Strange Places
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A modern teen, raised in an orphanage learns that her family may still be alive – trapped in a world of magic. “Holy crap! This book freaking powns!” That’s what fans are saying about Jefferson Smith's debut fantasy novel. Spunky and irreverent, 13-year-old Tayna is every villain’s worst nightmare: an uncooperative victim who refuses to play by his rules. After living her entire life in a cruel orphanage, Tayna discovers that she may never have actually been an orphan in the first place and flees from nunnish captivity to search for her real family. But time is running out and she has two entire worlds to search: one filled with shopping malls and televisions, and another filled with Brownies, Djin and magic!
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Strange Places is the first book in a series following the adventures of Tayna, a young girl who lives in an orphanage run by some pretty nasty nuns. Tayna soon discovers that she might not actually be much of an orphan and that her parents might live in another world all together.
I didn't quite know what to expect from Strange Places. I picked it up on a whim at an Entertainment Expo. I had planned to take a break from YA for a little bit but I figured I'd read this book first and I am really glad that I did! Strange Places isn't the most original of stories it has some pretty standard elements to it, but Smith's writing is fresh and it's also funny. His characters are well written and very likable. They're flawed and interesting and you really do feel for all of them.
Despite being a YA novel, I feel like Strange Places is appealing to a wide range of ages. It also avoids insta-love, TDTL heroines and boring villains. AND it features something that is seriously missing in a lot of YA novels. Normal friendships. I really loved the relationship between Tayna and Lies. They're clever and funny and they have each others back and they don't fight over attention from boys...which brings me to another bonus. This book has no stupid love triangles! Tayna also manages to develop a friendship with a few others characters and it is really, really refreshing.
I can't wait until the second book comes out. There was so much going on by the end of Strange Places and I can't wait to find out more. I really, really hope that Lies and Tayna manage to meet up again. I enjoy how they play off each other.
I definitely recommend picking this book up, it's a really fun read.