Rebel Belle

April 14, 2014
Harper is a popular overachiever with the perfect boyfriend, Ryan; she's driven by a need to prove she's not like her sister, who died driving after drinking on Homecoming night. Right before Harper is inevitably crowned Homecoming queen, the dying school janitor breathes an ancient power into her, making Harper a Paladin, protector of the oracle who happens to be David, her archenemy since kindergarten. Harper's priorities quickly shift from maintaining her image to using her new fighting skills to keep nefarious forces from closing in on David. It all culminates at Cotillion, a formal ball where girls are presented and officially recognized as women. Harper's sharp wit and slow coming-to-terms with her imperfections make her fully relatable in a solid series kickoff. Hawkins (the Hex Hall series) strikes a pleasing balance between humor and drama, giving the "chosen one" narrative a welcome dusting of irony and a glowing Southern setting. The Ryan-Harper-David love triangle sizzles, and there are just enough surprises to keep readers on their toes. Ages 12âup. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.

February 1, 2014
This paranormal chick-lit comedy finds a queen-bee high school girl from Alabama gaining superpowers that require her to protect the boy she's disliked all her life. There's no accounting for the title, which has virtually nothing to do with the book's content, but laughs will be flying as fast as ninja kicks when the too-good-to-be-true student-body president, head cheerleader and 4.0 student with the Perfect Boyfriend finds herself transformed into a Paladin in the bathroom while waiting for the announcement that will crown her homecoming queen. Seventeen-year-old Harper just wants to get into a great college, marry longtime boyfriend Ryan and become the second female governor of Alabama. So being attacked by her scimitar-wielding history teacher comes as a surprise, but suddenly she can fight back with style. Now, though, she finds herself compelled to protect David--superdork, her rival for valedictorian and the bane of her existence since kindergarten. Worse, she must protect him to the death, an event that may occur, as the dreaded Ephors, guardians of the oracles, do not want a male oracle. Alas, David is that oracle. As the two spar, however, they also find themselves attracted to each other, a condition Harper strongly opposes. Comedy ensues. The story itself stands up as decent paranormal suspense, but it's the snarky humor that gives it legs. Plenty of merriment, even for Yankees. (Paranormal comedy. 12-16)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-Harper Price is not your typical Southern belle. When the ancient powers of a Paladin are passed on to her during Homecoming, her life changes instantly. According to the legend of Charlemagne, a Paladin is a guardian charged with protecting a particular being. In Harper's case, this being is none other than her sworn enemy, David Stark. As her new abilities grow, they threaten to ruin her relationships with her parents, her boyfriend, and her best friend. Armed with the advice of those who have lived with this responsibility, along with the best knowledge the Internet has to offer, Harper faces her uncertain future with her pearls and agility skills at the ready, prepared for whatever adventure may lie ahead. With Rebel Belle, Hawkins provides a soft place for readers of her "Hex Hall" series (Hyperion) to land. Rife with legendary beings and their accumulated lore, the novel presents a worthwhile heroine in Harper Price. Overscheduled and overly responsible, she is a familiar character to teens, and by the end of the book, Hawkins convinces them that she may be the perfect recipient of the power of a Paladin.-Colleen S. Banick, Westport Public Schools, CT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Grades 8-11 As if superachiever Harper does not have enough on her plate, she finds herself at the center of a murderous paranormal plotand during the homecoming dance, no less. Turns out Harper is a Paladin, a legendary character bound to protect the Oracle, an all-powerful visionary who can foresee the future. When the Oracle turns out to be her geeky and annoying classmate David Stark, well, that's a sign that most folks are not who they seem to be in this fantasy romp. The southern private-school milieu, which plays out like a snappy satire on college-prep activities and the all-important cotillion ritual, is juxtaposed with darkly fantastical forces to provide humor and spunk, enlivening the story and recalling Hawkins' Hex Hall titles. That Harper also lives in the shadow of her deceased older sister adds a layer of emotional complexity. Mainly, though, the romance, coming-of-age aspects, and a well-drawn heroine with a crackling wit will lure in readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Harper loses her position as her high school's queen bee when she is unexpectedly imbued with superpowers and their attendant responsibilities. As the traditional Cotillion debut and her supernatural showdown approach, her love life also collapses. A stereotyped Southern setting along with a deep debt to Buffy the Vampire Slayer limit the novel's originality, but the girl-power motifs provide plenty of action.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)