Dreadful Sorry

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Readers with a craving for supernatural romance will not find much satisfaction in this dry and predictable tale. Though outwardly a well-adjusted teenager, Molly suffers from severe hydrophobia and is plagued by an eerie recurring dream; both these conditions are aggravated when Jared, her love-interest-to-be, throws her into a swimming pool and she nearly drowns. Then Molly arrives to spend the summer in the small Maine town where her father and new stepmother have recently set up house, and things go from bad to worse. Not only does the ever-persistent Jared show up, but the strangely familiar town itself brings on a series of rather tepid waking visions in which Molly believes herself to be Clementine, a shallowly depicted and unpleasant girl who lived at the turn of the century. With the help of her New Age stepmother, Molly comes to realize what most readers will have guessed long before: somehow, possibly through reincarnation, Molly and Jared are connected to the lives of two long-dead young people. Given that the characters are invested with no more than a single dimension, not even the triple prospect of dramatic coastal storms, paranormal flashbacks and Jared's earthly kisses is enough to enliven this plodding story. Ages 12-up. Apr.

The ALAN Review - Margaret J. Ford

The terrifying nightmares that have been haunting Molly Teague take on a new dimension of horror. Her fear of drowning, the wavering image in the mirror of a Molly in a period dress, a mysterious room, and the strains of "Oh My Darlin' Clementine" invade her waking hours. The mystery and suspense climax when Molly discovers that the mysterious room of her dreams exists in the old house that Bill Teague, her father, and his new young wife have purchased in Maine. Reiss skillfully blends the local history of the Halloway family, the original owners of Molly's father's house, with believable characters. Jared Bernstein, Molly's confederate, and Grace Wilkins, the local librarian/historian, help Molly discover her relationship with Clementine Horn, the reflection in the mirror. An added bonus is Reiss's realistic portrayal of the tensions of a family separated by divorce and remarriage.

School Library Journal

Gr 8-12-- Clementine Horn disappeared over 80 years ago. Why, then, is high schooler Molly Teague haunted by her memory? Her recurrent nightmares are of people and places she can't possibly know; an ominous melody invades her mind; and the image in the mirror is not her own. Her feeling of deja vu is overwhelming, as is her inexplicable terror of water. Molly tries to escape her fears and a nagging mother by joining her father and new stepmother in Maine for the summer. But their Victorian house only proves more confusing and frightening; her nightmares become vivid visions as she slips in and out of Clementine's life. With its skillful plot twists, the book will have readers anxious to solve the mystery. Reiss has crafted a fine tale of psychological time travel. Her literary talents allow readers smooth transitions into each character's world; she draws clever parallels between the two girls' lives with subtlety. Accurate and relevant period research is integrated into the well-paced dialogue and descriptive passages. Supernatural tales require some suspension of disbelief, but this well-executed story transports readers into the plot. Booktalk it as a mystery or ghost story. --Sharon Korbeck, Milwaukee Public Library