Book Review: Unearthly, Cynthia Hand

Reading Level:          Young Adult 

Hardcover:                 435 Pages 

Publisher:                  HarperTeen, Jan 4, 2011

Parasols:                    3 (more like 3.5, but can't make half a parasol!)

I went into this story not really knowing what it was about.  This copy that I read I took out from the library.  I started it and didn't really get into.  But I plugged through and I'm really glad I did.  Once the story moves out of California and into Jackson Hole, Wyoming, it really picks up.

Clara Gardner has a vision of a forest fire and she sees a guy that she thinks she must save.  You see when Clara was 14, she found out that she was part nephilim.  And she would have a purpose in her life.  When mom decides that is her purpose, off they move.

Live isn't easy at first at Jackson Hole, because of a taste of 'Glory', a certain side effect of being an angel, Clara must color her hair so that it doesn't give her away.  So of course she gets this horrible orange color and she must deal with the looks of being the freak with orange hair.

Clara meets the guy she's supposed to save and of course he's gorgeous, funny, suave and has a hot girlfriend.  The first day at school, one look at Christian (guy who needs saving) and she does what most girls do--faints.  Luckily she meets a friendly girl, Wendy who soon becomes a bestie.  However, it's Wendy's brother, Tucker who she seems to bristle at every time he is around.

I liked this book, once I got past some sloggy parts (the backstory of Clara finding out about being an angel, learning to fly, etc.  Basically all the stuff with her mom.  I just couldn't 'get' the mother.  Christian seemed decent.  He was affable, enjoyed his time with Clara, but something just nagged at me.

However, Tucker.  What can I say about Tucker.  I adored him.  He was well fleshed out and I just liked his relationship with Clara.  Wendy really summed it up well.  I'm paraphrasing, but when Wendy compared Tucker liking Clara like a first-grader hitting a girl because he liked her, I knew that Tucker was amazing.  Even more amazing.  Clara's birthday present.  I won't give it away, but yeah, the best birthday present every.

Another friend of Clara is the quiet and intense Angela.  There is something up with her, but I can't quite put my finger on it.  Perhaps we'll get more information in the second book.  

Towards the end, everything just happened so fast and I couldn't make heads or tails out of what was going on and what was to happen.  I felt like it all went in a blur.  And the ending really just had me going 'meh'.  I'm totally invested in this series because I liked Tucker so much.  Still don't know much about Christian, and the purpose that Clara had wasn't really fully explained.  I hope that we get more information in the next book, but I really think Christian's uncle will play a role.

Wendy is the voice of reason in this story and I think we need to listen to what she has to say.  So far, she's been right.