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The Turning: What Curiosity Kills
Nobody can know your secret.
Nobody can know your power.
But if nobody knows who you are to begin with... what's stopping you?
I whisper, "What's so special about me all of a sudden?"
Nick says, "The Turning."
Mary feels different, but can't explain why. The fainting, the strange cravings... and worse, the things she's noticed about her body.
Mary doesn't know where to turn. If she tells her parents or her sister, she'll risk losing everything. She has no other family, no way of knowing if what she's going through is normal. Everyone she's ever known and loved could reject her...
Nobody can know your power.
But if nobody knows who you are to begin with... what's stopping you?
I whisper, "What's so special about me all of a sudden?"
Nick says, "The Turning."
Mary feels different, but can't explain why. The fainting, the strange cravings... and worse, the things she's noticed about her body.
Mary doesn't know where to turn. If she tells her parents or her sister, she'll risk losing everything. She has no other family, no way of knowing if what she's going through is normal. Everyone she's ever known and loved could reject her...
209 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2010
11 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Helen Ellis
22 books721 followersHELEN ELLIS an American novelist. She has authored two published novels, along with a short story collection and a forthcoming collection of essays. She is a poker player who competes on the national tournament circuit. Raised in Alabama, she lives with her husband in New York City.
Her first novel, Eating the Cheshire Cat (Scribner: 2001), is a dark comedy written in Southern Gothic fiction style. It tells the story of three girls raised in the South, and the odd, sometimes macabre tribulations they endure.
The Turning: What Curiosity Kills (Powell's Books: 2010), her second novel, is a "teen vampire" story about a southern 16-year-old girl adopted into a wealthy New York City family and centers on shape-shifting, teen romance, and the supernatural.
Her third publication, American Housewife (Doubleday: 2016), is "a sharp, funny, delightfully unhinged collection of stories set in the dark world of domesticity".
A collection of essays entitled Southern Lady Code was published in April 2019.
You can find her on Twitter @WhatIDoAllDay and Instagram @AmericanHousewife.
Her first novel, Eating the Cheshire Cat (Scribner: 2001), is a dark comedy written in Southern Gothic fiction style. It tells the story of three girls raised in the South, and the odd, sometimes macabre tribulations they endure.
The Turning: What Curiosity Kills (Powell's Books: 2010), her second novel, is a "teen vampire" story about a southern 16-year-old girl adopted into a wealthy New York City family and centers on shape-shifting, teen romance, and the supernatural.
Her third publication, American Housewife (Doubleday: 2016), is "a sharp, funny, delightfully unhinged collection of stories set in the dark world of domesticity".
A collection of essays entitled Southern Lady Code was published in April 2019.
You can find her on Twitter @WhatIDoAllDay and Instagram @AmericanHousewife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 20, 2010
I give this 2.5 stars-
Helen has written a fascinating story set in New York City about 16 year old Mary Richards. Before being adopted as an older child, Mary grew up in Foster Care. She now lives with her friend and sister, Octavia, who's also adopted. Both girls have had their share of heartache and now live with a loving family in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, and attend a private school.
While the book starts off with Mary, her sister Octavia, and their twin sister friends, I felt the story took a strange turn shortly after it began. Out of no where Mary starts acting strange and starts having feline desires. During this time, her long time crush Nick, starts taking notice in her. It's not until the large deli cat appears outside of her bathroom window and she lets him in, does she start to realize what's happening to her. She's going through "The Turning". Something Nick knows all about and is there to help Mary through it. To Mary's surprise and Octavia's horror, Mary is turning into a cat. Not just any cat, Mary is something more, she's a very elite kind of cat, which causes the attraction of Country Club, King of the Strays. With a turf war looming on the horizon, Mary realizes there's a few things she needs to learn about her abilities and being apart of this secret society. Yoon, the cat she let in to her bathroom, Nick and Octavia are her only source of help.
While a few things were missing from the story for me, I did enjoy Nick and Mary's relationship, even though I felt it came out of nowhere and happened really quickly. They went from never talking to having an immediate connection to dating each other. Once I got further on in the story, I discovered why things happened so fast. Octavia and Mary's relationship is a raw sister/friend relationship that will either be shattered or strengthened through Mary's turning. Mary soon learns the horrors that Octavia endured for years, at the mercy of cats, and the reason why Octavia would never change in front of her. Cats aren't always the nice loving house pets we want them to be. I liked that during the course of Mary's "turning", Octavia and Mary's relationship grows, as they learn to trust the other with secrets no one else knows about.
I'm not sure if I was fascinated or had the hardest time getting into the scenes when Mary's a cat. While those scenes are brief, Helen wrote the scenes from Mary's point of view as a cat, and then when she's human, she describes her feline yearnings she has for Nick and Yoon, the fat deli cat who started "the Turning".
The Turning is the first book in this series, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens with Mary, Nick and Octavia in the next book. While Mary is worried about saving Nick and doing her best to keep her relationship with her sister, who's very freaked out by Mary being a cat, Mary has to save herself, but time is of the essence and Mary's time is running out
Helen has written a fascinating story set in New York City about 16 year old Mary Richards. Before being adopted as an older child, Mary grew up in Foster Care. She now lives with her friend and sister, Octavia, who's also adopted. Both girls have had their share of heartache and now live with a loving family in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, and attend a private school.
While the book starts off with Mary, her sister Octavia, and their twin sister friends, I felt the story took a strange turn shortly after it began. Out of no where Mary starts acting strange and starts having feline desires. During this time, her long time crush Nick, starts taking notice in her. It's not until the large deli cat appears outside of her bathroom window and she lets him in, does she start to realize what's happening to her. She's going through "The Turning". Something Nick knows all about and is there to help Mary through it. To Mary's surprise and Octavia's horror, Mary is turning into a cat. Not just any cat, Mary is something more, she's a very elite kind of cat, which causes the attraction of Country Club, King of the Strays. With a turf war looming on the horizon, Mary realizes there's a few things she needs to learn about her abilities and being apart of this secret society. Yoon, the cat she let in to her bathroom, Nick and Octavia are her only source of help.
While a few things were missing from the story for me, I did enjoy Nick and Mary's relationship, even though I felt it came out of nowhere and happened really quickly. They went from never talking to having an immediate connection to dating each other. Once I got further on in the story, I discovered why things happened so fast. Octavia and Mary's relationship is a raw sister/friend relationship that will either be shattered or strengthened through Mary's turning. Mary soon learns the horrors that Octavia endured for years, at the mercy of cats, and the reason why Octavia would never change in front of her. Cats aren't always the nice loving house pets we want them to be. I liked that during the course of Mary's "turning", Octavia and Mary's relationship grows, as they learn to trust the other with secrets no one else knows about.
I'm not sure if I was fascinated or had the hardest time getting into the scenes when Mary's a cat. While those scenes are brief, Helen wrote the scenes from Mary's point of view as a cat, and then when she's human, she describes her feline yearnings she has for Nick and Yoon, the fat deli cat who started "the Turning".
The Turning is the first book in this series, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens with Mary, Nick and Octavia in the next book. While Mary is worried about saving Nick and doing her best to keep her relationship with her sister, who's very freaked out by Mary being a cat, Mary has to save herself, but time is of the essence and Mary's time is running out
July 14, 2010
The Turning is the tale of Mary Richards, a girl adopted from foster care into a plush life in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. When strange events begin taking place, Mary struggles to comprehend the idea that she is one of those who Turn – from human to cat. For a girl who mostly worries about trying to win arguments with her foster sister Octavia and getting Nick – her ultimate crush – to notice her, Mary is terrified as she tries to come to terms with her new life. When she is offered a way to recover her old life, Mary has a choice to make...
There was very little that I enjoyed about this book – except maybe the length. At just over 200 pages, it was at least quick to read!
The novel is told from a first person perspective, but Mary’s voice is shaky and never comes across as particularly well developed. In fact, all of the characters are either under-developed, to the point that you don’t know or care anything about them, or they are focused on lovingly, even when less than crucial to the main thrust of the plot (such as Ling Ling Lebowitz).
Considering this is an “origin” novel, the setting up of the mythology of the turn-cats came extremely late in the book, and had very few details. It seemed almost as though Helen Ellis wanted humans to turn into cats – thought it would be cute if they turned into kittens on their first few turns – and didn’t have any idea how to back this up. So we end up with a half-hearted tale about turn-cats versus pure-cats and Strays versus Doms (‘domestics’) that is introduced towards the tail end of the book, and is never really expanded beyond the fact they they exist.
I took a dislike to a great deal of the phrases that Ellis threw into her novel, seemingly on a whim, since the language never really settled into a cohesive whole. Here are some of my least favourite comments and passages:
“I pee without putting toilet paper on top of the water to soundproof the stream. I flush instead of letting the yellow mellow until it’s time to rise and shine.”
“A woman’s right to choose is wiggida wiggida wiggida whack Arguing is a game to her.”
“The lid is up. He adapts for a crash landing and splays his four legs. His paws hit the porcelain doughnut.”
“The twins’ porcelain-doll complexions burn the palest of pinks.”
Now, on the face of it, that last quote doesn’t seem so bad, but I’ve never seen anything burn the palest of pinks! Ellis’ word choices are sometimes extremely suspect. The first quote just grossed me out utterly!
I found the pacing of the novel unbearably slow, considering the fact that these are supposed to be exciting events overtaking Mary Richards (oh, and during the tale Octavia – Mary’s sister – insists on calling her by all sorts of other girl names, which really doesn’t help fix the characters in your head at all). We crawled at snail’s pace to the point where Mary Turns, then we crawl a little further to a lacklustre end.
This is the opening to a series. You can bet good money that I will not be picking up any of the others to be published. I would encourage you to avoid at all costs.
There was very little that I enjoyed about this book – except maybe the length. At just over 200 pages, it was at least quick to read!
The novel is told from a first person perspective, but Mary’s voice is shaky and never comes across as particularly well developed. In fact, all of the characters are either under-developed, to the point that you don’t know or care anything about them, or they are focused on lovingly, even when less than crucial to the main thrust of the plot (such as Ling Ling Lebowitz).
Considering this is an “origin” novel, the setting up of the mythology of the turn-cats came extremely late in the book, and had very few details. It seemed almost as though Helen Ellis wanted humans to turn into cats – thought it would be cute if they turned into kittens on their first few turns – and didn’t have any idea how to back this up. So we end up with a half-hearted tale about turn-cats versus pure-cats and Strays versus Doms (‘domestics’) that is introduced towards the tail end of the book, and is never really expanded beyond the fact they they exist.
I took a dislike to a great deal of the phrases that Ellis threw into her novel, seemingly on a whim, since the language never really settled into a cohesive whole. Here are some of my least favourite comments and passages:
“I pee without putting toilet paper on top of the water to soundproof the stream. I flush instead of letting the yellow mellow until it’s time to rise and shine.”
“A woman’s right to choose is wiggida wiggida wiggida whack Arguing is a game to her.”
“The lid is up. He adapts for a crash landing and splays his four legs. His paws hit the porcelain doughnut.”
“The twins’ porcelain-doll complexions burn the palest of pinks.”
Now, on the face of it, that last quote doesn’t seem so bad, but I’ve never seen anything burn the palest of pinks! Ellis’ word choices are sometimes extremely suspect. The first quote just grossed me out utterly!
I found the pacing of the novel unbearably slow, considering the fact that these are supposed to be exciting events overtaking Mary Richards (oh, and during the tale Octavia – Mary’s sister – insists on calling her by all sorts of other girl names, which really doesn’t help fix the characters in your head at all). We crawled at snail’s pace to the point where Mary Turns, then we crawl a little further to a lacklustre end.
This is the opening to a series. You can bet good money that I will not be picking up any of the others to be published. I would encourage you to avoid at all costs.
December 1, 2010
I give this 2.5 stars-
Helen has written a fascinating story set in New York City about 16 year old Mary Richards. Before being adopted as an older child, Mary grew up in Foster Care. She now lives with her friend and sister, Octavia, who's also adopted. Both girls have had their share of heartache and now live with a loving family in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, and attend a private school.
While the book starts off with Mary, her sister Octavia, and their twin sister friends, I felt the story took a strange turn shortly after it began. Out of no where Mary starts acting strange and starts having feline desires. During this time, her long time crush Nick, starts taking notice in her. It's not until the large deli cat appears outside of her bathroom window and she lets him in, does she start to realize what's happening to her. She's going through "The Turning". Something Nick knows all about and is there to help Mary through it. To Mary's surprise and Octavia's horror, Mary is turning into a cat. Not just any cat, Mary is something more, she's a very elite kind of cat, which causes the attraction of Country Club, King of the Strays. With a turf war looming on the horizon, Mary realizes there's a few things she needs to learn about her abilities and being apart of this secret society. Yoon, the cat she let in to her bathroom, Nick and Octavia are her only source of help.
While a few things were missing from the story for me, I did enjoy Nick and Mary's relationship, even though I felt it came out of nowhere and happened really quickly. They went from never talking to having an immediate connection to dating each other. Once I got further on in the story, I discovered why things happened so fast. Octavia and Mary's relationship is a raw sister/friend relationship that will either be shattered or strengthened through Mary's turning. Mary soon learns the horrors that Octavia endured for years, at the mercy of cats, and the reason why Octavia would never change in front of her. Cats aren't always the nice loving house pets we want them to be. I liked that during the course of Mary's "turning", Octavia and Mary's relationship grows, as they learn to trust the other with secrets no one else knows about.
I'm not sure if I was fascinated or had the hardest time getting into the scenes when Mary's a cat. While those scenes are brief, Helen wrote the scenes from Mary's point of view as a cat, and then when she's human, she describes her feline yearnings she has for Nick and Yoon, the fat deli cat who started "the Turning".
The Turning is the first book in this series, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens with Mary, Nick and Octavia in the next book. While Mary is worried about saving Nick and doing her best to keep her relationship with her sister, who's very freaked out by Mary being a cat, Mary has to save herself, but time is of the essence and Mary's time is running out
Helen has written a fascinating story set in New York City about 16 year old Mary Richards. Before being adopted as an older child, Mary grew up in Foster Care. She now lives with her friend and sister, Octavia, who's also adopted. Both girls have had their share of heartache and now live with a loving family in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, and attend a private school.
While the book starts off with Mary, her sister Octavia, and their twin sister friends, I felt the story took a strange turn shortly after it began. Out of no where Mary starts acting strange and starts having feline desires. During this time, her long time crush Nick, starts taking notice in her. It's not until the large deli cat appears outside of her bathroom window and she lets him in, does she start to realize what's happening to her. She's going through "The Turning". Something Nick knows all about and is there to help Mary through it. To Mary's surprise and Octavia's horror, Mary is turning into a cat. Not just any cat, Mary is something more, she's a very elite kind of cat, which causes the attraction of Country Club, King of the Strays. With a turf war looming on the horizon, Mary realizes there's a few things she needs to learn about her abilities and being apart of this secret society. Yoon, the cat she let in to her bathroom, Nick and Octavia are her only source of help.
While a few things were missing from the story for me, I did enjoy Nick and Mary's relationship, even though I felt it came out of nowhere and happened really quickly. They went from never talking to having an immediate connection to dating each other. Once I got further on in the story, I discovered why things happened so fast. Octavia and Mary's relationship is a raw sister/friend relationship that will either be shattered or strengthened through Mary's turning. Mary soon learns the horrors that Octavia endured for years, at the mercy of cats, and the reason why Octavia would never change in front of her. Cats aren't always the nice loving house pets we want them to be. I liked that during the course of Mary's "turning", Octavia and Mary's relationship grows, as they learn to trust the other with secrets no one else knows about.
I'm not sure if I was fascinated or had the hardest time getting into the scenes when Mary's a cat. While those scenes are brief, Helen wrote the scenes from Mary's point of view as a cat, and then when she's human, she describes her feline yearnings she has for Nick and Yoon, the fat deli cat who started "the Turning".
The Turning is the first book in this series, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens with Mary, Nick and Octavia in the next book. While Mary is worried about saving Nick and doing her best to keep her relationship with her sister, who's very freaked out by Mary being a cat, Mary has to save herself, but time is of the essence and Mary's time is running out
July 1, 2010
UGH! I so wanted this book to be good. I was at the B&N yesterday shopping for books to read over my vacation on Thursday, and I saw this one and was like wow, I judge books by their covers and until now that method hadn't failed me. I mean look at this cover. It’s beautiful! Unfortunately the story wasn't! I'm sad to say that this book was a waste of money. And it was a hardcover! ugh.
Mary Richard can turn into a cat. Actually for some reason, I had a cat fetish at the B&N yesterday. That I just realized. Anyway, The characters of The Turning seemed random, 1 dimensional, underdeveloped, and at some points boring. Mary was an okay character, being in the adoption system she seemed like she could never really have a solid home, but other than that there wasn't much else, what does she like, dislike? Nope. Nothing. Her love interest, Nick, was similar in the underdeveloped part, he seemed to be solely there to tell her what was going on, and so that the story could technically have a "love" plot. More on that, the "romance" between Mary and Nick happened overnight, literally. One night it was "Oh yeah I have a crush on him, but we haven’t spoken at all." then "Now were dating!" In one night? Get real. The supporting characters seemed to be there so the story could have supporting characters, there wasn't really any other reason for them to be there. The plot was okay-ish, from the cover it seemed like this intense, dangerous, thrill ride. However I found myself laughing at times that were supposed to be serious, things seemed rushed and forced. But the idea was there. Finally the dialogue. And I thought the characters were underdeveloped. Ellis seems to be the type of person who's into very descriptive writing but not when it matters. She seemed completely comfortable name dropping brands like "my Victoria's Secret sweatshirt that says Love Pink on the back" but couldn't describe crucial scenes like the first time Mary changed into a cat. The dialogue was also really confusing and I found myself having to re-read pages to figure out what was going on. Overall, if you really really want to read this book, check it out from the library or wait for paperback, it's definitely not worth hardcover price. Hopefully my next book will be better.
Mary Richard can turn into a cat. Actually for some reason, I had a cat fetish at the B&N yesterday. That I just realized. Anyway, The characters of The Turning seemed random, 1 dimensional, underdeveloped, and at some points boring. Mary was an okay character, being in the adoption system she seemed like she could never really have a solid home, but other than that there wasn't much else, what does she like, dislike? Nope. Nothing. Her love interest, Nick, was similar in the underdeveloped part, he seemed to be solely there to tell her what was going on, and so that the story could technically have a "love" plot. More on that, the "romance" between Mary and Nick happened overnight, literally. One night it was "Oh yeah I have a crush on him, but we haven’t spoken at all." then "Now were dating!" In one night? Get real. The supporting characters seemed to be there so the story could have supporting characters, there wasn't really any other reason for them to be there. The plot was okay-ish, from the cover it seemed like this intense, dangerous, thrill ride. However I found myself laughing at times that were supposed to be serious, things seemed rushed and forced. But the idea was there. Finally the dialogue. And I thought the characters were underdeveloped. Ellis seems to be the type of person who's into very descriptive writing but not when it matters. She seemed completely comfortable name dropping brands like "my Victoria's Secret sweatshirt that says Love Pink on the back" but couldn't describe crucial scenes like the first time Mary changed into a cat. The dialogue was also really confusing and I found myself having to re-read pages to figure out what was going on. Overall, if you really really want to read this book, check it out from the library or wait for paperback, it's definitely not worth hardcover price. Hopefully my next book will be better.
November 9, 2012
Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com
CURIOSITY KILLS, the first book in THE TURNING series, is an island in a sea of paranormal books. One that pulls you in from the beginning and holds tight throughout the story.
Mary is sixteen years old and not totally human, as you can probably figure out from the title. Mary is shifting into a cat.
First the purring starts, and later she sprouts orange fur on her legs. There are those who understand what she is going through, but who should she trust? The main person that Mary relies on is Nick, a hunky classmate who is more than he seems. Then there are others she meets in her neighborhood, as well as her adopted sister.
Changing into a cat is actually the least of her worries as she strives to navigate this new world that is as weird as it is exciting.
My daughter and I both read this one and we enjoyed it very much. We are definitely looking forward to the next in this series. I rate this book 4 Stars, mainly because it raises as many questions as it answers. Also, I truly wish that the book had been longer so that we could have had more time to get to know all of the characters.
Realistic characterization, an intriguing storyline, and dialogue that could be found in any group of teens, this book is definitely one to add to your shelves.
CURIOSITY KILLS, the first book in THE TURNING series, is an island in a sea of paranormal books. One that pulls you in from the beginning and holds tight throughout the story.
Mary is sixteen years old and not totally human, as you can probably figure out from the title. Mary is shifting into a cat.
First the purring starts, and later she sprouts orange fur on her legs. There are those who understand what she is going through, but who should she trust? The main person that Mary relies on is Nick, a hunky classmate who is more than he seems. Then there are others she meets in her neighborhood, as well as her adopted sister.
Changing into a cat is actually the least of her worries as she strives to navigate this new world that is as weird as it is exciting.
My daughter and I both read this one and we enjoyed it very much. We are definitely looking forward to the next in this series. I rate this book 4 Stars, mainly because it raises as many questions as it answers. Also, I truly wish that the book had been longer so that we could have had more time to get to know all of the characters.
Realistic characterization, an intriguing storyline, and dialogue that could be found in any group of teens, this book is definitely one to add to your shelves.
May 3, 2010
Mary is a pretty normal 16 year old. Having been adopted she's definitely living a better life now. But lately she has been feeling really odd, doing odd things that she can't explain. Mary learns that she is slowly turning into a feline, but it's not that simple. She's got some tough choice to make. So, much for normal.
This was a fast fun read. I have a tabby cat who thinks he's human, so I enjoyed this story. The Turning was different but intriguing, very unique with boat loads of charm. It's like nothing I've ever come across before. It had some really funny-laugh out loud moments. Both Mary and her sister Octavia were great characters. While this wasn't a favorite of mine, I am interested to see how things play out in the next book. This book will definitely spark the interest of cat lovers.
This was a fast fun read. I have a tabby cat who thinks he's human, so I enjoyed this story. The Turning was different but intriguing, very unique with boat loads of charm. It's like nothing I've ever come across before. It had some really funny-laugh out loud moments. Both Mary and her sister Octavia were great characters. While this wasn't a favorite of mine, I am interested to see how things play out in the next book. This book will definitely spark the interest of cat lovers.
July 20, 2017
This book confused the crap out of me... The first chapter was really good and did a great job of pulling me into the world and getting me interested in the characters, but after that... Wow. I have absolutely no idea what was going on. Maybe it was just me, but as the book went on, character motivations and interactions started to make less and less sense. I really wanted to like this book once I realized what it was actually about, but the more I read it the more bewildered I became, so it went from a 4 star to a 1 star really fast.
July 31, 2010
It's funny really. I had every reason to say no when I was approached to read The Turning: What Curiosity Killed. I nearly did. I am not even sure why I said yes exactly. Unlike so many bloggers out there, I am not smitten with young adult novels in general. Take Peanut Buster Parfaits. I like them, but only now and then. It's the same with Young Adult fiction. Then there is the little fact that people assume that because I go by the name Literary Feline that I love to read about cats. Sometimes I do. I tend to be picky in that regard though. Animal books and I don't always get along. I have a thing for shape shifters though and it isn't too often I come across a book about shape shifting cats. So, I was more than curious.
I set aside an afternoon to read this book as part of my recent Reading Day adventure, and it made for the perfect light reading, especially after a heavier book that left me feeling a little sad. Helen Ellis has a great sense of humor that shines through in her writing. I really liked the characters, Mary and her sister Octavia in particular.
Both Mary and Octavia were once foster children and have been adopted by a loving and well-to-do family. They attend an elite private school where there is the requisite bully (Ling Ling) and the handsome crush (Nick Martin). Life couldn't get any better for Mary. She has everything she could ever hope for. That is until she begins to notice little changes: a patch of orange fur here and a sudden and undeniable craving for milk, among them. Mary is scared and embarrassed at the changes coming over her. The turning throws her into an entirely new sub-world, one of a feud between cats, the Strays and the Domestics. Not only is Mary told she must choose sides, but she also faces the threat of losing the life she's come to love.
Events unfold quickly in The Turning: What Curiosity Kills. And while I think that the author could have developed certain aspects of the story more fully, I never felt it suffered because she did not. Besides, she has to save something for future books, right? Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read. Mary is a likable character, thoughtful and kindhearted. She has the usual insecurities of a girl her age, and is a character most readers will be able to relate to. Her adopted sister Octavia is probably my favorite character. She doesn't think twice about standing up to the biggest bully in the school, but she is deathly afraid of cats, which makes things even more interesting and tests the sisters' bond. Okay, and so my affection for Octavia might have a little something to do with her love for books too, the hours she spends at the library book sale. Just saying.
I do not often complain about an ending of a book, but I had a problem with the ending of this one. It had more to do with my own personal bias, however, than quality or fit. The ending made total sense in the scheme of things. It's just, well . . . I don't want to say. Spoilers, you know. While sometimes an ending can ruin a book for me, it did not in this case. Far from it. The book has so much going for it, and I really did enjoy reading it. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for the second book in the series!
I set aside an afternoon to read this book as part of my recent Reading Day adventure, and it made for the perfect light reading, especially after a heavier book that left me feeling a little sad. Helen Ellis has a great sense of humor that shines through in her writing. I really liked the characters, Mary and her sister Octavia in particular.
Both Mary and Octavia were once foster children and have been adopted by a loving and well-to-do family. They attend an elite private school where there is the requisite bully (Ling Ling) and the handsome crush (Nick Martin). Life couldn't get any better for Mary. She has everything she could ever hope for. That is until she begins to notice little changes: a patch of orange fur here and a sudden and undeniable craving for milk, among them. Mary is scared and embarrassed at the changes coming over her. The turning throws her into an entirely new sub-world, one of a feud between cats, the Strays and the Domestics. Not only is Mary told she must choose sides, but she also faces the threat of losing the life she's come to love.
Events unfold quickly in The Turning: What Curiosity Kills. And while I think that the author could have developed certain aspects of the story more fully, I never felt it suffered because she did not. Besides, she has to save something for future books, right? Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read. Mary is a likable character, thoughtful and kindhearted. She has the usual insecurities of a girl her age, and is a character most readers will be able to relate to. Her adopted sister Octavia is probably my favorite character. She doesn't think twice about standing up to the biggest bully in the school, but she is deathly afraid of cats, which makes things even more interesting and tests the sisters' bond. Okay, and so my affection for Octavia might have a little something to do with her love for books too, the hours she spends at the library book sale. Just saying.
I do not often complain about an ending of a book, but I had a problem with the ending of this one. It had more to do with my own personal bias, however, than quality or fit. The ending made total sense in the scheme of things. It's just, well . . . I don't want to say. Spoilers, you know. While sometimes an ending can ruin a book for me, it did not in this case. Far from it. The book has so much going for it, and I really did enjoy reading it. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for the second book in the series!
May 24, 2010
It takes quite a bit of persuasion–usually from my part–to get me to read paranormal fiction. On a whim, after receiving an email from Sourcebooks explaining how great of an author Helen Ellis was (who I had never heard of before), I accepted to review none other than a story about... werecats or humans that shape-shift into felines. I don’t like writing overly praised or cliche reviews, but I have to admit I really enjoyed reading The Turning! It was the best paranormal book I’ve read since the Cathy’s Book trilogy. Not only that, Ellis has a great eye for detail and, of course, cats. It only took me about two sittings to finished this book (approx.. 3 hrs.), so if you’re looking for a good page turner for hesitant readers look no farther. As many teenagers know there is a big boom in paranormal fiction these days, but most of the spotlight is focused on vampires and the occasional werewolf. I’ve only read one other story [a short story:] by Anne Curtis Klaus (author of Blood and Chocolate) about werecats, so I was very intrigued when I found out about Ellis’s books. The Turning is the first book in the Curiosity Kills series; at the end of the this book you can definitely hint a continuation. It was summed up nicely to where there was no cliff-hanger but it leaves you very excited to read the next installment. Ellis’s writing is great. I think you enjoy a book so much more when you combine a “new” idea with a fresh, writing style. Despite the cover looking a bit sinister, The Turning will not give you goose-bumps unless, that is, you are afraid of cats. Just don’t go around thinking your cat will suddenly become a person–that would be too freaky.
My Recommendation: This a great book for paranormal fanatics. I’m not quite sure every teen in general would enjoy this book frankly because they have to be interested in reading about werecats. If you’re looking for something with an in depth plot or dynamic characters, then this isn’t the book for you. The Turning is a quick read that focuses mainly on the object or event. Recommend for ages 14+.
This Book is For: Paranormal fans or anyone who might like trying paranormal or cats.
This Book is Not For: Teens who don’t like paranormal stories or children.
Content: For sensuality and sexual references (PG-13).
The Last Straw: A teaser from pg. 190 of The Turning:
“I’ll convince her [Octavia:] to not tell our parents. I’ll
steer clear of Country Club and his strays. I’ll stay away
from Yoon’s deli. I won’t hunt. I’ll figure out how to
love. Nick and I will keep to ourselves. I won’t let
curiosity kill what we have.”
|Pages: 211|Year Published: May 2010|Publisher: Sourcebooks|
|Genre: Paranormal fiction, teen romance|
|Content: PG-13|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 4/5|
Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
My Recommendation: This a great book for paranormal fanatics. I’m not quite sure every teen in general would enjoy this book frankly because they have to be interested in reading about werecats. If you’re looking for something with an in depth plot or dynamic characters, then this isn’t the book for you. The Turning is a quick read that focuses mainly on the object or event. Recommend for ages 14+.
This Book is For: Paranormal fans or anyone who might like trying paranormal or cats.
This Book is Not For: Teens who don’t like paranormal stories or children.
Content: For sensuality and sexual references (PG-13).
The Last Straw: A teaser from pg. 190 of The Turning:
“I’ll convince her [Octavia:] to not tell our parents. I’ll
steer clear of Country Club and his strays. I’ll stay away
from Yoon’s deli. I won’t hunt. I’ll figure out how to
love. Nick and I will keep to ourselves. I won’t let
curiosity kill what we have.”
|Pages: 211|Year Published: May 2010|Publisher: Sourcebooks|
|Genre: Paranormal fiction, teen romance|
|Content: PG-13|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|
|Overall: 4/5|
Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
May 11, 2010
Lately it seems that when it comes to books published by Sourcebooks and me it's either a hit or a miss, and sadly enough What Curiosity Kills was the later of those two.
When What Curiosity Kills first landed in my hands I'll admit that I squealed a bit...well maybe more than a bit. The cover was stunning, the premise seemed intriguing, and Ellis's wrote a highly acclaimed novel prior to this, leaving this book to have endless possibilities of amazing coming my way, so I dived right in, eager to see if this book leaved up to my expectations.
And at first it did. The characters, while never fully developed, still had my full attention, as did the plot. Though as What Curiosity Kills continued it also started to loose my attention bit by bit with every passing chapter, leaving this to ultimately be a book I had trouble finishing.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the characters. Mary, a girl who has never truly felt at home in her own skin, especially with her new ability, was someone who I rooted for in many different situations. Since from her getting the boy of her dreams to overcoming her abilities there truly wasn't a time when I didn't want her to get the best of both worlds. Also I truly felt sadness to what Mary, as well as Octavia, had gone through previously as foster children, but happiness for the happy, loving family they now had. The secondary characters were interesting too.
Though there was just something missing with the characters, in my opinion, and that was development. Sure I knew who they were on the surface but as the reader I never truly felt that I really knew them personally; I was more like a passer-by, even with Mary.
The premise was no doubt exciting and something new and thrilling. I mean turning into a cat? That's something you never see too much of. Though sometimes the whole turning business got to be a too much for me personally. I'm sure others will not have this problem but it was a big one for me when it came down to my overall enjoyment of What Curiosity Kills. Adding to this, I never was a big fan of Ellis' writing since it often felt that there was never a great balance between dialogue and descriptions.
While What Curiosity Kills had it's faults and was a book that I didn't mesh well with, I still have a feeling that it will find a fan-base within some people out there, so hopefully if you're going to give this one a chance, you're one of them.
And the biggest question of them all: Will I be reading more Ellis? Well, that's one thing I'm as yet undecided on, so maybe, just maybe. Since, as anything like this goes, I could truly end up loving her next book...or not.
Grade: D
When What Curiosity Kills first landed in my hands I'll admit that I squealed a bit...well maybe more than a bit. The cover was stunning, the premise seemed intriguing, and Ellis's wrote a highly acclaimed novel prior to this, leaving this book to have endless possibilities of amazing coming my way, so I dived right in, eager to see if this book leaved up to my expectations.
And at first it did. The characters, while never fully developed, still had my full attention, as did the plot. Though as What Curiosity Kills continued it also started to loose my attention bit by bit with every passing chapter, leaving this to ultimately be a book I had trouble finishing.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the characters. Mary, a girl who has never truly felt at home in her own skin, especially with her new ability, was someone who I rooted for in many different situations. Since from her getting the boy of her dreams to overcoming her abilities there truly wasn't a time when I didn't want her to get the best of both worlds. Also I truly felt sadness to what Mary, as well as Octavia, had gone through previously as foster children, but happiness for the happy, loving family they now had. The secondary characters were interesting too.
Though there was just something missing with the characters, in my opinion, and that was development. Sure I knew who they were on the surface but as the reader I never truly felt that I really knew them personally; I was more like a passer-by, even with Mary.
The premise was no doubt exciting and something new and thrilling. I mean turning into a cat? That's something you never see too much of. Though sometimes the whole turning business got to be a too much for me personally. I'm sure others will not have this problem but it was a big one for me when it came down to my overall enjoyment of What Curiosity Kills. Adding to this, I never was a big fan of Ellis' writing since it often felt that there was never a great balance between dialogue and descriptions.
While What Curiosity Kills had it's faults and was a book that I didn't mesh well with, I still have a feeling that it will find a fan-base within some people out there, so hopefully if you're going to give this one a chance, you're one of them.
And the biggest question of them all: Will I be reading more Ellis? Well, that's one thing I'm as yet undecided on, so maybe, just maybe. Since, as anything like this goes, I could truly end up loving her next book...or not.
Grade: D
June 11, 2010
Meee-yeow! This book is like WARRIORS meets GOSSIP GIRL, and it's kind of dark and sometimes a little scary. But I'm a wimp and I think the WARRIORS books are scary. Who knew being a cat/cat person was so dangerous! If I turned into a cat I would prefer to be more like mine, fat and lazy with a pinch of spoiled rotten. No fights for me. Just a warm patch of sunlight, please. But if you want to embrace your wildcat side, check this book out.
Mary lives in New York City and attends an elite private school. Most of the girls there are snobby and hard to deal with, but Mary is pretty good at adapting and blending in. After all, she and her sister Octavia were adopted and they both appreciate everything they have. They both had very rough lives before this, and now they are surrounded by love and luxury compared to their humble beginnings. Everything has been going well up until now, but Mary has noticed strange things happening to her. She is feeling sick and is craving milk bad enough to try to lick it from the floor when it's spilled. If that isn't enough to freak her out, she is growing patches of what can only be described as fur. All Mary can think to do is hide what is happening because she's afraid that her parents will think she's a freak and try to send her back to where she came from. She knows she needs help, but who can she trust? Her friends and her sister wouldn't understand any more than she does. Mary's own curiosity soon lands her directly in the lap of someone who knows what is going on. This someone is an adorable guy from school, and he is just like her, of the feline persuasion. He and many others are involved in a turf war and are vying for control over the streets of New York. The cats and cat-people of the city are divided into two factions, strays and domestics, and they do not like each other. Mary is in the middle of this battle, like it or not, and things are about to get nasty. Inevitably, the fur will begin to fly.
I recommend this to ages 14+.
Mary lives in New York City and attends an elite private school. Most of the girls there are snobby and hard to deal with, but Mary is pretty good at adapting and blending in. After all, she and her sister Octavia were adopted and they both appreciate everything they have. They both had very rough lives before this, and now they are surrounded by love and luxury compared to their humble beginnings. Everything has been going well up until now, but Mary has noticed strange things happening to her. She is feeling sick and is craving milk bad enough to try to lick it from the floor when it's spilled. If that isn't enough to freak her out, she is growing patches of what can only be described as fur. All Mary can think to do is hide what is happening because she's afraid that her parents will think she's a freak and try to send her back to where she came from. She knows she needs help, but who can she trust? Her friends and her sister wouldn't understand any more than she does. Mary's own curiosity soon lands her directly in the lap of someone who knows what is going on. This someone is an adorable guy from school, and he is just like her, of the feline persuasion. He and many others are involved in a turf war and are vying for control over the streets of New York. The cats and cat-people of the city are divided into two factions, strays and domestics, and they do not like each other. Mary is in the middle of this battle, like it or not, and things are about to get nasty. Inevitably, the fur will begin to fly.
I recommend this to ages 14+.
May 22, 2010
The Turning: What Curiosity Kills by Helen Ellis
Genre: YA, paranormal, romance
Rating: 4
Mary Richards always knew she didn't fit in exactly with everyone else, but she always attributed that to the fact that she and her sister were adopted. But when her long time crush suddenly starts showing interest in her, she randomly starts sleeping and purring in class, and she starts to turn into a cat, she knows things are never going to be the same.
I was instantly pulled into The Turning. The story starts and progresses quickly, and I read the whole thing in one day, almost fully in one sitting. It's the kind of book that you don't realize you've gotten to the next page, or the next chapter, and before you know it, you're done… but the adventure was so engaging, you forgot who you were for a while, because you were living solely in the character's shoes.
The writing was casual, but good. I rarely felt out of place or confused by what had just occurred. One of the only things that really bothered me about this book was the fact that Nick and Mary's relationship was very fast, and seemingly out of nowhere but lust. The ending, also, didn't quite have enough closure on the relationship aspect, nor on the actual story. It directly after the final exciting scene, with no smooth curve down. My heart was still racing when I got to the last page, and I felt like it should have lasted a little longer. Lastly, I wasn't sure if this book was for pre-teens, ages 12-14, or older. It would probably appeal to both age groups.
My favorite part was watching the characters show themselves for who they were. Yoon being more than what meets the eye, Octavia confessing her secrets and being willing, for love, to face her fears, and all the others, too. They were all very unique. I loved the characters and their interaction and dialogue.
Overall, I enjoyed The Turning, and look forward to the rest of the series.
Content: Some language, no sex
Recommendation: Ages 14-18, or if offended by language 16+
Genre: YA, paranormal, romance
Rating: 4
Mary Richards always knew she didn't fit in exactly with everyone else, but she always attributed that to the fact that she and her sister were adopted. But when her long time crush suddenly starts showing interest in her, she randomly starts sleeping and purring in class, and she starts to turn into a cat, she knows things are never going to be the same.
I was instantly pulled into The Turning. The story starts and progresses quickly, and I read the whole thing in one day, almost fully in one sitting. It's the kind of book that you don't realize you've gotten to the next page, or the next chapter, and before you know it, you're done… but the adventure was so engaging, you forgot who you were for a while, because you were living solely in the character's shoes.
The writing was casual, but good. I rarely felt out of place or confused by what had just occurred. One of the only things that really bothered me about this book was the fact that Nick and Mary's relationship was very fast, and seemingly out of nowhere but lust. The ending, also, didn't quite have enough closure on the relationship aspect, nor on the actual story. It directly after the final exciting scene, with no smooth curve down. My heart was still racing when I got to the last page, and I felt like it should have lasted a little longer. Lastly, I wasn't sure if this book was for pre-teens, ages 12-14, or older. It would probably appeal to both age groups.
My favorite part was watching the characters show themselves for who they were. Yoon being more than what meets the eye, Octavia confessing her secrets and being willing, for love, to face her fears, and all the others, too. They were all very unique. I loved the characters and their interaction and dialogue.
Overall, I enjoyed The Turning, and look forward to the rest of the series.
Content: Some language, no sex
Recommendation: Ages 14-18, or if offended by language 16+
June 27, 2014
This novel was... interesting. I'm not even completely sure it was interesting in a good way. Maybe the word I'm actually searching for is 'weird'. The good thing is that it kept me reading. I think the informal, conversational narrative style helped that along - I wasn't bogged down with prose (mostly, anyway. There were a few times where I wished the book would just "get on with it, already!"). As far as the book's content though - that's were the real weirdness comes in. The sad thing is, I enjoy weirdness - "weird" is the new/old "cool". But this book was weird in a sort of unnerving, borderline repulsive way. The entire process of Mary discovering and going through "the Turning" was cringe-worthy to read about, while being presented as something really cool - and I couldn't get on board with it. About halfway through this novel, I paused, looked up, and realized aloud, "I'm not a cat person." I think that's what it comes down to. This would be so much more enjoyable for me if it were a werewolf (or even were-dog) story - although, I'm aware, there's an overabundance of those floating around.
Also, I will point out that, although her character was portrayed as the token black person of the story, I really liked Octavia, her snappy sayings/comebacks, and general sassiness. The main character, eh, not so much. She was a'ight. She definitely got cooler once she gained cat-like reflexes and speed - all the "I don't know how I got it. I wanted the mouse; the mouse is in my hand." -type parts really made me smile while reading this. Speaking of smiling, I did genuinely laugh at several parts... but that causes me to pause, because, is this really supposed to be a comedy novel?
If I were to keep reading the series, it would be to read more of Octavia and of how she has to deal with her worst fear (her turn-cat sister, "Kitty") living in the same room as her. I somehow find her more compelling than the actual MC cat-girl and her itty-bitty-kitty perspective. Interesting how that worked out.
Also, I will point out that, although her character was portrayed as the token black person of the story, I really liked Octavia, her snappy sayings/comebacks, and general sassiness. The main character, eh, not so much. She was a'ight. She definitely got cooler once she gained cat-like reflexes and speed - all the "I don't know how I got it. I wanted the mouse; the mouse is in my hand." -type parts really made me smile while reading this. Speaking of smiling, I did genuinely laugh at several parts... but that causes me to pause, because, is this really supposed to be a comedy novel?
If I were to keep reading the series, it would be to read more of Octavia and of how she has to deal with her worst fear (her turn-cat sister, "Kitty") living in the same room as her. I somehow find her more compelling than the actual MC cat-girl and her itty-bitty-kitty perspective. Interesting how that worked out.
June 2, 2010
The Turning was an original and unique story, but it didn't really live up to it's potential. The plot was extremely original and I did enjoy reading it overall, but it did have it's flaws.
Mary was an interesting character and her family was definitely unique. She and her sister, Octavia, were both adopted at age eight, but they both formed a swift connection with each other and their parents. I liked how close the Richards family was with each other. The other characters were a bit... empty, in my opinion. I would have loved to get to know not only Mary and Octavia better, but also some of the minor characters.
I applaud Helen Ellis for writing such a unique book in all, though. The plot was mainly what kept me reading. The idea of the different groups of cats and the whole idea of "the turning" was very original. There was excitement and intrigue at points and the ending was quite suspenseful. I'm interested in seeing where the sequel goes, as the ending to this book was a little loose.
The "romantic interest" was a little fast paced for me- it seemed as though at one point Nick wasn't even looking at Mary and the next he was abandoning his girlfriend, Ling Ling, and going after Mary. I liked the diversity in this novel- Nick was Greek, Ling Ling (and many others) Asian, Octavia African-American, etc. This was mainly due to the fact that many of the characters were adopted, and this was definitely an interesting sub-plot.
As this was the first in a series, I'm still going to check out the sequel, as I'm interested in seeing where Mary goes next and how the plot progresses. This was an original novel, although a bit slow at times, but I overall enjoyed it and loved the idea of transforming into a cat- how cool is that?
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Mary was an interesting character and her family was definitely unique. She and her sister, Octavia, were both adopted at age eight, but they both formed a swift connection with each other and their parents. I liked how close the Richards family was with each other. The other characters were a bit... empty, in my opinion. I would have loved to get to know not only Mary and Octavia better, but also some of the minor characters.
I applaud Helen Ellis for writing such a unique book in all, though. The plot was mainly what kept me reading. The idea of the different groups of cats and the whole idea of "the turning" was very original. There was excitement and intrigue at points and the ending was quite suspenseful. I'm interested in seeing where the sequel goes, as the ending to this book was a little loose.
The "romantic interest" was a little fast paced for me- it seemed as though at one point Nick wasn't even looking at Mary and the next he was abandoning his girlfriend, Ling Ling, and going after Mary. I liked the diversity in this novel- Nick was Greek, Ling Ling (and many others) Asian, Octavia African-American, etc. This was mainly due to the fact that many of the characters were adopted, and this was definitely an interesting sub-plot.
As this was the first in a series, I'm still going to check out the sequel, as I'm interested in seeing where Mary goes next and how the plot progresses. This was an original novel, although a bit slow at times, but I overall enjoyed it and loved the idea of transforming into a cat- how cool is that?
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
June 11, 2010
Things are changing in Mary's life. While most kids her age are worrying about boyfriends and dates, she is worrying about... why she is turning into a cat? As she struggles to come to terms with this new physical discovery, she quickly learns that she is not the only with her condition, or the only one who is not sure how to control it.
I have very conflicted feelings regarding this novel. On one hand, I found this to be a very enjoyable read that has a lot of promise... and possibly a bright future as a series. On the other hand, the novel frustrated me to no end.
What Curiosity Kills holds a lot of promise due to its plot and originality. But by the novel's end, I felt like Ellis had only begun to scratch the surface of Mary's world. In most instances I enjoy this, but I am not quite sure that this is the case with What Curiosity Kills. Which leads me to why the novel was frustrating. With this novel, I was constantly wanting to know more. Why Mary is turning into a cat... Why does the transformation start at age 16? In the end, I was just left with so many questions... and so few answers. In addition, many of the chapters felt choppy, especially the chapter's ending. It seemed that there was always some action or event was taking place and then... BAM... it was over.
Despite my issues, I very much enjoyed the novel. I found the characters to be very likable and the romance aspect between Mary and Nick was nice. Will I read the next novel in the series? Absolutely. There are way too many questions that I have yet to uncover the answers to, and I am not going to let a smallish issue get in the way of me finding out the answers that I seek.
I have very conflicted feelings regarding this novel. On one hand, I found this to be a very enjoyable read that has a lot of promise... and possibly a bright future as a series. On the other hand, the novel frustrated me to no end.
What Curiosity Kills holds a lot of promise due to its plot and originality. But by the novel's end, I felt like Ellis had only begun to scratch the surface of Mary's world. In most instances I enjoy this, but I am not quite sure that this is the case with What Curiosity Kills. Which leads me to why the novel was frustrating. With this novel, I was constantly wanting to know more. Why Mary is turning into a cat... Why does the transformation start at age 16? In the end, I was just left with so many questions... and so few answers. In addition, many of the chapters felt choppy, especially the chapter's ending. It seemed that there was always some action or event was taking place and then... BAM... it was over.
Despite my issues, I very much enjoyed the novel. I found the characters to be very likable and the romance aspect between Mary and Nick was nice. Will I read the next novel in the series? Absolutely. There are way too many questions that I have yet to uncover the answers to, and I am not going to let a smallish issue get in the way of me finding out the answers that I seek.
May 29, 2010
The first thing that struck me was the cover. Yes, a girl's face. But it was her eyes or should I say 'one eye' that struck me. When I received the book, honestly I had no idea what it was about. Read the blurb as you have, and thought 'Inner kitty' hmm.... I thought it was just a phrase. It wasn't.
On the paranormal plane, the story was different from most I've read. 'The Turning' is a sort of mythical puberty for those affected. Couple that with high school, being adopted, having a crush on a boy who...well, would never notice you and you have a great young adult story. The way Mary (main character) finds herself through this 'Turning', her new found relationship with Nick (the boy she had a crush on), and the choices she's faced with can be translated to real life situations for teens of today. I really liked that.
I found it easy to understand and a very quick read. The story world is well built and believable. My favorite part is the language Helen has chosen to use throughout the story. It's laid-back, yet straight forward. The relationship develops naturally between Mary and her sister Octavia, and their conflicts feel real and ordinary. Octavia's brazen speech offsets Mary's calmer quality nicely. It set a great tone throughout the book. Helen does a nice job of using it to show the inner growth of both girls.
The ending was a surprise for me. It wraps up within the last five pages, so you must read until the end. Trust me. It will be interesting to see where the next story will take Mary, her now boyfriend Nick, and Octavia.
On the paranormal plane, the story was different from most I've read. 'The Turning' is a sort of mythical puberty for those affected. Couple that with high school, being adopted, having a crush on a boy who...well, would never notice you and you have a great young adult story. The way Mary (main character) finds herself through this 'Turning', her new found relationship with Nick (the boy she had a crush on), and the choices she's faced with can be translated to real life situations for teens of today. I really liked that.
I found it easy to understand and a very quick read. The story world is well built and believable. My favorite part is the language Helen has chosen to use throughout the story. It's laid-back, yet straight forward. The relationship develops naturally between Mary and her sister Octavia, and their conflicts feel real and ordinary. Octavia's brazen speech offsets Mary's calmer quality nicely. It set a great tone throughout the book. Helen does a nice job of using it to show the inner growth of both girls.
The ending was a surprise for me. It wraps up within the last five pages, so you must read until the end. Trust me. It will be interesting to see where the next story will take Mary, her now boyfriend Nick, and Octavia.
June 14, 2015
What Curiosity Kills is the first book in a new series by Helen Ellis and while it was definitely unique it’s not something I will be checking out. The first book was enough for me to realize that I am just not interested.
Mary is turning into a cat. She doesn’t know how or why but she knows that her crush, Nick, is helping her. He is finally showing interest in her and she is not going to let him slip away. Too bad her sister is terrified of cats and wants Mary’s problem fixed. What’s even worse is that there are other forces trying to keep Mary from even being human again.
So, the premise for What Curiosity Kills was beyond interesting. The bad part was that the book did not live up to it. And there were parts of the book where I was grossed out. I was not into the whole turning into a cat thing and mice were involved. Eww! Also, I was super confused part of the time. I didn’t get the point of the book and there didn’t seem to be a straight plot line.
Then there were the characters. Mary and Nick’s relationship came out of nowhere and the part with Ling Ling was odd. I didn’t get why everyone was attracted to Nick. It would have been better if the characters were more developed so that I could actually understand some of their motives.
Overall, What Curiosity Kills is the start to a series that some might enjoy but not me. I have to recommend checking this one out from your library if you are still interested.
Mary is turning into a cat. She doesn’t know how or why but she knows that her crush, Nick, is helping her. He is finally showing interest in her and she is not going to let him slip away. Too bad her sister is terrified of cats and wants Mary’s problem fixed. What’s even worse is that there are other forces trying to keep Mary from even being human again.
So, the premise for What Curiosity Kills was beyond interesting. The bad part was that the book did not live up to it. And there were parts of the book where I was grossed out. I was not into the whole turning into a cat thing and mice were involved. Eww! Also, I was super confused part of the time. I didn’t get the point of the book and there didn’t seem to be a straight plot line.
Then there were the characters. Mary and Nick’s relationship came out of nowhere and the part with Ling Ling was odd. I didn’t get why everyone was attracted to Nick. It would have been better if the characters were more developed so that I could actually understand some of their motives.
Overall, What Curiosity Kills is the start to a series that some might enjoy but not me. I have to recommend checking this one out from your library if you are still interested.
June 22, 2010
Mary Richards isn’t sure what’s wrong with her. She got so tired in school she fell asleep…and purred. She’s sprouting fur wherever a cat rubs against her skin. And she’s craving milk. When Nick, the guy she has a crush on, seems to understand what’s happening to her, and he offers to help, she decides that maybe what’s happening to her isn’t so wrong after all.
The Turning: What Curiosity Kills by Helen Ellis is a new teen series focusing on humans who can turn into cats. Ellis pokes fun at Upper-East-Side-privileged- Manhattan life with her cast of characters—most of whom attend an elite private school populated by scads of fertility drug, embryo implanted twins and children adopted as babies from Asia. Mary and her sister Octavia are the only students adopted out of the foster-child system in the U.S. when they were eight. Their school is super politically correct.
The Turning brings up several issues for Mary: Who can she tell about what’s happening to her? Given the chance to go back to her regular life, will she take it? Can she adapt to her new realities without getting hurt in the sometimes-violent cat life? This first novel feels mostly like a prologue for the books that are to come, and I expect teens interested in finding a new series with an intriguing premise will find a lot to like here.
The Turning: What Curiosity Kills by Helen Ellis is a new teen series focusing on humans who can turn into cats. Ellis pokes fun at Upper-East-Side-privileged- Manhattan life with her cast of characters—most of whom attend an elite private school populated by scads of fertility drug, embryo implanted twins and children adopted as babies from Asia. Mary and her sister Octavia are the only students adopted out of the foster-child system in the U.S. when they were eight. Their school is super politically correct.
The Turning brings up several issues for Mary: Who can she tell about what’s happening to her? Given the chance to go back to her regular life, will she take it? Can she adapt to her new realities without getting hurt in the sometimes-violent cat life? This first novel feels mostly like a prologue for the books that are to come, and I expect teens interested in finding a new series with an intriguing premise will find a lot to like here.
October 12, 2010
This is the rare book that I think is actually too short - perhaps way too short. It's a great fantasy adventure story that comes to an abrupt halt that seems to fit more with the monthly book serieses I read in middle school than the year+ waits we're now used to.
Like a lot of others, I absolutely loved Octavia. A tragic past that she covers with a lot of bravado. And she's a kick ass debater, so she gets major bonus points there.
I really liked how adoption played into the story - it's a great way to have same-age sisters without going the twins route, and adds an element of tragic backstory without having to saddle the girls with a currently abusive home.
Overall, there could easily have been another 100 pages of story here, without dragging the story down. The plot moves at a frantic pace with hardly a chance to catch your breath, going light on the description at times in favor of getting to the next plot point. For example, I'm still not entirely clear on how kitty-communication works. There are bits of what appears to be dialog written in italics, but it's unclear if the cats are telepathic or if Mary is just putting kitty-feelings into human-words. Perhaps if there'd been more build up, the abrupt ending would have played better. I would have given this four stars if it had just been a little longer.
Like a lot of others, I absolutely loved Octavia. A tragic past that she covers with a lot of bravado. And she's a kick ass debater, so she gets major bonus points there.
I really liked how adoption played into the story - it's a great way to have same-age sisters without going the twins route, and adds an element of tragic backstory without having to saddle the girls with a currently abusive home.
Overall, there could easily have been another 100 pages of story here, without dragging the story down. The plot moves at a frantic pace with hardly a chance to catch your breath, going light on the description at times in favor of getting to the next plot point. For example, I'm still not entirely clear on how kitty-communication works. There are bits of what appears to be dialog written in italics, but it's unclear if the cats are telepathic or if Mary is just putting kitty-feelings into human-words. Perhaps if there'd been more build up, the abrupt ending would have played better. I would have given this four stars if it had just been a little longer.
March 22, 2016
I’ll admit, I picked this book up because of the cover. It’s pretty, colorful, she has a cat eye… Once I confirmed my suspicions that What Curiosity Kills was a story about a girl turning into a cat, I knew I had to read it. After finishing the novel, I must say that it reminds me a lot of the show (I’ve never read the novels) The Nine Lives of Chloe King, except the protagonist literally turns into a cat, not a person with cat features. What Curiosity Kills had some definite strengths. While the casual narrative style Ellis adopts may turn off some readers, I found the witty dialogue and thoughts refreshing and very funny. Mary’s internal narration, the banter between her and her sister and the other characters, and the things that happen to Mary as she slowly turns into a cat had me smiling constantly as the pages flew by.
Sure, the novel has flaws. It’s short, a little absurd at times, possibly offensive to some in parts, some of the characters lack depth, the mythology is not thoroughly explained, and Mary and Nick’s relationship kind of comes out of left field. However, it’s a fast, fun read — especially for cat lovers like me. I hope Ellis does plan to release the sequel, because I look forward to spending more time with these wacky characters and seeing what happens next.
Sure, the novel has flaws. It’s short, a little absurd at times, possibly offensive to some in parts, some of the characters lack depth, the mythology is not thoroughly explained, and Mary and Nick’s relationship kind of comes out of left field. However, it’s a fast, fun read — especially for cat lovers like me. I hope Ellis does plan to release the sequel, because I look forward to spending more time with these wacky characters and seeing what happens next.
June 13, 2010
Mary lives in Manhattan with her sister Octavia, and their adoptive parents. After having been in bad home situations earlier in life, Mary and Octavia are relishing their normal, if privileged lives. However, Mary is experiencing changes to her body, and they aren't due to puberty. She falls asleep at odd times, craves milk, and is terrified at the thought of taking a bath. Mary needs to figure out what is happening to her, and it looks like the only person who can help is her crush, Nick.
I immediately found What Curiosity Kills intriguing. I'm a cat person myself, and like to imaging what life would be like as a cat. I also thought it had a Metamorphosis aspect to the story. However, I liked it a little less after the first "turning". At that point it became much more of a standard were story. I really liked Octavia's character, and would like to see more of her in the upcoming books. There was also a bizarre, but strangely compelling, bit that takes place at one of the NYPL branches that I hope gets explored more thoroughly in the future.
I immediately found What Curiosity Kills intriguing. I'm a cat person myself, and like to imaging what life would be like as a cat. I also thought it had a Metamorphosis aspect to the story. However, I liked it a little less after the first "turning". At that point it became much more of a standard were story. I really liked Octavia's character, and would like to see more of her in the upcoming books. There was also a bizarre, but strangely compelling, bit that takes place at one of the NYPL branches that I hope gets explored more thoroughly in the future.
August 1, 2010
The Turning by Helen Ellis
This is one of the more thoughtful middle school books I’ve read. I’m not really sure if it is more for younger high school or not. I think it can and will appeal to both audiences. Mary discovers a secret about her own life that she never dreamed of facing. Mary’s relationships with her family and friends undergo some major revamping with what she learns.
Ms. Ellis deals with the insecurities that kids have in a tasteful and insightful manner. As an ex-guidance counselor for this age, I felt she captured their feelings very accurately. Fish or fowl is often the question with teenagers or in this case feline or not. The mystery was prolonged to the end. There was sufficient tension and moderate action to hold your interest. The life and death aspects were portrayed somewhat graphically but I don’t think at a level of intensity to frighten the younger reader. The book was well done and it appears that it will be a captivating series.
I recommend the book.
This is one of the more thoughtful middle school books I’ve read. I’m not really sure if it is more for younger high school or not. I think it can and will appeal to both audiences. Mary discovers a secret about her own life that she never dreamed of facing. Mary’s relationships with her family and friends undergo some major revamping with what she learns.
Ms. Ellis deals with the insecurities that kids have in a tasteful and insightful manner. As an ex-guidance counselor for this age, I felt she captured their feelings very accurately. Fish or fowl is often the question with teenagers or in this case feline or not. The mystery was prolonged to the end. There was sufficient tension and moderate action to hold your interest. The life and death aspects were portrayed somewhat graphically but I don’t think at a level of intensity to frighten the younger reader. The book was well done and it appears that it will be a captivating series.
I recommend the book.
December 20, 2012
I love Helen Ellis' writing style. Everything she writes is impeccable. One of my favorite books was Eating the cheshire Cat, so when I found that she'd written another book, I snatched it up in a heartbeat. I didn't realize that this book was YA or paranormal romance until the story began unfolding. It was a very quick read. I especially loved the beginning because it had my curiousity flowing. After 'the Turning' I began to grow tired of the story. It unfolded very quickly at that point, losing some of my interest. The descriptions grew weaker and weaker towards the end of the book almost as it it was time to wrap up the story to begin writing book #2. Overall I gave this 3 stars because although I do enjoy falling into Helen's words and getting lost in another world, I only enjoyed the first half of this one. I look foward to her other books, but this one was not a favorite of mine. I do feel obligated to follow these characters through the series so I will keep on reading.
June 30, 2012
This book was ok for me. It was neat that people turned into cats and that they were teens. They had no idea what was going on and at first it was really neat to see how it started and what they were going through. However, I didn't like the teen slang that the author tried to give this one character character through. It was too much for me. I am not racist and I'm white, but it was almost as if this author was trying to make fun of african americans in some way. I just didn't like how she gave slang to only the black girl in this book. None of the others teens talked like that. I get it sometimes, but the author should have put all teen slang in there, not just black teen slang. To me I found this a little annoying to read. However, the book was good, but for a young adult book, it was a little childish to me. This type of book is more for kids that are between the ages of 12 and 14.
October 7, 2010
excerpt from detailed review here:
http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com/2010/1...
With a surreal and overly passive narrator, this rather short beginning to The Turning series is saved by the monumentally more interesting, and diverse, side characters, as well as the pleasantly unexpected developments in its second half. The uniqueness of some of the characters makes up for the lack of character development, and the "weird" writing style can grow on you, but only in this limited 200-page dose. Not really worth the hardcover price, but do give it a chance, it's a nice surreal detour, and it's not that long.
http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com/2010/1...
With a surreal and overly passive narrator, this rather short beginning to The Turning series is saved by the monumentally more interesting, and diverse, side characters, as well as the pleasantly unexpected developments in its second half. The uniqueness of some of the characters makes up for the lack of character development, and the "weird" writing style can grow on you, but only in this limited 200-page dose. Not really worth the hardcover price, but do give it a chance, it's a nice surreal detour, and it's not that long.
June 13, 2010
This book was full of promise but it fell short--simply because the length of the book was too short. The premise was great, as were the characters, but nothing went into enough depth. We didn't get to know the characters well enough, and the action was too short. Everything just kind of suddenly happened and ended. There needed to be more of the story developed before the ending. The characters were all likeable--what we knew about them, but we needed to know more. This is the first book in a series, and I'll be looking to pick up the next one, but hopefully it will give us more of what I am hoping for--more characterization and more of the story!
January 17, 2011
The concept was interesting, but just about everything needed to be developed more. With the exception of Octavia (and she's not the main character), most of the characters were just thin caricatures of teen stereotypes. The characters were believable, but seemed to embody the more annoying of "typical teen traits".
That said, it was an easy read, and it flowed well enough, and flowed into an ending that felt like it should have been around the midpoint of the book, not the end. More than a bit of a letdown in that sense. Just as I was really starting to get into it, it was over.
That said, it was an easy read, and it flowed well enough, and flowed into an ending that felt like it should have been around the midpoint of the book, not the end. More than a bit of a letdown in that sense. Just as I was really starting to get into it, it was over.
February 19, 2017
This is probably my first disliked book. Or maybe my second. Can't be third.
Just another book where I couldn't help but stop reading. Sorry for not sugar coating my words but seriously. Another book which made me question myself, why am I reading it really. I struggled to finish reading it because I hate leaving things incomplete. So I finished the book. Which didn't change my opinion of this book. Bad story line, no climax, no purpose. Would not recommend. It's a miracle the average rating of this book even exceeded 3.0.
Just another book where I couldn't help but stop reading. Sorry for not sugar coating my words but seriously. Another book which made me question myself, why am I reading it really. I struggled to finish reading it because I hate leaving things incomplete. So I finished the book. Which didn't change my opinion of this book. Bad story line, no climax, no purpose. Would not recommend. It's a miracle the average rating of this book even exceeded 3.0.
November 19, 2024
Prior to receiving this ARC, I hadn't heard anything regarding this book or author Helen Ellis. I'm almost glad that I didn't have any preconceived notions toward it because I'm pretty sure that, if I had, they would have been blown away pretty quickly. My feelings about this book are mixed to say the least, but I'll do my best to to describe them for you.
I've read plenty of books about shapeshifters and weres. I was sure that there wasn't anything new to me in that field. Ellis showed me that I was poorly mistaken with her cat shifters. That's right, cats. Not the big leopard/lion/tiger-esque types. No, I mean the household variety. The way they are portrayed in the turning is as some potentially dangerous species. I'm still trying to parse whether or not I can take it seriously.
Regardless, the book is interesting. The main character Mary and her best friend/sister Octavia are unique characters in the YA genre. While they currently live a semi-privileged life in New York's Upper East Side, the both hail from disadvantaged backgrounds. Mary is from the south and still has a hint of her accent. After being neglected by her parents seven or eight years ago, she was adopted by her new family. Around the same time an African-American eight-year-old, Octavia, happened to lose her parents and be chosen by the same couple as Mary. The two sisters are the same age and incredibly close. It's interesting the strain that there relationship undergoes when the "turning" begins to overtake Mary. Octavia, who is deathly afraid of cats due to an incident in her past, struggles with a newfound fear and trepidation directed towards her sister. Despite this, it's clear that the two really love one another. It must be Mary's love for her sister that allows her to overlook Octavia's psuedo-ghetto attitude and slang. Being a middle-class black person myself, I understand the issue of wanting to embrace your "blackness" but I think that Octavia took it a step too far, almost into parody territory. I almost fell out of my chair when she used the phrase "wiggida, wiggida, whack" (yes, really). Even Mary thinks it's ridiculous...
To continue reading this review, visit my blog The Eclectic Book Lover.
I've read plenty of books about shapeshifters and weres. I was sure that there wasn't anything new to me in that field. Ellis showed me that I was poorly mistaken with her cat shifters. That's right, cats. Not the big leopard/lion/tiger-esque types. No, I mean the household variety. The way they are portrayed in the turning is as some potentially dangerous species. I'm still trying to parse whether or not I can take it seriously.
Regardless, the book is interesting. The main character Mary and her best friend/sister Octavia are unique characters in the YA genre. While they currently live a semi-privileged life in New York's Upper East Side, the both hail from disadvantaged backgrounds. Mary is from the south and still has a hint of her accent. After being neglected by her parents seven or eight years ago, she was adopted by her new family. Around the same time an African-American eight-year-old, Octavia, happened to lose her parents and be chosen by the same couple as Mary. The two sisters are the same age and incredibly close. It's interesting the strain that there relationship undergoes when the "turning" begins to overtake Mary. Octavia, who is deathly afraid of cats due to an incident in her past, struggles with a newfound fear and trepidation directed towards her sister. Despite this, it's clear that the two really love one another. It must be Mary's love for her sister that allows her to overlook Octavia's psuedo-ghetto attitude and slang. Being a middle-class black person myself, I understand the issue of wanting to embrace your "blackness" but I think that Octavia took it a step too far, almost into parody territory. I almost fell out of my chair when she used the phrase "wiggida, wiggida, whack" (yes, really). Even Mary thinks it's ridiculous...
To continue reading this review, visit my blog The Eclectic Book Lover.
February 1, 2021
Yikes. Half-developed characters, rushed plot points that come out of nowhere, scenes of animal cruelty, meaningless (and boring) triangle "romances," casual racism (for instance, a character prances around with a shower caddy upside down on her head... I was thinking it was an imaginary hat and had to read the scene about five times because it didn't make any sense what this shower caddy was meant to represent, until I realized that the caddy was yellow and she was meant to be imitating an Asian girl from school—whose name is Ling Ling by the freaking way—so it was a dig at this girl's race)... No, thanks!
It's sad, because the beginning wasn't too bad, even if the main plot was a little silly. But I was willing to go with that at first, since it's a YA title and you know from the cover and synopsis that it's going to have a bit of nonsense. The beginning earned the second star. But it went off the rails after only a few chapters and only got worse from there.
Not recommended for anyone. I'll donate it to the library but I feel kind of bad for whoever ends up with it next.
It's sad, because the beginning wasn't too bad, even if the main plot was a little silly. But I was willing to go with that at first, since it's a YA title and you know from the cover and synopsis that it's going to have a bit of nonsense. The beginning earned the second star. But it went off the rails after only a few chapters and only got worse from there.
Not recommended for anyone. I'll donate it to the library but I feel kind of bad for whoever ends up with it next.
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