Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: YA Paranormal
Pages: 293
How I Read It: ARC received from the publisher – The views expressed in my review are mine alone and I have received no compensation for these opinions.
Synopsis: When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn’t until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed – a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy’s not sure she wants to be a part of it.
My Review: Wendy doesn’t really fit in anywhere – she’s been kicked out of schools, doesn’t make friends, hates all kinds of food. And then she discovers she can get people to do what she wants if she focuses hard enough. When other strange things start to happen around her, Wendy starts trusting the new kid, Finn, and heads out on a journey that will undoubtedly change her life.
This was a fast read for me, I finished it in the span of a few hours, and it was an entertaining, nice escape read for an afternoon. Although the book follows a somewhat predictable plot, one that I think we’re all somewhat familiar with lately with YA books, but it’s still enjoyable and slightly different in that the paranormal beings are, in fact, trolls. I also liked that while there was some romance, it wasn’t nearly so explicit as it can be in other series, and I’m a fan of YA novels actually being somewhat age appropriate.
That all being said, I didn’t love the book, and it was merely entertaining for me instead of being something that really meant something and was loveable. I think it’ll be a great read for the target audience, but something was just missing for me and I can’t really put my finger on what it is. The plot was reasonably exciting, the boys seemed cute, I guess I just didn’t really connect with it somehow.
However, the book did leave me curious enough to want to read the rest of the series. We end this one not knowing what’s going to happen in the troll world, or really to Wendy herself and the people she really cares about. Will she go on to fulfill her destiny? Stay with the family she loves? Or find some way to merge the two worlds? Only time will tell!
Read this book if: I think most younger fans of current YA lit will like this one. And quite a few adult fans as well.
My Rating: 3/5 – Two thumbs up, fine holiday fun!
