Felipe Martinez Martinez من عند Kundail Dhala, Uttar Pradesh 221715، الهند من عند Kundail Dhala, Uttar Pradesh 221715، الهند

This book really surprised me. I thought it was going to be cliched and trite but, it was well-written and thought provoking. The characters are relatable without being overdone, the plot line keeps you guessing until the very end and Charles de Lint has one of the most amazing imaginations I've ever had the fortune to read. The characters are Imogene, Maxine, Jared, Adrian and Pelly. Imogene is imaginative, mature and has a haunted past. You really don't learn too much of it until later in the book but she was in gangs, lost her virginity at 13, stole and a ton of other things that make her new, more law-abiding self, feel bad about the past. Maxine is mature, smart and yearns to be independent. She keeps to herself and dresses the way her mom wants her to until she meets Imogene and Imogene helps her cultivate a new, more expressive style. Imogene's brother, Jared, is loyal, protective and down to earth. He doesn't like when people mess with his sister or those he cares about. Adrian, is the ghost boy of Imogene and Maxine's school. He is (and was always) very lonely. He was tortured as a student there a few years prior to the girls and he still is, just by newer, subtler "people". And then there's Pelly. Pelly is Imogene's old imaginary friend and he turns out to be a real creature and reappears to help her deal with some very "dark" problems. The plot line is really easy to follow without being predictable. Though, it is very anticilmactic. I was expecting a large battle at the end or someone dying but, she just throws freaking blue paint and then doesn't stab them!?!? So heart-breakingly dull.

Finished it in less then 24 hours! Loved it! Can not wait for the next book! Charley never fails to entertain... A pure delight to read. :)