Raven's Point

Publishers Weekly

Metz (the Roswell High series) imports a number of horror-novel conventions for this dark, violent potboiler about an age-old evil coming to life on a small New England island. Character introductions come fast and furious in the opening chapters: high school sophomore Jane; her big brother, Elijah, who has just awoken from a coma; Tavia, whom Elijah dated before the accident that put him in the hospital; Seth, the bulimic star athlete whom Jane likes; Andrea, who also likes Seth; plus embattled parents, creepy nurses and an unsettling school custodian. Strange things begin happening almost immediately: Tavia discovers that she can summon animals, Seth sees the ghost of a boy he accidentally killed, and Jane time-travels. A mother plots to kill her daughter, first trying out her weapon on her own wrist, and a father takes gasoline and match to his house and family in order to rid them of a rank odor that only he can smell. Slowly the author lays out the connection between these events and witch trials held on the island centuries ago. There is an almost constant onslaught of gory imagery and gratuitously disturbing themes-cannibalism, animal torture, gang rape, more. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Hundreds of years ago, evil spread throughout the island community of Raven's Point, bringing death and devastation to the people who lived there. Now, the residents are in danger again. Will they realize it in time? The warning signs are appearing, but they have many reasons to be distracted. High school senior Elijah Romano has recently awakened from his one-year coma in remarkable health. Everyone is glad that the popular youth has recovered so well. His sister, Jane, thinks Elijah seems a bit remote. Still, with their parents' constant fighting and the troubling time-travel visions she has been having, Jane hardly has time to worry about her brother. Elijah's ex-girlfriend, Tavia, is just trying to get through the school year, so she can leave for college. She is troubled by Elijah's anger over her dating another boy during his illness, but there is not much she can do about it. Anyway, she is a bit distracted by the strange power she seems to have developed over animals. Seth McFadden, new to Raven's Point, did not know Elijah before the coma. However, Seth sure is interested in getting to know Elijah's sister a bit better, but he will do anything to keep his deepest secret safe. That has been getting a bit harder to do, though, since the ghosts started following him. Melinda Metz's Raven's Point is a hotbed of supernatural activity, but it is only through working together that some very different, very independent, very secretive youth will be able to defeat the evil that is lurking—and growing stronger—among them. 2004, HarperCollins, and Ages 12 to 16.
—Heidi Hauser Green

KLIATT

Something evil lurks under the surface on the lovely island of Raven's Point, and unless it is put to rest, it will destroy everything and everyone in its path. Jane Romano's life turned upside down after a car accident two years ago that left her older brother Elijah in a coma. When Tavia Burrows realized that Elijah, her first love, wouldn't be coming back, she tried to move on with her life and make plans for the future. Seth McFadden, the new guy in town, has his eye on Jane, but keeps a painful secret. Everything comes to a head when Elijah suddenly wakes up and strange things begin to happen. Jane suddenly starts flipping in time, watching events from the past as though they are happening now. Tavia finds that she can communicate with animals, but has no idea what it all means. And Seth's past comes back to haunt him, literally. In the meantime, Raven's Point has turned upside down, with irrational violence spinning out of control. Jane, Tavia, and Seth have to research the past together to find out what their future will be. Like Stephen King, Metz creates a place where "normal" gives way to horror as evil bubbles up to feed on unwitting victims. Time is of the essence as the teens struggle to unearth both the origin of this evil and the one thing that will stop it. KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, HarperCollins, 244p., Ages 12 to 18.
—Michele Winship

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-When inhabitants of Raven's Point begin to exhibit bizarre and violent behavior, several teens try to find out why. They soon discover that an evil being is feeding off of the residents and becoming stronger every day. Visions from the past and a bit of historical research reveal that a similar situation plagued the town during the Colonial era. The characters must use this information, as well as their own newfound supernatural abilities, to figure out how to save the people they love. Many contemporary teen issues are woven into the plot, including bulimia and sexual awareness, as is the theme of good versus evil. Although promising, all of these elements result in a cluttered book, and the characters aren't developed enough to engage readers. Descriptions of the strange behaviors keep readers interested, but are not smoothly integrated into the narrative. The evil is so nebulous that it seems more of plot contrivance than a logical force. However, there's plenty here for youngsters who love the "gross" factor, including a woman who cuts off her hand with a power saw. Fans of Metz's series fiction, such as "Roswell High" (Simon Pulse), will probably look for her latest novel.-Molly S. Kinney, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.