The Raven Boys

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Published: Sept 2012
ISBN: 0545424925
Price: 18.99
Pages: 409
Other books in the series: The Dream Thieves (Sept 2013)
Genre: paranormal fiction, fantasy
Reading Level: 
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade
Awards: School Library Journal Best Book
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults
Plot Summary: Blue Sargant comes from a family of clairvoyants. Her mother and her aunts run a tarot card service out of their house in Virginia. Blue doesn't seem to have her families gift, though her presence some how makes it easier for her mom and her aunts to do their readings. Every year Blue goes with her mother to see the soon-to-be dead march and of course only Blue's mother sees them, never Blue, that is until this year. Somehow Blue is not only able to see one of the spirits but he talks to her as well. Who is this man that speaks to Blue and why was she able to see him? Blue starts to wonder if this could be the boy that her mother has foreseen that Blue will fall in love with and than ultimately kill with her kiss. All Blue knows is the spirits name is Gansey. Gansey is student at the prestigous Aglionby, a private school. She always said she she would stay away from the boys at that school, the Raven Boys. But it seems that the two are destined to meet. But how will Blue tell Gansey she saw his spirit and that he is to die in the next year? And what does all this have to do with Gansey's search for a dead Welsh king?
Review: Stiefvater does an amazing job building characters and developing a sense of place in her latest novel. She develops the multiple characters so well that they seem to come alive and feel as if they are really people. The story has an eerie and creepy feeling that only escalates as the story reaches it's climax. The story is a slow build, allowing for readers to become entranced with the characters, the story and the surroundings. Stiefvater points to the connection of Blue and Gansey early on but keeps readers waiting as she allows their stories to build and connect slowly. But when she does bring the story lines together she does so with great finess.  It's obvious as the story reaches conclusion that it is part of a series. While Stiefvater does provide some answers the story leaves on a bit of a cliffhanger with many questions unasked.
Reader's Annotation: Blue has never been able to see the soon-to-be-dead, unlike her mother. But this year Blue sees one of the spirits and it speaks to her. 
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story presents some interesting issues of death and knowing ones future. Blue struggles with whether to tell Gansey that she saw his spirit and is going to die. The story will push teens to wonder if they themselves would want to know about their own death in advance. Adam struggles with domestic violence and poverty. There is Ronan who is dealing with the death of his father and struggling with school. And there is also Gansey who despite his wealth struggles with his perceived reputation. These personal struggles are things that teens can relate to and understand.
Issues: The book deals with magic, witchcraft, tarot cards, ghosts and other parts of the occult. Blue's mother and aunts read tarot cards and are able to see the future. Blue's one aunt also does different Wiccan practices. There is also Noah who was murdered by his friend. Adam, is a victim of abuse from his father. And Ronan is often drinking and belligerent. 
Book Talk Ideas: The story revolves heavily in myth, magic and legend. Gansey on the hunt for a dead Welsh king. I think focusing on the magical and myth aspect of the story is the best way to book talk. Perhaps using tarot cards to represent different aspect of the story.
Main Themes: love, death, magic, myth,
Read-alikes: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey, Unraveled by Gena Showalter
Author Website: http://maggiestiefvater.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why this book was chosen: Maggie Stiefvater is a writer who is growing in popularity due to her great characters and her amazing sense of place. The book has huge appeal for fantasy fans because of its combination of magic, legend and romance. The book has received a lot of critical acclaim is sure to be a popular sereis with teens.