Stork Review

Sixteen-year-old Katla has just moved from Los Angeles to the sticks of Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, she learns to her horror that she’s a member of an ancient order of women who decide to whom certain babies will be born. Add to that Wade, the arrogant football star whom Katla regrettably fooled around with, and Jack, a gorgeous farm boy who initially seems to hate her.
Soon Katla is having freaky dreams about a crying infant and learns that, as children, she and Jack shared a near-fatal, possibly mystical experience. Can Katla survive this major life makeover and find a dress for the homecoming dance?
Taken from GoodReads.

Stork follows the story of Katla LeBlanc, a hip California teen forced to relocate to the suburbs of a dreary (or so she thinks) town in Minnesota. She's an outsider because of her love of fashion, her trendy lifestyle, and her desperate desire to escape the frigid winters and hick-town lifestyle. After finding herself on the outs with the local teens, Katla discovers she's a part of an ancient society called the Icelandic Stork Society, and it's her duty, destiny, and ability to place unborn children with the right parents. As if that wasn't enough responsibility, Katla finds herself strangely drawn to Jack, the star quarterback. Can she hold onto her sanity and find her place in the tiny town that's become her home?

All I can say about Stork is wow! I love reading books that surprise me in a good way and satiate my appetite for a new type of paranormal story. Stork is the author, Wendy Delsol's, debut novel, and it's one heck of a debut! Ripe with detail and alive with lore and mythology, Stork throws a curveball at the paranormal stories on the market today. It's a completely original idea that somehow twists into a story I just couldn't put down.

One of the things I loved about Stork was the fact that Katla was such a relatable protagonist. Her witty and sarcastic demeanor made her an approachable MC. I found myself laughing out loud at her responses to situations more than once. Furthermore, I found that while Stork was very character-driven (even the secondary characters played significant roles), the plot was fresh, unique, and though perhaps far-fetched at times, it was definitely one of those "please-don't-make-me-stop-reading" books. The one gripe I have about Stork is that a lot of questions were posed, but I felt not all of them fully tied up those loose ends. I'm hoping the eventual sequel (pretty please?) will sort those unanswered questions out.

This book is a definite 4.5 out of 5, and I am so glad to be out of the rut of not-so-great books. I would recommend Stork to all fans of YA fiction, paranormal, and romance because it has a little bit of something for absolutely everyone. Though this title has not yet released, I highly recommend buying it when it hits the market on October 12, 2010.

I received this advanced reader's copy free of charge from the publisher, Candlewick Press, in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.