The Magnolia League
Jun 4, 2011
Author: Katie Crouch
YA Fiction
Publish Date: 5/3/2011
ISBN: 9780316078498
Katie has previously written two adult novels, Girls in Trucks and Men and Dogs. I believe this is her first YA novel.
The story line is one that I've seen similarly used in a few other YA books recently, but Katie manages to make it her own by creating more interesting characters. Alex, the main character is a treat with her offbeat way of dressing and thinking - after all she was born and raised in a commune.
When her mother dies in a car accident, Alex stays on the commune until a helicopter arrives with a lawyer informing her that she is part of a very wealthy, exclusive family in Savannah and Grandmother would like her home where she belongs. She resists until the "leader" of the commune is threatened with a report to the police of what the lawyer saw growing when he flew over the land.
Off Alex goes to Savannah where she discovers she also belongs, by her heritage, to the prestigious Magnolia Society League. Two league members take her under their oh-so-perfect wings and slowly initiate her into their ways.
What Alex slowly learns is how the league, and it's members, are not so perfect without a long standing pact and help from a doctor. Not just any doctor, but a hoodoo doctor. The question here is will Alex embrace her new possible existence or run away from it. Should I say correctly, TRY to run away from it.
A fun older, young adult book (it does discuss sex quite a bit) with the fantasy elements that are so popular in their reading material right now. By the way, the ending just leaves you waiting for a sequel. I sense a serial story.
