| Jacob Lane has always been different. First of all, her parents named her Jacob, so everyone thinks she is a boy until they meet her. Then there is her best friend, Emma, who is a ghost and was murdered and buried under the apple tree years ago. She also leaves food out for the fairies who live behind her house. Jacob doesn't know why Emma woke her up in the middle of the night, but she can tell that something is wrong and so Jacob follows Emma to hide underneath her apple tree. The next morning, when she returns home, it is to a house full of aunts, uncles and other family members that Jacob didn't even know existed. The roof of her house is missing - and so are her parents...
Stunned by the news that her parents are dead, Jacob doesn't know what to do. It seems that the only logical solution is to go to Darkbrook, a boarding school for witches and wizards in training that the Lanes have been attending for centuries. Jacob, at only 10 years of age, is the youngest student ever to attend Darkbrook and she has no idea what to expect. Luckily, she makes friends with the mysterious Ophelia, who helps Jacob learn the ropes and settle into the school's routine. But Darkbrook quickly becomes a kind of trap as Jacob discovers that 9 students have dies in the past 100 years - one every 10 years and that another student is set to die soon. Jacob knows that she has to do something to stop the wicked Clara from stealing another student's powers, but all she knows how to do is talk to ghosts - how can that possibly help her! When Jacob encounters Ash, Clara's first victim, in the school's tower, she discovers that talking to ghosts can be the perfect power to have to defeat an evil witch! | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book - very upbeat FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Inner Struggle Yes Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 20 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - a kid If magical mental powers: - can cast many different spells Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - long-lived adults Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can change shapes - mind control - can cast all sorts of spells How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Earth setting: - 20th century Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
||