The Clearing

March 22, 2010
For her senior year, Amy decides to move from Seattle to a tiny town in the North Cascades to live in her great-aunt Mae's trailer. Her goal is to escape her self-involved mother and stepfather, shallow circle of friends, and abusive boyfriend. “I needed to be somewhere different. Maybe I needed to be someone different, too,” she muses. Fitting in at her new school is a struggle because of her defensiveness; in low spirits, she is drawn to a foggy clearing near Mae's home, which leads to Henry Brigg's family farm—in the summer of 1944. Henry, who lives with his grandfather and frail mother, is a gentleman and the opposite of the boys Amy's been damaged by in the past. Alternating between Amy and Henry's intersecting stories, Davis's (Never Cry Werewolf
) second novel has a quiet power; the time travel element gives the story the feel of an old-fashioned romance, with a tinge of melodrama. The tale takes some unexpected turns, providing insights into healing and the weight of destiny along the way. Ages 14–up.

May 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Desiring a fresh start, away from an abusive boyfriend, Seattle teen Amy moves to Great-aunt Mae's mobile home in the North Cascade Mountains. There, she discovers a mist-laden clearing promising further escape. Penetrating this seemingly permanent haze, Amy meets and falls in love with Henry Briggs, a World War II teen existing in an endless summer with his mother and grandfather. One terrible night in 1944, fueled by grief and fear, Henry prayed for a miracle and jump-started a summer that never changeduntil Amy came along. Stumbling, learning, and healing along the way, a braver Amy, thanks to Henry, Mae, and two new friends, decides to move forward. Taking her cue, Henry is finally able to step toward his own unpredictable future. But what will the future mean for their love? Despite familiar elements, this tender, supernatural romance isn't "Twilight" (Little, Brown, 2005). It's a compact tale about embracing the future and the life-altering capabilities of love. Henry isn't perfect, but he's genuine, perceptive, and non-domineering. Aunt Mae is an attentive guardian. And Amy is a well-developed protagonist, simultaneously vulnerable and strong, occasionally self-centered, realistically guarded. Chapters alternating between Amy's and Henry's points of view offer a nicely paced plot. While the ending might not be what some readers hope for, it's still satisfying."Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2010
Grades 8-11 Escaping a destructive relationship with Matt, Amy has moved to her aunt Maes trailer for her senior year. She finds herself drawn to a dense, ever-present fog in the clearing near the trailer; the mist is a time barrier, and on the other side is 18-year-old Henry Briggs, a farmhouse, and his family, all endlessly reliving the summer of 1944, before a tragedy struck. The star-crossed romance between Amy and Henry is tender and will have special appeal for female fans of the romance in the Twilight books or Judy Blundells What I Saw and How I Lied (2008). Although the plot can be hard to swallow at times, the vivid setting creates a believable otherworldliness. Some dialogue is forced, but alternating chapters between Amys first-person voice and Henrys third-person perspective create momentum to move the story forward. Henrys dilemma is especially poignant, and a completely unexpected ending shows that Davis is capable of creating a riveting read that lingers long after the story ends.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)