing? Cool and all, but other than sort of explaining why she can move water, it doesn't explain what, if anything vampires have to do with the ancients. I guess we're supposed to believe that vampires evolved from them, but it doesn't really hold with the whole vampires creating other vampires thing. In fact, there are so many bizarre characteristics involved that the vampires barely resemble vampires at all (except for the bad guys, who at least drink blood). I mean, gastro-intestinal issues? What does that have to do with anything? Talking to dogs really only seems to be good for gathering incriminating gossip. Why even bother calling these supernatural beings "vampires" at all? Marketing? I don't know if this is supposed to be part of a series or what, but there's so much left unexplained that I'm thinking it must be. At least it held my interest through to the end. This was supposed to be a selection for my middle school book group, but we've officially been snowed out and not yet rescheduled. I will be interested to hear what my teens have to say about this book. Many of them are getting sick of the vampire genre and I've got to wonder if the quirks in this novel are enough to set it apart from the rest for them.
What follows is, well, kind of a mess. There's a lot of stuff going on here and a lot of it is difficult to connect to an actual purpose in the plot. For instance, the whole Greek mythology thing? Cool and all, but other than sort of explaining why she can move water, it doesn't explain what, if anything vampires have to do with the ancients. I guess we're supposed to believe that vampires evolved from them, but it doesn't really hold with the whole vampires creating other vampires thing. In fact, there are so many bizarre characteristics involved that the vampires barely resemble vampires at all (except for the bad guys, who at least drink blood). I mean, gastro-intestinal issues? What does that have to do with anything? Talking to dogs really only seems to be good for gathering incriminating gossip. Why even bother calling these supernatural beings "vampires" at all? Marketing? I don't know if this is supposed to be part of a series or what, but there's so much left unexplained that I'm thinking it must be. At least it held my interest through to the end. This was supposed to be a selection for my middle school book group, but we've officially been snowed out and not yet rescheduled. I will be interested to hear what my teens have to say about this book. Many of them are getting sick of the vampire genre and I've got to wonder if the quirks in this novel are enough to set it apart from the rest for them.
January 7, 2009
*Spoilers below*
Don't you love those books when the outcast, lonely, young teen, who is downtrodden and picked upon by nearly everyone around them, discovers that they actually have some sort of magical/supernatural power?
And on top of that, not only are they magical, but in the magical world, they are a rare/famous person...
Sound familiar?
Yeah, I thought so too.
I really wanted this book to be better than it was... the idea was pretty cool (other than the glaring similarities to dear Mr. Potter)- Otherworldlies (aka vampires, as we discover partially through the book, if you haven't figured out by now by the fact that the heroine can't go out in the sun, is utterly pale, likes caves and hanging around in trees, etc.) exist side by side with humans, feigning a normal life and striving to ... well, I'm really not sure what.
It felt as if the author had this glimpse of a really cool idea (vampires! teenagers! special powers! Greek gods! mythology! angst! family! friendship!) but then never really fleshed it out. There are some great scenes in the book (the heroine finds herself teleported on top of Splash Mtn. at DisneyLand at one point), but you almost miss them because of the awkward, heavy handed way that the characters are handled.
To me, it felt as if EVERYTIME a character spoke, they had to have some sort of range of emotion attached, such as,:
"I don't know," she said, looking frustrated.
"Why don't you?" he asked, biting his lip with worry.
"Because this is confusing me," she said, glancing away with exasperation.
See what I mean? Ok, well, that's not really from the book, but it's close enough.
Anyways, there were several things with the character development, the poor transitions between plot lines, and general story telling that just made this book disappointing to me.... and I really had high hopes because it DOES have a cool concept and idea. Just poorly executed.
Don't you love those books when the outcast, lonely, young teen, who is downtrodden and picked upon by nearly everyone around them, discovers that they actually have some sort of magical/supernatural power?
And on top of that, not only are they magical, but in the magical world, they are a rare/famous person...
Sound familiar?
Yeah, I thought so too.
I really wanted this book to be better than it was... the idea was pretty cool (other than the glaring similarities to dear Mr. Potter)- Otherworldlies (aka vampires, as we discover partially through the book, if you haven't figured out by now by the fact that the heroine can't go out in the sun, is utterly pale, likes caves and hanging around in trees, etc.) exist side by side with humans, feigning a normal life and striving to ... well, I'm really not sure what.
It felt as if the author had this glimpse of a really cool idea (vampires! teenagers! special powers! Greek gods! mythology! angst! family! friendship!) but then never really fleshed it out. There are some great scenes in the book (the heroine finds herself teleported on top of Splash Mtn. at DisneyLand at one point), but you almost miss them because of the awkward, heavy handed way that the characters are handled.
To me, it felt as if EVERYTIME a character spoke, they had to have some sort of range of emotion attached, such as,:
"I don't know," she said, looking frustrated.
"Why don't you?" he asked, biting his lip with worry.
"Because this is confusing me," she said, glancing away with exasperation.
See what I mean? Ok, well, that's not really from the book, but it's close enough.
Anyways, there were several things with the character development, the poor transitions between plot lines, and general story telling that just made this book disappointing to me.... and I really had high hopes because it DOES have a cool concept and idea. Just poorly executed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2010
Fern longs to be a normal girl, but it seems she can't quite fit in. Not with the other kids at school and not even completely with her family, who though they love her, find her a tad odd. Her twin brother Sam couldn't be more different. Sam is fiercely loyal and protective of Fern. Middle School is tough enough without having the nickname, "Freaky Fern." But Fern can't help the things that make her stand out like her sensitivity to light, her fondness for soil, her abilities to hear conversations from far away, tree climbing, and talk to her dog. Oh, and she can disappear. It seems that being normal will never be within her reach. Little does she know, But Fern is no ordinary girl and was never intended to live an ordinary life. As Fern grows into her powers, she discovers she lives amidst an entire parallel world of which she is a part. As an otherworldly, Fern is not just normal, she is extraordinary and may hold the key to the survival of the otherworldlies.
Otherworldies is another entry into the burgeoning vampire genre; Good vampires who don't drink blood. The difference is that Fern is raised by a human family and neither she nor her family knows she is a vampire until some of her other special abilities begin to develop. Fern is twelve, so she's a young protagonist, which makes her vulnerable and naive, endearing qualities in a vampire. There's no romance. Otherworldies is just a good old fashioned battle between good and evil, battling bullies and prejudice. I do take some issue with the cover art. It made me think this was going to be a novel for older readers, not middle grades. The Fern of the story does not, in my opinion, look at all like the girl on the cover, who seems much older and more sophisticated. But Otherworldies is a solid selection for middle grade readers. Not sure if this is to become a series, but it seems likely.
Otherworldies is another entry into the burgeoning vampire genre; Good vampires who don't drink blood. The difference is that Fern is raised by a human family and neither she nor her family knows she is a vampire until some of her other special abilities begin to develop. Fern is twelve, so she's a young protagonist, which makes her vulnerable and naive, endearing qualities in a vampire. There's no romance. Otherworldies is just a good old fashioned battle between good and evil, battling bullies and prejudice. I do take some issue with the cover art. It made me think this was going to be a novel for older readers, not middle grades. The Fern of the story does not, in my opinion, look at all like the girl on the cover, who seems much older and more sophisticated. But Otherworldies is a solid selection for middle grade readers. Not sure if this is to become a series, but it seems likely.
February 22, 2011
This book wasn't half bad. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but I guess it proved itself.
Fern is different from everyone else. She's allergic to the sun, can talk to dogs, and predict the weather. People label her as weird and a freak, but it becomes more than that after she disappears one day in class and turns up somewhere else entirely. Fern has to figure out who she is, and fast - other people are interested too, and it's bound to get ugly if they find out.
Every sign pointed to vampire in this book at first, and I really didn't want it to be that. I'm so tired of the stereotypical vampires these days! When I found that it was indeed vampires, I was tempted to put the book down, but didn't. I'm glad - these vampires are actually different. The idea has been further developed, and there are no ridiculous romances with dead and sparkly guys (sorry, Edward). I do really wish she didn't use the name "Vlad" - way too typical.
My favorite character is Sam - he's so devoted and caring. He knows when to be serious an dwhen to bring in humor to lighten the mood. Fern needed her brother through all she went through. Actually, I was a bit disappointed in Fern as a main character - I wish she could have been a bit more tough. Though, usually most of the books I read have tough feminine protagonists, so I may just be a bit biased.
I did think that the book was a bit... behind - outdated. I know what the word "teleport" means, and I think most of my friends do, too. Words like that are common enough, these days. I think they researched a few more topics than necessary. The whole Greek mythology reference was interesting. I've never had vampires and Greek gods thrown together. I found it hard to believe that they didn't understand the references to Poseidon, since I think everyone I know knows who that is. Then again, everyone I know has read Percy Jackson, so I could be wrong!
Fern is different from everyone else. She's allergic to the sun, can talk to dogs, and predict the weather. People label her as weird and a freak, but it becomes more than that after she disappears one day in class and turns up somewhere else entirely. Fern has to figure out who she is, and fast - other people are interested too, and it's bound to get ugly if they find out.
Every sign pointed to vampire in this book at first, and I really didn't want it to be that. I'm so tired of the stereotypical vampires these days! When I found that it was indeed vampires, I was tempted to put the book down, but didn't. I'm glad - these vampires are actually different. The idea has been further developed, and there are no ridiculous romances with dead and sparkly guys (sorry, Edward). I do really wish she didn't use the name "Vlad" - way too typical.
My favorite character is Sam - he's so devoted and caring. He knows when to be serious an dwhen to bring in humor to lighten the mood. Fern needed her brother through all she went through. Actually, I was a bit disappointed in Fern as a main character - I wish she could have been a bit more tough. Though, usually most of the books I read have tough feminine protagonists, so I may just be a bit biased.
I did think that the book was a bit... behind - outdated. I know what the word "teleport" means, and I think most of my friends do, too. Words like that are common enough, these days. I think they researched a few more topics than necessary. The whole Greek mythology reference was interesting. I've never had vampires and Greek gods thrown together. I found it hard to believe that they didn't understand the references to Poseidon, since I think everyone I know knows who that is. Then again, everyone I know has read Percy Jackson, so I could be wrong!
January 11, 2012
12-year-old Fern McAllister is a little different. Her classmates call her Freaky Fern, but her family has learned to live with her eccentricities. She talks to the family dog (and he talks back), she has to keep a pot of dirt under her bed or she can’t sleep, she blisters if she stays in the sun too long, and she has to wear sunglasses constantly because her eyes are so sensitive. But her strange habits are the least of her worries these days. Lately she’s been accidentally…teleporting. One minute she’s daydreaming in class, the next she’s on a local beach. This new and frightening ability attracts the attention of Lindsey Lin, Fern’s popular classmate. Lindsey tells Fern that her powers mark her as an Otherworldly, or vampire, just like Lindsey and her family. And Fern’s not just any ordinary Otherworldly, but one of the Unusual Eleven, a child destined to have great powers. Also, Otherworldly children are only born to Otherworldly parents, which means Fern is adopted. These revelations shock Fern to the core. As does the news that now that her secret identity is known, other Otherworldlies, both good and evil, will be trying to find her and convince her to join their side in a supernatural battle for supremacy.
Kogler’s novel is more complex and unusual than your run-of-the mill vampire tale. The plot mixes the superstitions associated with vampires and the mythology of the ancient Greeks to create a totally unique story. It also deals with issues such as family belonging, adoption and the problems of being different. Hopefully, Kogler will write a sequel to this wonderful story.
Ms. Heather (Teen Librarian, 2008)
Kogler’s novel is more complex and unusual than your run-of-the mill vampire tale. The plot mixes the superstitions associated with vampires and the mythology of the ancient Greeks to create a totally unique story. It also deals with issues such as family belonging, adoption and the problems of being different. Hopefully, Kogler will write a sequel to this wonderful story.
Ms. Heather (Teen Librarian, 2008)
December 23, 2013
This is one of the many books I picked up at Half-price books. I have like 20 in my to read pile, and the reason "The Otherworldlies" made it into my already read pile is because of the unique summary of the book. A girl that communicates with her dog, blisters from the sun, and can predict the daily weather accurately? A girl that is anything but normal? Sure, why not.
Fern has to be one of my favorite characters I've ever read about. Imagine living your whole life believing you have a twin brother, then to suddenly find out that you aren't related at all. That the family you've been living with, the big brother you have, and even your mother that raised you, aren't even your real family? And then on top of all that: discovering strange powers, and overhearing neighbors talking about you like you're someone special.
I absolutely adored Fern, her breakfast sunglasses, her soggy books from reading in the shower, and how she puts up with being an outcast in school. She seemed both scared of her strange new discovered powers and courageous when it came time to use them.
This book is addictive, fun, and gives plenty of good laughs. Along with Fern there are an assorted cast of characters that add to the book's entertainment. It's definitely a good read.
I'll be honest, there was a point in the book when I was really scared this book was becoming a Percy Jackson rip off. But don't fret, it is far from Percy Jackson, and if it wasn't for the use of words such as "Olympians, Poseidon, Hermes, etc," to describe different categories of otherworldlies, then I wouldn't have even thought of Percy Jackson :)
Fern has to be one of my favorite characters I've ever read about. Imagine living your whole life believing you have a twin brother, then to suddenly find out that you aren't related at all. That the family you've been living with, the big brother you have, and even your mother that raised you, aren't even your real family? And then on top of all that: discovering strange powers, and overhearing neighbors talking about you like you're someone special.
I absolutely adored Fern, her breakfast sunglasses, her soggy books from reading in the shower, and how she puts up with being an outcast in school. She seemed both scared of her strange new discovered powers and courageous when it came time to use them.
This book is addictive, fun, and gives plenty of good laughs. Along with Fern there are an assorted cast of characters that add to the book's entertainment. It's definitely a good read.
I'll be honest, there was a point in the book when I was really scared this book was becoming a Percy Jackson rip off. But don't fret, it is far from Percy Jackson, and if it wasn't for the use of words such as "Olympians, Poseidon, Hermes, etc," to describe different categories of otherworldlies, then I wouldn't have even thought of Percy Jackson :)
April 10, 2015
Warning: Review contains a lot of spoilers
This book was very hard to rate. I loved the way it was written. I loved most of the characters. Fern and Bryon were my favorite. I loved that she was so different. That she stuck out like a sore thumb. But the plot could have been so much better. Not much really happens to the plot until about 2/3 through the book. It was a little disappointing. She doesn't even meet Vlad until page 207 out of a 383 page book. Maybe if something actually happened earlier, like Vlad almost killed one of her brothers or she woke up and he was next to her or something, then maybe I would have liked this book more.
Another thing is, while we find out that Fern adopted we don't really find out why. Why did Phoebe ask Fern to be given to Mrs. McAllister? I know that they were best friends, but what actually happened to her mother? Is Phoebe Merriam dead? How did she die? Was she good? Was she bad? Did she even want Fern? What the hell happened to her? Phoebe Merriam is an important factor to the plot but we know nearly nothing about her. All we know is that she was Fern's biological mother and she was an otherworldly. I just thought maybe there would be some unknown secret that she tried to keep.
I found the climax to be anti-climatic. The scene with Vlad in the cave with Fern and she couldn't find her friends. It was when Vlad was trying to convince her that she needed to join him and that if she didn't the others would be after her. It was just too quick.
Fern reminded me a lot of a Gothic Matilda. She can move things with her mind and this often gets her into trouble. I liked her. I really did. But this book feel short for me.
April 17, 2008
Fern has always been different, but has never known what exactly made her different. She can communicate with her dog, and is "blinded" by the sun. Her skin sizzles in the sun, so she hates recess. Almost everyone at her school knows her.
Then, Fern disappears. Suddenly, just in the middle of class, she closes her eyes, and she lands on a white sandy beach, Pirate's Cove, five miles away from home and school. There she meets a man that knows she's different... he can help Fern.
Fern is an otherworldy, or what "normals" would call a vampire. She doesn't suck blood, but she is prone to all the other myths about vampire. She struggles to overcome her new powers with her twin Sam, who isn't an otherworldly. Fern is thrown into the world of Otherworldlies, and learns that she is the center of a huge battle.
I enjoyed this book, even though it had a bit of that vampire-ish quality from which I shy away. It was intriguing for the most part, but I did drift in some chapters. I wouldn't recommend this to a non fantasy fan- I had a hard time and I generally enjoy fantasy. I did enjoy the book and will probably reread it in the future.
I apologize for not posting more frequently. I have been very stressed out recently for various reasons. It's almost the weekend, and I am very behind on reviews!
Then, Fern disappears. Suddenly, just in the middle of class, she closes her eyes, and she lands on a white sandy beach, Pirate's Cove, five miles away from home and school. There she meets a man that knows she's different... he can help Fern.
Fern is an otherworldy, or what "normals" would call a vampire. She doesn't suck blood, but she is prone to all the other myths about vampire. She struggles to overcome her new powers with her twin Sam, who isn't an otherworldly. Fern is thrown into the world of Otherworldlies, and learns that she is the center of a huge battle.
I enjoyed this book, even though it had a bit of that vampire-ish quality from which I shy away. It was intriguing for the most part, but I did drift in some chapters. I wouldn't recommend this to a non fantasy fan- I had a hard time and I generally enjoy fantasy. I did enjoy the book and will probably reread it in the future.
I apologize for not posting more frequently. I have been very stressed out recently for various reasons. It's almost the weekend, and I am very behind on reviews!
October 22, 2010
I was excited to read Otherworldlies when I read the jacket blurb. Unfortunately, I eneded up more frustrated than interested.
First of all, Fern is a likeable character. The fact that she's teased mercilessly for being different resonated with me...what can I say, I fell into the "different" category myself. However, she's only 12 and in middle school. Since some of the vocabulary used was definitely above a 12 year-old's comprehension, that should have been a sign of trouble to come.
The book started slow. I didn't really feel the pull of any serious action until I was more than 50 pages in. If not for a reading challenge, I wouldn't have given the book more than ten pages max to hook me. Add to that the constant point of view shifts and I really became frustrated. Head hopping makes it difficult for me to read a book...especially when it's been drilled into my head as an author how difficult that makes it for a reader to follow along without being pulled out of the story.
Maybe middle grade kids are more forgiving than I, but I don't know that I'd read another book in this series. I'd like to think some of the issues that bothered me would be corrected, but they might be part of the author's voice and style. And that's okay if they are. It just means this storyline is not for me.
First of all, Fern is a likeable character. The fact that she's teased mercilessly for being different resonated with me...what can I say, I fell into the "different" category myself. However, she's only 12 and in middle school. Since some of the vocabulary used was definitely above a 12 year-old's comprehension, that should have been a sign of trouble to come.
The book started slow. I didn't really feel the pull of any serious action until I was more than 50 pages in. If not for a reading challenge, I wouldn't have given the book more than ten pages max to hook me. Add to that the constant point of view shifts and I really became frustrated. Head hopping makes it difficult for me to read a book...especially when it's been drilled into my head as an author how difficult that makes it for a reader to follow along without being pulled out of the story.
Maybe middle grade kids are more forgiving than I, but I don't know that I'd read another book in this series. I'd like to think some of the issues that bothered me would be corrected, but they might be part of the author's voice and style. And that's okay if they are. It just means this storyline is not for me.
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