Series ~ The Magnolia League #1
Author ~ Katie Crouch
Release Date ~ May 3, 2011
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Poppy
Source ~ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley
GOODREADS SUMMARY
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.
REVIEW
The Magnolia League is a debutante society in Savannah, Georgia. Girls are born into the society because their mothers and grandmothers had been members. What outsiders don’t know, however, is that the Magnolias practice hoodoo. It is a magical sort of power that the Magnolias possess.
It all sounds great, but there’s more to the story.
Alex is first portrayed as a carefree, hippy-sort of California girl. Then her mother dies and she is sent to live with her grandmother in Savannah. Alex’s grandmother is old and stuffy. She is also the leader of the Magnolias and she teaches Alex all about casting spells.
Learning spells was one thing, but Alex changed in other ways too. She fell prey to caring way too much about what she looked like and whether her boyfriend, Thaddeus, was paying her enough attention. Thaddeus was a good guy and he didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I didn’t really care for the girl Alex became. Here's another little example. Alex and her Magnolia girlfriends use hoodoo on hummingbirds so they will eat the girls' food and the girls will stay skinny. Not good Alex, not good.
With that said, I did enjoy reading about the strong bond Alex shared with her mother. Even after her mother dies, Alex remembers the special times they shared together. I also liked that Alex was such a plant expert. She could name and grow all sorts of plants.
I loved Savannah and its sweet Southern charm. Katie Crouch does a nice job of bringing the world of old Victorian homes and fancy balls to life. I would hope that if I were living in that world of excess and tradition, I wouldn’t let it overtake me like Alex did.
RATING
3 So-So
COVER COMMENTS
My gosh it is beautiful. The leaves look like they are from a magnolia tree and Alex dressed in white looks like one of the magnolia flowers.
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