Halo »

Now seventeen, Alexandra Adornetto was fourteen when she published her first book, The Shadow Thief, in Australia. The daughter of two English teachers, she admits to being a compulsive book buyer who has run out of shelf space, and now stacks her reading “in wobbly piles on my bedroom floor.” Alex lives in Melbourne, Australia; Halo marks her U.S. debut.

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Is love a great enough power against evil?

Publishers Weekly

Junior angel Bethany, “created only seventeen mortal years ago,” has accompanied senior angels Gabriel and Ivy on a mission to Earth, the exact nature of which is yet to be seen. While awaiting events, Bethany attends high school and quickly acquires a best friend and a boyfriend, though she knows she ought to remain focused on her angelic mission. Much of the book details Bethany and Xavier’s travails as their Romeo and Juliet relationship develops; it is not until the end that Agents of Darkness make an appearance that will, presumably, feature more prominently in the rest of the planned trilogy. Teenage author Adornetto’s U.S. debut shows an impressive command of language; while there are some holes in her world-building (Bethany’s knowledge of earthly things is all over the place--she knows what a Peter Pan collar is, yet is ignorant of seatbelts), they aren’t likely to bother the target audience much. The fantasy is sweet and enjoyable, if theologically superficial, but the white and Catholic character of both Heaven and Earth may alienate some readers who don’t fit the assumed demographic. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)