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Flinn, Alex
13 Reviews
(3)
YA
Four very different teenage girls go from strangers to unlikely friends while sharing a summer home in the Adirondacks. In chapters that alternate between their perspectives, each girl also faces an individual challenge, such as dealing with a chronic illness or a public family drama. A vivid setting, light tone, and distinct characterization will appeal to fans of Ann Brashares.
Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald
(4)
YA
Famous fairy tales, including "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Rumpelstiltskin," take unexpected turns when the charming immortal witch Kendra recounts her version of how events really unfolded. Flinn's novel is episodic, and the frame story about Kendra's own centuries-spanning search for a lost love never gathers much steam. Nevertheless, fans of fairy tales with strong heroines will appreciate these revisions of familiar plots.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
Flinn's contemporary spin on "Snow White" opens with a sympathetic backstory for the evil stepmother: Violet was a bullied ugly girl. The fairy tale then shifts to present-day, fairest-of-them-all Celine, who discovers her stepmom Violet wants her dead. Goose, a little person, provides a hideaway--and a prince. Character development is uneven, but the shifting narrators conceit works well here.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(2)
YA
In this dark take on "Rapunzel," Rachel, who possesses healing tears and rapidly growing hair, has been trapped in a tower for most of her life. When she meets Wyatt, they fall in love. Romantic and atmospheric, the novel effectively contrasts Wyatt's modern-day narration with Rachel's old-fashioned voice; it's rewarding to follow Rachel's growth into a courageous, take-charge protagonist.
Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2013
(2)
YA
Flinn re-imagines four fairy tales, connected through Kendra, the witch from Beastly. The traditional tales are faithfully transposed into believable new frameworks; most compelling is the story about modern-day Emma and her stepfather's daughter, beautiful and kind Lisette. Flinn skillfully keeps sympathy with Emma, making readers cheer for her, not Cinderella stand-in Lisette, to rock the ball and get the guy. A historical note is included.
Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2012
(3)
YA
A frog prince, enchanted swans, spell-casting witches, a magical cloak--all are quite real, seventeen-year-old Johnny learns after agreeing to find a princess's brother in modern-day Miami. Flinn's interlacing of tales ("The Elves and the Shoemaker," "The Six Swans," "The Frog Prince," to name a few) makes for entertaining reading; fairy-tale fans will be gratified by the true-love-was-there-all-along ending.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(2)
YA
In this frothy, fun-filled update of "Sleeping Beauty," Princess Talia is awakened by Jack, a Florida teen--then demands he take her home with him. While navigating the modern world, Talia turns Jack's life upside down. Flinn builds a credible romance around two vastly different (and highly entertaining) characters, injecting a little magic and chivalry into her light exploration of love and fate.
Reviewer: Claire E. Gross
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2009
(3)
YA
In this retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," Kyle, a cruel, arrogant rich kid, is cursed by a witch to live as a beast until he proves he has learned his lesson. The characters aren't quite interesting enough to make the love story sing, but Flinn's adaptation cleverly incorporates modern twists while retaining the integrity of the traditional tale.
Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor
(4)
YA
After ending her relationship with the abusive Nick (Breathing Underwater), Caitlin auditions for and transfers to the Miami High School of the Arts. The treatment of Caitlin's opera ambitions, her encounters with Nick, and problems with her mother are superficial, and the tone in her "online journal" excerpts is too vapid to be convincing. Fans of semi-serious chicklit will, however, enjoy this.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
(3)
YA
A hate crime is perpetrated against HIV-positive Latino high-schooler Alex, and a roving point of view provides three different perspectives on the events that led up to it. The voices of the three narrators--the racist suspect, the developmentally disabled witness, and the victim--are sturdy and distinct, and the characters' internal debates are compelling.
Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman
(2)
YA
Last year teenage Michael lived in Miami with his mother and abusive stepfather, Walker. This year he's a runaway--traveling with a carnival while his mother stands accused of murdering Walker. When the carnival returns to Miami, Michael is torn between remaining anonymous and telling the authorities what he knows about Walker's murder. The plot contains enough twists and turns to keep readers riveted.
Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2004
(4)
YA
Desperate to be accepted at his new private high school, Paul falls under the influence of a popular but troubled classmate, who convinces him to plant a bomb at school. This disturbing novel looks at many areas of culpability, including what responsibility adults and other students bear for Paul's actions. While the characters are drawn with fairly broad strokes, this is a compelling look at a complex issue.
Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth
(4)
YA
Attending a court-ordered family violence program after hitting his girlfriend, Nick recalls, through journal entries, how his escalating need for control ruined his relationship with Caitlin. Nick's excessively macho narrative is better at capturing the smaller moments of verbal cruelty than the more outsized scenes of rage. The tone is sometimes heavy-handed, but presenting the story from the perspective of the abuser is intriguing.
Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta
13 reviews
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