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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
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Summary
Summary
Annie Nobody thought she was, well, nobody, living in a nowhere town where nothing goes her way. Day 1 at her newest foster home proves to be dreadful, too . . . and things get even worse when she's chased by something big and scary that definitely wants to eat her.
Luckily for Annie, not everything is what it seems, and she gets swept up--literally--by a sassy dwarf on a hovercraft snowmobile and taken to Aurora, a hidden, magical town on the coast of Maine. There, she finds a new best friend in Jamie Hephastion Alexander--who thought he was a normal kid (but just might be a troll)--and Annie discovers that she's not exactly who she thought she was, either. She's a Time Stopper, meant to protect the enchanted.
Together, Annie and Jamie discover a whole new world of magic, power, and an incredible cast of creatures and characters. But where there's great power, there are also those who want to misuse it, and Aurora is under siege. It's up to the kids to protect their new home, even if it means diving headfirst into magical danger.
Awards for Need
An Indiebound Next Pick
A YALSA BBYA Nominee
Author Notes
Carrie Jones is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Need series, as well as After Obsession , co-written with Steven E. Wedel. She also co-edited the anthology Dear Bully, about YA authors' experiences with bullying. She is a distinguished alum of Vermont College's MFA program and a part-time police dispatcher in Maine because she likes cop stories. Really.
www.carriejonesbooks.com
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-When Annie Nobody arrives at her new foster home in the town of Mount Desert, ME, she is dismayed to find that it is even worse than the previous 11 that she's had. The Wiegles, a mother and son who have agreed to take her, are clearly interested only in the money they get from the state. Meanwhile, in another house in the same town, a boy named Jamie sees his grandmother turn into a monster. He flees to the local library, where the librarian tells him that his grandmother and father are trolls and that his life is in grave danger. Soon, Annie and Jamie are both fleeing from rampaging trolls and are rescued by a hovercraft snowmobile driven by a girl named Eva, who tells them she is a dwarf. She explains that she lives in Aurora, a community of magical creatures protected by a woman named Miss Cornelia. Eva takes Jamie and Annie there, and Annie is astounded to discover that all of Aurora's magical inhabitants know her name and expect her to save them from a mysterious enemy called the Raiff. Just as Jamie and Annie are beginning to feel safe in Aurora, the town is attacked by a gigantic bird creature, who freezes Miss Cornelia and most of the town. With the help of Eva, an elf named Canin, and some unpredictable flying skis, Annie and Jamie set out on a dangerous journey to retrieve a gnome statue that was stolen by Jamie's grandmother and save Aurora and the magical creatures who live there. The first in what is clearly intended to be a new middle grade series, Jones's novel offers an imaginative blend of fantasy, whimsy, and suspense, with a charming cast of underdog characters. The book ends on a major cliff-hanger and leaves many questions unanswered. Like the "Harry Potter" and "Percy Jackson" books, this title operates on the premise that there are secret magical communities that exist alongside and within the real world, although the characters and tone of this novel may appeal more to slightly younger middle grade readers. VERDICT This new fantasy series will entice younger fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.-Ashley Larsen, Pacifica Libraries, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Jamie Alexander knows that his grandmother is cruel, but he has only recently learned that she's also a troll. To avoid being eaten on his 13th birthday, Jamie is rescued and whisked to the magical safe haven of Aurora, along with newfound friend Annie Nobody, a foster care reject with hidden powers. A magical gnome that protected Aurora has gone missing, and it's up to the two newcomers, a dwarf, and an elf to set things right. The scenes in Aurora are enchanting and whimsical, with talking books that literally beg to be read, flying desserts, and fairy tale creatures around every corner. Though plenty of magic is afoot, the children draw their real power from kindness, empathy, and friendship, exchanging witty banter along the way. With a wink and a nod, Jones (the Need series) also suggests that books themselves are a source of much power. Starkly scary scenes are countered by the enduring message that actions determine character, not genetics or upbringing, and a chilling ending sets the stage for the series' next installment. Ages 8-12. Agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.