Jennifer Strange

Gr 9 Up–After mysterious encounters with demons at her school cause her father to dump her unceremoniously at her sister Liz’s college apartment, Jennifer “Jacks” Strange is angry. Liz isn’t happy either, but on that first morning, as they both head off to school, they agree to talk about things later. The rest of the day, however, proves to only solidify Jennifer’s concerns as she encounters demons, witches, and ghosts. Marcus, a boy in her class, identifies her as a “Sparrow” with powers she unwittingly unleashes, causing havoc and death. When the demons enter their apartment that evening, Liz and Jennifer both unleash newfound powers only to discover that doing so diminishes them. Determined to find answers—and their father—they dive headlong into the Other world that now has become central to their lives. This first novel has plenty to appeal to readers: illustrations that help to visualize the creatures and describe the charms that protect the girls, and two determined young women who awaken to their new powers. But the story lacks depth and the secondary characters are not developed well enough to fully engage the reader.