The Cadence

Gr 8 Up—Emma and her foster brothers have abilities that heighten one of their senses. When a mysterious new boy at school seems drawn to Emma, she certainly doesn't expect him to know about her family and their gifts. But he does know, and even more intriguing, he tells her that there will eventually be six of them and they will be drawn from California to the Elan Valley in Wales for The Gathering. There they will come into their fullest power and an evil group called The Cadence will try to drain their magic. This book had great possibilities, but several factors stand in the way for readers. The first page of acknowledgments begins with an effusive Christian thanksgiving, which sets up expectations for a religiously themed book. Two of the main characters being named King and Pastor further set the stage for a Christian allegory that never materializes. The other factor hindering momentum is the large number of characters introduced through the backstory. In spite of these stumbling blocks, the new twist on extranormal powers and world-building emerge into a fairly solid paranormal novel. Fans of the genre will be able to overlook the faults and focus on the freshness of the characters' voices.—Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA