The Clearing

Publishers Weekly

For her senior year, Amy decides to move from Seattle to a tiny town in the North Cascades to live in her great-aunt Mae's trailer. Her goal is to escape her self-involved mother and stepfather, shallow circle of friends, and abusive boyfriend. “I needed to be somewhere different. Maybe I needed to be someone different, too,” she muses. Fitting in at her new school is a struggle because of her defensiveness; in low spirits, she is drawn to a foggy clearing near Mae's home, which leads to Henry Brigg's family farm—in the summer of 1944. Henry, who lives with his grandfather and frail mother, is a gentleman and the opposite of the boys Amy's been damaged by in the past. Alternating between Amy and Henry's intersecting stories, Davis's (Never Cry Werewolf) second novel has a quiet power; the time travel element gives the story the feel of an old-fashioned romance, with a tinge of melodrama. The tale takes some unexpected turns, providing insights into healing and the weight of destiny along the way. Ages 14-up. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

"Will have special appeal for female fans of the romance in the Twilight books or Judy Blundell’s What I Saw and How I Lied. . . . Henry's dilemma is especially poignant, and a completely unexpected ending shows that Davis is capable of creating a riveting read that lingers long after the story ends."—Booklist

"Alternating between Amy and Henry's intersecting stories, Davis's (Never Cry Werewolf) second novel has a quiet power; the time travel element gives the story the feel of an old-fashioned romance, with a tinge of melodrama. The tale takes some unexpected turns, providing insights into healing and the weight of destiny along the way."—Publishers Weekly 

"This will appeal to romance readers that like a touch of the paranormal."—VOYA

Children's Literature - Bobbie Lowe

Amy has just left her home in Seattle to live with her Great Aunt Mae in the country. She has left everything behind to start her senior year in a new school. She has left her friends behind, an abusive relationship, and a mother whose focus is more on her new boyfriend than Amy. Things could only get easier right? Then she meets a boy named Henry in the clearing on the outskirts of the property her Aunt owns. Henry is a different boy who dresses different, talks different, acts different, and Amy is enthralled. Over time they realize that time stands still on Henry's side of the clearing while time moves on for Amy on her side. Are Henry and his family really stuck in time? This story involves love, trust, learning how to believe in oneself, being the new kid, telling the truth, and the loss of loved ones. It is well rounded, and I believe many kids out there will be able to relate to Amy and her struggles to start life fresh at the young age of seventeen. With an imagination in hand, readers will empathize with Amy and cheer her on in finding her way in a new place while trying to find what exactly makes her happy. Reviewer: Bobbie Lowe

VOYA - Deborah L. Dubois

Sixteen-year-old Amy goes to live with her Aunt Mae in a single-wide trailer in the small town of Rockville, Washington, which is very different from her home in Seattle. She needs to get away from her abusive boyfriend and start over where nobody knows her. Amy feels isolated from the other kids, but when she meets Henry, she is drawn to him even though he is so different from anyone else she knows. Henry lives on the other side of the mysterious mist that never disappears from the clearing at the far end of Mae's property. As Amy begins falling for Henry, she finds out that he and his family are stuck in 1944 because of his fear of the future. As they help each other come to terms with their individual demons, they find the strength to follow their own destiny. This time-travel romance explores the emotional effects of abuse on the victim long after the bruises fade. Amy is afraid to trust anyone, until Henry shows her a gentle, constant love. Henry is afraid to move on with his life, unable to face the possible tragedy of losing his brother in the war, until Amy helps him understand that the right thing is not always easy to do. They both mature through their relationship, making tough choices in the end. This will appeal to romance readers that like a touch of the paranormal. Reviewer: Deborah L. Dubois

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Desiring a fresh start, away from an abusive boyfriend, Seattle teen Amy moves to Great-aunt Mae's mobile home in the North Cascade Mountains. There, she discovers a mist-laden clearing promising further escape. Penetrating this seemingly permanent haze, Amy meets and falls in love with Henry Briggs, a World War II teen existing in an endless summer with his mother and grandfather. One terrible night in 1944, fueled by grief and fear, Henry prayed for a miracle and jump-started a summer that never changed—until Amy came along. Stumbling, learning, and healing along the way, a braver Amy, thanks to Henry, Mae, and two new friends, decides to move forward. Taking her cue, Henry is finally able to step toward his own unpredictable future. But what will the future mean for their love? Despite familiar elements, this tender, supernatural romance isn't Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005). It's a compact tale about embracing the future and the life-altering capabilities of love. Henry isn't perfect, but he's genuine, perceptive, and non-domineering. Aunt Mae is an attentive guardian. And Amy is a well-developed protagonist, simultaneously vulnerable and strong, occasionally self-centered, realistically guarded. Chapters alternating between Amy's and Henry's points of view offer a nicely paced plot. While the ending might not be what some readers hope for, it's still satisfying.—Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ