Raven

by Allison van Diepen

Overview

She wants him"¦.
Zin dances with fire in every step; speaks with a honey sweet voice; and sees with eyes that can peer into your soul. Nicole's friendship with him is the only thing that saves her from the boredom of school and the turmoil of her family life. It's no wonder why Nicole is madly in love with him. But she can't understand why he keeps her at a distance, even though she can feel his soul reaching out for hers.
Zin is like no man Nicole has ever met, and he carries with him a very old secret. When Nicole uncovers the truth, her love may be the only thing that can save him from it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416974680
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	02/09/2010
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	279
Product dimensions:	5.58(w) x 8.24(h) x 0.82(d)
Lexile:	HL550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Allison van Diepen is the author of Street Pharm, Snitch, Raven, and Takedown. She teaches at an alternative high school in Ottawa, Canada. Visit her at AllisonvanDiepen.com.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 8 Up

Nicole, a high school senior, falls in love with Zin the first time she sees him dance at a New York City club. But Zin is keeping a terrible secret, one that won't allow him to love her, or any mortal, for he is a Jiang Shi, one of a select few who have survived for centuries by absorbing the souls of the dying. So now Nicole must decide whether to be turned or to live out her mortal life. But immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be. And even the Jiang Shi have enemies. The romantic tension builds steadily as Nic's soulful relationship with Zin gains momentum and she is confronted with the startling realities of his existence. Peppered with sometimes strong language and vivid descriptions of the moves performed by the Toprocks (the break-dancing group to which she and Zin both belong), Nic's narration is believable, honest, and riveting. This darkly compelling read will find a niche with teens who like their fantasy well seasoned with the gritty reality of life, from the glitzy flash of the club scene to the darker, crueler side of survival on the streets.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

School Library Journal

This intriguing, philosophical urban fantasy nimbly juggles such weighty topics as addiction, immortality and faith while keeping the tone light. Though underage, Nicole has a new job at New York club Evermore, where Zin, the leader of her breakdancing crew, also toils as a bartender. Zin is a kindred spirit and one of the few people to whom Nicole has confided the truth about her brother's meth addiction and the destruction it has wreaked on her family. She is dubbed "Raven" by her boss, who eventually reveals to her that her association with the club and its staff is no accident. The growing mutual attraction between Zin and Nicole is satisfyingly drawn out and the dialogue-driven narrative is exceedingly readable. Some characters are more developed than others; Nicole's parents, for instance, are somewhat wooden, though their heartbreak is palpable and provides balance for the more fantastical elements of the plot. Particularly enjoyable are the details, from the ongoing literary nods to Poe's avian ode to the descriptions of breaking moves. Amid the glut of supernatural romances, this one is original and engrossing. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

Kirkus Reviews