the cardigan librarian

The Hallowed Ones, by Laura Bickle

[The Hallowed Ones, Laura Bickle (2012)]

Scenario: Amish girl Katie’s life starts getting unpredictable when a helicopter falls from the sky with something sinister trapped within. As viewed from her safe haven, the outside world that once so seduced her begins to fall apart.

Pros: 

• The setting is an interesting choice for a post-apocalyptic tale, as you get a sort of creeping dread reading Katie’s account. Her community is so isolated that the Amish only gradually realize the severity of the crisis.
• Written by a librarian!

Cons:

• I don’t think the voice works well. It’s a tricky tone to tackle, and volleys between what felt too colloquial for an Amish girl (would she say “butt”?) and too stilted for a teen. I wonder if third person might have been a better narrative choice.
• Love triangle, with everyone recovering from his or her heartbreak pretty darn quick.
• I didn’t find the scary all that scary. (And this from the easily scared.)
• Setting up for a sneak sequel.

Bottom Line: Might be an OK choice for younger teens, Twilight fans, and a few select others, but not something I’ll be pushing in the hands of everyone I come across.