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When October Ends
After an environmental disaster, the world is no longer what it seems. Humans no longer top the food chain. Now they must watch out for beasts that rule the skies and roam the Earth. Not only has the worlds inhabitants changed but so has it's shape. On top of it all, an unknown force is threatening to destroy the Earth completely. The fate of the world rests in the hands of one simple teenage wereworlf....but is she ready?
247 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
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24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 1, 2012
When October Ends, by JM Lee, is a novel about a middle school werewolf named Zaina. She grows up on an isolated Island after an environmental disaster has changed the earth and killed off all the humans. Now the earth is inhabited by strange beasts like werewolves and carnivorous butterflies. In this first novel in the series, Zaina begins to transform and become more animalistic. She also learns she is part of a prophecy that predicts she will save the world. Will she for fill her destiny or will the world succumb to an unknown force threatening to destroy everything.
Zaina is a twelve year old werewolf isolated on an island and only knows about werewolves. During this novel, she discovers other lifeforms exist, like carnivorous butterflies and witches. She suspects that humans may still exist as well. She meets a host of new friends who help her on the path of for filling the prophecy predicting she will save the world.
This book is not a stand alone novel so you will have to read the other novels to get the full story. What Zaina is saving the world from is not uncovered in this first book, nor are the specifics of the prophecy. Hopefully, the reader will discover these answers in books two and three.
The book jumps around quickly so you really need to read closely to stay with the story. The book was written by a twelve year old and published when she was thirteen so I was expecting to move fast compared to a similar book written by an adult. The fact that the book was written by a twelve year old was what initially drew me to read the novel. My curiosity of what a twelve year old would write about had to be quenched. I'm glad I read it, considering her age, she did a remarkable job on her first novel and I can't wait to read the second one. It's wonderful to see a young person committing to a task as hard as writing a novel. Most adult writers I know can't finish a first novel where as JM Lee has finished two and is currently working on a third.
The novel portrays middle school kids accurately, down to the way they talk and think, even petty things they would tease each other about. One problem I had was how easily Zaina took the death of her mother in the beginning. She was off to school the very next day. Zaina's character does reflect on her mother's death throughout the novel, but I think a child of her age would be more devastated.
The novel currently is self-published and does have numerous punctuation and word misuse problems throughout. I heard when I met JM Lee that a publisher has picked up her trilogy so I'm sure newer versions of the story put out by the publisher will have these errors fixed. Other than the typos, I thought the story was well put together, and as long as books two and three answer all the readers questions, will be a good series to read especially for readers eleven to fifteen in age. I do recommend, When October Ends, especially to the age group above, but adults may enjoy the novel as well so give it a try.
Zaina is a twelve year old werewolf isolated on an island and only knows about werewolves. During this novel, she discovers other lifeforms exist, like carnivorous butterflies and witches. She suspects that humans may still exist as well. She meets a host of new friends who help her on the path of for filling the prophecy predicting she will save the world.
This book is not a stand alone novel so you will have to read the other novels to get the full story. What Zaina is saving the world from is not uncovered in this first book, nor are the specifics of the prophecy. Hopefully, the reader will discover these answers in books two and three.
The book jumps around quickly so you really need to read closely to stay with the story. The book was written by a twelve year old and published when she was thirteen so I was expecting to move fast compared to a similar book written by an adult. The fact that the book was written by a twelve year old was what initially drew me to read the novel. My curiosity of what a twelve year old would write about had to be quenched. I'm glad I read it, considering her age, she did a remarkable job on her first novel and I can't wait to read the second one. It's wonderful to see a young person committing to a task as hard as writing a novel. Most adult writers I know can't finish a first novel where as JM Lee has finished two and is currently working on a third.
The novel portrays middle school kids accurately, down to the way they talk and think, even petty things they would tease each other about. One problem I had was how easily Zaina took the death of her mother in the beginning. She was off to school the very next day. Zaina's character does reflect on her mother's death throughout the novel, but I think a child of her age would be more devastated.
The novel currently is self-published and does have numerous punctuation and word misuse problems throughout. I heard when I met JM Lee that a publisher has picked up her trilogy so I'm sure newer versions of the story put out by the publisher will have these errors fixed. Other than the typos, I thought the story was well put together, and as long as books two and three answer all the readers questions, will be a good series to read especially for readers eleven to fifteen in age. I do recommend, When October Ends, especially to the age group above, but adults may enjoy the novel as well so give it a try.
November 14, 2013
I loved the first edition despite the fact that it was the author's first novel (at the age of 13). I felt it was a very compelling fantasy story that managed to keep my attention till the end. JM Lee did a great job creating a wealth of characters that were not only believable but endearing.
This is the second edition, re-written by the author, now 17 and edited by a professional editor out of HCS Publishing. As much as I liked the first edition, this one is so much more advanced as the writer's skills and talents as a word smith have greatly improved. Having a professional editor has also polished it off into something that should not only impress all that read it but thoroughly entertain them as well.
I don't want to say much about the story line as I do not wish to risk the inevitable spoiler but I will say this: this young author has a tremendously bright future ahead of her and I cannot wait for the following books to see just how this teenage werewolf will fulfill her destiny and save the world.
Book 2 in the series, "Chasing", is currently being re-written as a second edition under the new publishing house and I look forward to see just how JM Lee will improve an already fantastic novel.
This is the second edition, re-written by the author, now 17 and edited by a professional editor out of HCS Publishing. As much as I liked the first edition, this one is so much more advanced as the writer's skills and talents as a word smith have greatly improved. Having a professional editor has also polished it off into something that should not only impress all that read it but thoroughly entertain them as well.
I don't want to say much about the story line as I do not wish to risk the inevitable spoiler but I will say this: this young author has a tremendously bright future ahead of her and I cannot wait for the following books to see just how this teenage werewolf will fulfill her destiny and save the world.
Book 2 in the series, "Chasing", is currently being re-written as a second edition under the new publishing house and I look forward to see just how JM Lee will improve an already fantastic novel.
August 21, 2013
After an environmental disaster, the world is no longer what it seems. Humans no longer top the food chain. Now they must watch out for beasts that rule the skies and roam the Earth. Not only has the worlds inhabitants changed, but also its shape. On top of it all an unknown force is threatening to destroy the Earth completely. The fate of the world rests in the hands of one simple teenage werewolf... but is she ready?
About a few weeks ago, I went to a local library convention and saw the author of this book. She seemed like a sweetheart and her books seemed interesting enough for me to want them. JM Lee wrote WHEN OCTOBER ENDS when she was thirteen and you can tell. But, I have no room to talk. She finished hers.
Anyways, I could see what Lee was doing in her book and I do like the bones. The bones are there, but the meat needs some tenderizing. I can tell she knows her world and her characters, but I couldn't really feel them. I didn't understand where I was and the motivations.
That said, I do know that she is republishing the book and I do know that she's closer to college age than thirteen. I'm sure these things are in the back of her mind and I do hope she revisits them in her republished book. I would love to read the difference.
I'm still excited to see what else happens with her werewolf girl and friends. The fist book has great bones and I do have the second book. It's fun to see how a person's talent and work changes through the years.
About a few weeks ago, I went to a local library convention and saw the author of this book. She seemed like a sweetheart and her books seemed interesting enough for me to want them. JM Lee wrote WHEN OCTOBER ENDS when she was thirteen and you can tell. But, I have no room to talk. She finished hers.
Anyways, I could see what Lee was doing in her book and I do like the bones. The bones are there, but the meat needs some tenderizing. I can tell she knows her world and her characters, but I couldn't really feel them. I didn't understand where I was and the motivations.
That said, I do know that she is republishing the book and I do know that she's closer to college age than thirteen. I'm sure these things are in the back of her mind and I do hope she revisits them in her republished book. I would love to read the difference.
I'm still excited to see what else happens with her werewolf girl and friends. The fist book has great bones and I do have the second book. It's fun to see how a person's talent and work changes through the years.
March 4, 2013
While this is a YA novelle, it is a very thrilling tale of a young werewolf discovering that there is more to her world that she thinks. Set in a post appocalyptic reality, she battles secret forces at work set on keeping her from discovering her destiny.
I felt that this book does a great job of capturing the enthusiasm that nearly engulfs teens and even though I'm the author's father, and 40, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is the culmination of a great deal of work, written by an author who was 13 at the time.
Some plot lines are left unanswered but they are explained in book two "Chasing".
I felt that this book does a great job of capturing the enthusiasm that nearly engulfs teens and even though I'm the author's father, and 40, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is the culmination of a great deal of work, written by an author who was 13 at the time.
Some plot lines are left unanswered but they are explained in book two "Chasing".
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews