The Elementals

March 21, 2014 Book Review 0

Series: The Vespertine, book three

The Elementals

Author: Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Pages: 304
Series: The Elementals, book three
Source: Purchased

About the Book: Kate Witherspoon has lived a bohemian life with her artist parents. In 1917, the new art form of the motion picture is changing entertainment—and Kate is determined to become a director.

Meanwhile, midwestern farm boy Julian Birch has inherited the wanderlust that fueled his parents’ adventures. A childhood bout with polio has left him crippled, but he refuses to let his disability define him.

Strangers driven by a shared vision, Kate and Julian set out separately for Los Angeles, the city of dreams. There, they each struggle to find their independence. When they finally meet, the teenage runaways realize their true magical legacy: the ability to triumph over death, and over time. But as their powerful parents before them learned, all magic comes with a price.

My Thoughts: First things first, I am such a fan of Saundra Mitchell’s books. The first two books in this series (The Vespertine and The Springsweet) are some of my very favorites. The Elementals finishes the series in the same lyrical vein that I so loved in the first two books. 

The first two books take place in fairly quick succession. The Elementals is set years later. It follows the children of the main characters from the previous books. SECOND GENERATION BOOKISH CHARACTERS!! I loved this so much! I got to see the characters I so loved from the first two books as adults AND I got to meet a whole new set of characters. This is basically perfection for me!

And what interesting characters they were! Neither Julian nor Kate feel they fit into the life that their circumstances seem to dictate. They blaze their own trails and seek joy in ways that appeal to them (not necessarily how society would have them.) I loved this. It’s so great to see characters make the hard choices and embrace who they are. 

And then the ending!!! I’m not going to spoil it for you but let’s just say Saundra Mitchell isn’t afraid to go all out! I know other readers who weren’t too happy about it but I truly thought it fit with the characters and the story. I just love this author’s style!

Note: I was SUPER excited because on of the characters (a grumpy laundry owner!) is named after me!! How amazing is that?!? 

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