Books*Reviews*Etc: ANNA by Meghan Riley

ANNA

The Starseed Series

Book One

Meghan Riley

Series: The Starseed Series
Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 29, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1484126505
ISBN-13: 978-1484126509

SUMMARY

(from Amazon)

To the outside world, Anna appears to be an ordinary high school senior. But readers will quickly learn that she is anything but in Meghan Riley’s fantastical debut novel, Anna. This fast-paced tale full of supernatural experiences, romance, and half-answered truths expertly blends science fiction with young adult appeal. Anna has a lot of questions. Should she pursue her desire to leave home for college and live out her dream of becoming a physicist? Or should she stay home and help care for her family, which has struggled ever since her father died in Afghanistan? Is her crush, Steve, really interested in her, or is he only using the highly intelligent Anna to try and boost his grades in school? These questions, plus the ordinary trials and tribulations of high school, distract Anna from noticing some very…strange things that are beginning to happen to her. For as long as Anna can remember, she has had a haphazard smattering of freckles on her arm. But these freckles are starting to change, and cause a series of unnerving hallucinations and odd side effects that only Anna seems to notice. When a strange shadow man starts to haunt her nights, she decides to go on a hunt for the truth to discover, once and for all, what is happening to her. The hallucinations continue growing stronger, however, and each new visit by the shadow man appears to become more and more threatening. Eventually, Anna realizes that she can no longer hide from her friends and family what is happening to her. But as she shares her secret with those closest to her, Anna never imagines that her very life, and the lives of those she loves, will be put in jeopardy. Progressing toward the novel’s stunning conclusion, audiences will be left breathless as the ultimate question reveals itself: who—or what—is Anna?

AUTHOR

Meghan Riley graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland and immediately pursued her lifelong passion for the written word. Her debut novel, Anna, presented itself as a way for Riley to inspire teenage girls to expand their interests beyond the typical teenage quandaries, ultimately encouraging females toward an interest in science. She is currently hard at work on the sequel to Anna. Riley currently lives in North Carolina with her significant other, her mother, two clingy cats, and an opinionated dog.

REVIEW

The author has written a wonderful story for teens. The main character, Anna, a senior in high school who lives the normal teenager life but has some rather difficult decisions to make. Anna has some markings or spots on her arm that look like the constellation of the stars. This is where the suspense and mystery start. Anna went through all the everyday things every teenager goes through. Girlfriends, boyfriends, the popular kids that weren't really all that nice. She had younger brothers that were real annoying. Any teenage girl with younger or even older brothers knows how that feels. The background for the story was done through a narrative. The book was so well written that it flowed at the right pace. It wasn't too fast nor too slow. It allowed the reader to take in what was going on and not allow the reader to become confused.

The author keeps your interest throughout the book, leaving answers about Anna until the end. You can't wait until the end when you find out about Anna and if Steve likes Anna or not and will you learn about the "Shadow Man"? or will that be in the next book.? I believe the book would be interesting for teenagers, pre-teen and adults. The interest would probably linger for teenagers since it shows some of what their lives are like. Hopefully there will be another book after this one.

I received a complimentary copy of ANNA from the author, Meghan Riley for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.

I would give this book 4 STARS.