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Moonstone
By Marilee Brothers

PJVs QUICKIE POV: Take a trip to the trailer park...and delight in this charming, quirky and outrageously entertaining book. It was written with children in mind, but it thoroughly entertained this adult. I can't wait to read the next in this series. I do have to say, that the book trailer almost pushed me away from the book...instead of drawing me towards it. {Shown below} But, I'm so glad I looked past it...

REVIEW: Alfrieda, who of course insists on being called Allie, lives in a trailer on her Uncle's property, with a mother that has given up on life. Allie while in one of the worst conditions you could think of - the descriptions reek of neglect, destitution, and lack of nutrition (all they eat is peanut butter toast) - remains positive, a free spirit and just an all-around good kid. She helps her friends, makes good grades and cares about her fellow man.

When her "babysitter", Kizzy, a woman most people consider a witch, gives her a beautiful Moonstone and says it is her destiny - Allie is shocked to find that the gaudy bauble is a little more than just a fancy accoutrement, but might just give her the ability to read minds. Combined with a new found ability that allows her to move objects with her mind, Allie is not exactly normal anymore. Like embracing her new superpowers isn't enough, there are now people hunting her, that hurt Kizzy and are intent on taking the Moonstone from her. No matter what, she can't let this happen...but there is no one she can trust.

A lightly flavored YA with tons of potential for a great series. I was immediately enthralled with cute little Allie and her take on life. In some aspects she seems so mature, in others she is just a fourteen year old girl trying to make it in a very tough world. Along with Allie, the secondary characters, everyone from Allie's friends, her mother, Kizzy and Junior were well drawn out and illustrated. They all had a depth that had me connecting and while I might have been really aggravated with Allie's mother in the beginning,  by the end, Allie had talked me into liking her.

My only dislike about the book, was with the adults. I wanted to kill all of them for just throwing all these problems onto a young girl. From the neglecting mom, to the interfering aunt, Kizzy and even Allie's teacher - all of them would just cause a problem and step back leaving Allie to fix it. I just wished for one level headed adult to step up and make a decision. Poor Allie.

Aside from that, which of course was part of the story-line and integral to the whole show, so if it was different I probably wouldn't have liked it as much, so I should really get over that problem, right? Well, aside from that I really, really liked this book and can't wait to read Moon Rise which is second in the series. Hats off to Ms. Brothers - excellent job. Keep 'em coming.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Fans of the lighter side of the paranormal should really enjoy. This is fit for younger teens, parents there is nothing to be worried about in this one.

RUMINATIONS:  As I was reading this book, my mind kept on returning to a previous read, Majix: Notes from a Serious Teen Witch. But, while having read Majix first it has only been releases in 2010 - Moonstone was a 2008 release. I don't know why I kept thinking about this other book, only that they were just so similar - tone, underlying concepts. I just thought I would mention this.