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Book Review By Debbie
Sanctuary by Jenny Carroll

Jessica "Jess" Mastriani was never what anyone would call a normal girl, but ever since she was hit by lightning, she can find anyone if she sees a picture of them. Since getting this new talent, Jess' life was made miserable by the media and the military, so Jess pretended that she can't find anyone anymore and so is officially without powers. However, there are a few people that know she can find people and most of the people in town, as well as the FBI, are pretty sure that she is faking.

So when Dr. Thompkins, the new African American doctor who just moved in across the street, swings by on Thanksgiving to ask Jess if she knows where Nate, his son is, Jess tries to explain that she doesn't do that anymore. Turns out that Dr. Thompkins has no idea what Jess can do and was just trying to find out if she had seen Nate, as in with her eyes while awake. Anyway, Jess is way too busy trying to sneak out of the house and over to Rob's house for her second Thanksgiving dinner to worry about where Nate is, until she is on her way home. While Rob follows her on his motorcycle, Jess is stopped by a roadblock on the road and immediately assumes it is because she doesn't have a driver's license. Okay, Jess is way old enough to drive and is a totally safe driver, she just likes to go a little fast. I mean, how bad is it to be going 80 in a 25 mph zone? Anyway, Jess soon finds out that the reason for the roadblock is they found Nate's body in a cornfield with a weird snake like tattoo carved on his chest. Unluckily for Jess, Dr. Krantz, a special agent who is in charge of an elite team of "specially-gifted" crime solvers is on the scene to once again question if Jess has really lost her talents.

Jess feels guilty about not being able to save Nate and she knows when Seth, a Jewish boy, is missing and the synagogue is set on fire that she has to do something. She dreams of Seth and knows where he is, calls in an anonymous tip, but doesn't tell the police that there are men with guns guarding Seth. One of the cops is in critical condition after being shot and Jess knows that it is her fault. She is determined to find Seth without getting anyone else involved - except for Rob, of course. Rob gets a bunch of bikers from Chick's Bar to join them on their insane quest to rescue Seth from a group of white supremacists who live out in the woods and Jess is off on another one of her wild adventures...

This is the 4th book in the "Lightning Girl" or 1-800-WHERE-R-U series and it is just as hilarious and entertaining as the first three. Of all of Cabot's/Carroll's series I would have to say that Jess is my favorite heroine and always makes me laugh while I am reading. She is very honest and just says what she is thinking or feeling and it is just so funny! Jess is always trying to get Rob to kiss her and to be her boyfriend, but he cannot date her because she is only 16 and he is 18 and on probation. The situations she gets Rob and herself into are very entertaining. I cannot recommend this series highly enough - all of the books by Cabot/Carroll are great, but this one is the best! I simply cannot wait for another book in this series - I really hope that she keeps writing more!


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - upbeat
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Kids: - solving crimes (scooby doooo!)
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Struggle over
Is this an adult or child's book? - Age 11-14
Age group of kid(s) in story: - high school

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen
Has magical powers? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
United States Yes
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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