Title: Sweetly
Author: Jackson Pearce
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Teen Fiction
Summary:
" As a child, Gretchen''s twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch''s forest threatening to make them disappear, too.
Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They''re invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.
Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn''t gone -- it''s lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak''s infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.
Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry." (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Sweetly-Jackson-Pearce/9780316068659-item.html?ikwid=sweetly&ikwsec=Home)
Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They''re invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.
Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn''t gone -- it''s lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak''s infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.
Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry." (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Sweetly-Jackson-Pearce/9780316068659-item.html?ikwid=sweetly&ikwsec=Home)
About the Author:
She seems to be a mystery...her bio page does not work on her website...
Review:
My first experience with Pearce was Sisters Red (she played around with Little Red Riding Hood.) I really enjoyed it and thought she had a creative mind, so when Sweetly came out I was pretty pumped. And I really enjoyed it. Based on the idea of Hansel and Gretel, but with a twist (of course.) Again, I had the thought that Pearce has a creative mind. I really hope she continues to write stories using the idea of different fairy tales because I really like it when authors use artistic license to change something that is so well known to society. I enjoyed the characters in this story and thought they played their part well. The setting was perfect (and was perfectly creepy in all the right places.) If you like books with a new twist on old things, I hope you will try Sweetly and Jackson Pearce in general. KEEP IT UP PEARCE, I WANT MORE!!!!! (I just found out when looking for some info to put on here that Pearce wrote a book called Fathomless and it will be release in September of this year. It is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid!!!!! To check it out go to: http://jackson-pearce.com/fathomless/)
Related Links:
Jackson Pearce Author Website http://jackson-pearce.com/sweetly/Chapters.ca http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Sweetly-Jackson-Pearce/9780316068659-item.html?ikwid=sweetly&ikwsec=Home
Amazon.ca http://www.amazon.ca/Sweetly-Jackson-Pearce/dp/0316068659/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334413889&sr=8-1
Carey Raven Star Robin Blog http://www.carobin.com/2012/03/15/sweetly-book-review/
