Devilish

Publishers Weekly

Johnson's (13 Little Blue Envelopes) offbeat book mixes humor and drama, with uneven results. When her best friend, Allison, trades her soul for beauty and confidence, brilliant, feisty Jane must confront the demon to get it back. Jane even puts her own soul on the line by making a bet. At first Jane, who narrates, thinks new transfer student Lanalee is just toying with her misfit friend, but after Jane makes her own contract with the teen demon (she has to get her ex-boyfriend to kiss her before midnight on Halloween) the heroine discovers what a real risk she's taken. She must call upon her friends, as well as the "demon hunter," Brother Frank, from her school's faculty and her own strength to beat Lanalee and save her soul. There are memorable moments throughout the book, such as Jane's "official contract with a representative of the Satanic High Command" appearing written in flames in her textbook, and Brother Frank telling her, "Many large corporations are actually modeled on hell... The policies and organization are almost identical." A strange cast of characters including the sugar-obsessed Lanalee and an earnest 14-year-old boy who died over 100 years ago will keep readers putting the pieces together until the Halloween night showdown. Unfortunately, this final conflict feels anti-climatic, failing to utilize Jane's cunning. The ending zaps much of the energy from an otherwise creative, engaging book. Ages 14-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

KLIATT

Jane and Allison are best friends, beginning their senior year of high school and looking forward to the Big-Little Day at their all-girls Catholic school. It is such a big deal that "littles"--those freshmen and new underclassmen--campaign to be selected by the most popular senior girls. Jane and Allison are not part of that group, but Allison has her heart set on being a "big." Jane is short, intelligent and smart-mouthed. She has an attitude that is both self deprecating and witty and when new student Lanalee Tremone volunteers to be Allison's "little" it looks like the start of a good thing. Unfortunately, Lanalee is not who she appears to be; that is, she is not a sophomore transfer student, but is someone more "devilish." That character trait leads the second half of the novel to address the clash between good and evil in a battle for the soul. Allison has sold her soul for popularity and Jane is not about to let that happen. Brother Frank, Jane's math teacher, understands what is going on and steps in to help Jane, as do several other folk familiar with the ways of the devil. Lanalee and her demons confront the girls at the Poodle Prom, a Halloween event designed to help new demon recruits gain souls. The whole notion of demonic deals is treated as such a commonplace event that readers will need to suspend their disbelief in order to appreciate Jane's dilemma. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2006, Penguin, Razorbill, 272p., $16.99.. Ages 12 to 18.
—Janis Flint-Ferguson

Children's Literature - Amie Rose Rotruck

When Jane's best friend Allison commits the cardinal sin of throwing up during a school assembly, it seems certain that Allison's already low social status will plummet further. Soon after this happens, however, Allison comes to school as a well-dressed, intelligent, and good-looking person. Jane smells a rat and soon deduces the terrifying truth: Allison has sold her soul to the devil, who is masquerading as a teenage girl. With the help of a priest, a teenage boy MUCH older than he looks, and a former enemy teacher, Jane tries to save both Allison's soul and her own. By blending typical chick lit, modern horror, and a few traditional demonic elements, Johnson has created a true masterpiece in this title. Jane is a very witty and sympathetic narrator, and the other characters are truly intriguing, be they demon, victim, demon hunter, or clueless bystander. One of the must-read young adult novels of 2006.

VOYA

With just a bit more editing, Devilish would be very well written. This enticing story will pull you in and keep you reading. But, sadly, this plot is also a little too farfetched, making the characters seem unbelievable and faded. The book is full of exaggerated high school ranking systems and rather unlikely courage. It is still an outlandish but fun pink read. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Razorbill/Penguin Putnam, 272p., Ages 12 to 18.
—Ava Donaldson, Teen Reviewer

School Library Journal

Gr 8-11-Tiny senior-class genius/spitfire Jane Jarvis is seriously out of place in St. Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls in Providence, RI. Although she considers herself to be above the school's traditions, she wants to help her clueless best friend, Ally, obtain a good freshman sister at the annual Big-Little ceremony. Alas, when Ally forcefully vomits in front of the entire student body, she needs more than Jane's help. After a brief period of avoiding her schoolmates, all of a sudden she's cool, gorgeously attired, confident, and sophisticated. Well, everyone knows that high school is hell, so it makes semi-sense that demons abound, and Ally has sold her soul to one. Jane is determined to save her. Odd things start happening, from giant hailstorms to self-igniting textbooks, and Jane sadly bids farewell to her family and throws herself into mortal-and immortal-danger. Just when all seems lost, a believable plot twist ties the ends together. Well-developed characters are Johnson's forte, and readers will delight in meeting the heroine's friends and, especially, her family. The scenes in the Catholic high school are hilarious without making a mockery of religion (for example, Sister Rose Marie gives Jane a demerit for "lack of caution in adverse conditions" for rushing through the lobby when the power goes out). Buy multiple copies for your Johnson fans or you'll end up with a long reserve list.-Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Feisty, rebellious and exceptionally smart, Jane would appear to be the last student at her strict Catholic high school to join in a fight with real demons from Hell. She constantly battles with the Sisters at her school. But when best friend Ally morphs overnight into a femme fatale and begins dating Jane's still-cherished ex-boyfriend Elton, Jane hits bottom. Lanalee, a new student, claims to have made a deal for Ally's soul, so Jane agrees to another deal: She'll trade her own soul for Ally's unless she can get Elton to kiss her by midnight on Halloween. Jane doesn't really believe it, but soon learns the danger is all too real. Although the subject matter would seem to fit the trash genre, Johnson writes with flair, intelligence and humor. Her characters are well-realized as she builds suspense as deftly as Stephen King. Great entertainment and hard to put down. (Fiction. YA)