Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Review (12): The Magnolia League

The Magnolia League
by Katie Crouch


Series:
The Magnolia League (Book 1)
Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown Books Young Readers
Pages: 368
Source:
Publisher
Challenge: 2011 OTS
After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.
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Why I Read This: I got an ARC from the publisher to review.

Plot: I found the Magnolia League world very interesting and exciting. The fact that the girls could do and become basically anything they wanted due to the hoodoo was fascinating. I particularly liked how every few chapters there would be one that had information about hoodoo or about how the League was created. The facts about the League were evenly spread out throughout the story, not all clumped up in one very long chapter. This kept me interested and wanting to know more. Unfortunately, this was my favorite part about the whole book. The plot was not as exciting as it could have been. 

Characters: The characters in this book are very unrealistic and that took away from my overall impression of the book. The characters just seemed bleak and hollow. Everything they did and said was like one big contradiction because it never made sense with what they had said and done previously. At the beginning of the book, Alex, the main character, is a pot smoking hippie. At first, she seemed unique and interesting, but then she randomly changes into a completely different person. This would have been fine, had it not happened after about 1 chapter and had it been the only time her personality or thoughts changed, but it seemed to happen often. Instead of growing and becoming wiser, Alex just got shallower and less interesting.

Cover: I think the cover is super cute. It almost has an Alice in Wonderland feel to it, or at least that’s what it reminded me of. I think it represents the mystery and enchantment of the Magnolia League well and that girl is a great Alex. 

Overall Impression: Despite being seriously flawed, I still think people will enjoy it. 
Rating:  * *

7 comments:

  1. Totally agree with your thoughts on Alex! I did really like Hayes and Madison though. I loved the hoodoo stuff too, so interesting to learn about.

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  2. I couldn't stand Alex, but I ended up rating this book as a 4 because I loved the other characters, the setting, and the hoodoo stuff. Great review!

    Andrea @ Reading Lark

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  3. How did you get an ARC from the publisher? That is awesome.

    Check out/follow my new blog at http://ya100words.blogspot.com/

    YA Lit Reviews in 100 words or Less and songs to ready by

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was actually convinced that The Magnolia League would be a fabulous read, but after reading your review I'm not sure anymore. I might put it off until I'm bored, and fix on less flawed novels first.

    I'm a new GFC follower btw! ;)
    Kind regards,
    I Heart Reading

    ReplyDelete
  5. Definitely appreciate the heads up on this book. I'm wary to read it now even though it got two **. I hope the author benefits from your review...sounds like the book needs a bit more tweaking. Thanks! You definitely have a new follower.

    http://sashandem.blogspot.com/

    -Em

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  6. I thought exactly the same thing about the cover when i got the book! However, i totally agree about the characters, Alex's transformation was unrealistic and i started to dislike her towards the end of the book.
    Now that i know that others agree with my opinion, i might put off reading the next book.
    Thanks for the truthful thoughts!
    Imo

    ReplyDelete

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