HarperTeen. 2007.
ISBN: 9780061214677
$8.99. Paperback. 352 pages.
Readers Annotation
Aislinn has always been able to see faeries, and now they taking notice of her.
Plot Summary
Aislinn, a seventeen-year-old Catholic schoolgirl has always been able to see faeries. Her grandmother has warned her to be careful not to acknowledge their presence or the consequences will be dire. Everything is fine until she catches the eye of the faery Summer King, Keenan. As he begins a game of seduction to lure Aislinn into becoming his Summer Queen, the Winter Queen (his mother ) plots to stop him. While the Winter Queen rules faery, winter continues to become longer and colder. The coming of the Summer Queen is destined to restore order to faery. Aislinn’s best friend Seth worries that he will lose her to Keenan. His fears are justified when Aislinn drinks the summer wine and dances in faery all night. Aislinn doesn’t know that the transformation to become the Summer Queen is already taking place. When she discovers that she is changing she runs to her safe harbor – Seth’s boxcar home. There she realizes that it is Seth’s love she craves and not Keenan’s. To save faery she agrees to become the Summer Queen in name only so that she and Seth can remain together as lovers. This is book one of series.
Critical Evaluation
Marr’s novel is in keeping with the current trend of urban faery stories. Like Holly Black, Marr has created a faery world that exists side-by-side with our own. In both world’s there are only a few that have the gift of sight, and for them the world is far more dangerous place. However, Marr’s novel is not as gritty as the books by Black. While Wicked Lovely has some interesting difference, like Aislinn’s ability to choose which world she will inhabit, it lacks the danger prevalent in Black’s work. Marr tells us that faery is dangerous, but Black shows us it really is. Marr practically skips over the politics of the faery court. Instead, her story is more focused on the relationship between the Summer and Winter courts as parent and child. Marr’s story rambles around a bit, and seems a bit long. After reading both novels I think I could recommend both but for different reasons. If want more drama and violence you should read Holly Black’s Tithe, but if you want a love story, you should read Wicked Lovely.
Information about the author
At this writing Marr’s website is under reconstruction. Some pages are accessible but the home page is not. Instead you can look here for information about Melissa: http://www.harperteen.com/contests/wickedlovely/
Genre
Fantasy, Urban faery mythology
Curriculum ties
None
Challenge Issues
Sexual situations
Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_4_13?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=wicked+lovely+by+melissa+marr&sprefix=wicked+lovely
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss how Aislinn can see faeries.
2. Discuss her relationships with Keenan and Set.
Reading Level/Age
Young adult, ages 15 and up.
Why I included this title
The book was recommended at Hickelbee’s books, and I enjoy the genre.
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