Review of "The Marked Girl"

"They came for him in the middle of the night, the way that cowards do."

     For the heroes of The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele, ordinary life is just a fantasy. Liv Phillips would give up a lot of things if it meant getting out of the foster care system that ruined her life. Come to that, she'd give up a lot to ensure the fire that left her and her estranged siblings orphans had never happened--and not her fault. This is real life, though, and she plans to make the best of it by making the greatest movie she can with a summer film program's equipment, some blood packs, and a realistic plastic sword. That is, until Cedric, Kat, and Meric crash through a portal and onto her set, steal her sword prop, and take off into the busy LA streets. And until she finds them squatting in a public building, hiding from monsters disguised as men. Cedric and his friends need to get home and save their kingdom, and they need Liv's help to do both, but opening another portal will take magic they don't have--and a price they may not be able to afford.

     Liv is the kind of heroine adventure tales adore: orphaned, with an irresponsible foster parent who doesn't keep track of her whereabouts. The only people who care about her are her best friend and her case worker, the latter of which can easily be avoided when she puts her mind to it. Meanwhile, Cedric, Kat, and Meric are also on their own, desperate to return to their kingdom yet trapped in a world of cell phones, airplanes, and infamous Los Angeles traffic. Together, this foursome are a formidable team well-equipped to face down the otherworldly monsters that stand in their way, as well as the monsters' shadowy leader. That is, as long as Cedric remembers swords aren't allowed on public transit.

     However, no amount of preparation can protect these daring teenagers from the terrible injustices thrown their way by the prose which shapes them. Within these pages, Liv and her compatriots face disasters such as slow pacing, a forced romance, stale character arcs, bland worldbuilding, and poorly foreshadowed plot twists. The adults who crop up are intelligent and engaging, though most are also neglectful, unkind, or downright evil. The villain remains cloaked in mystery until the climax, as befits the plot, and readers who don't read too much into early conversations may easily find themselves shocked when they discover who has it out for this little band of heroes. Pay enough attention, though, and many of the plot twists will come as less of a surprise.

     Despite these setbacks, the premise supporting this story is extremely intriguing and its contents generally suitable for consumption by young audiences. The only thing that might raise eyebrows is a particularly heavy scene between two of the protagonists, which features a lot of kissing and the timely interruption of an elegant piece of jewelry. Pre-readers should note that one of the romantic partners is already betrothed to another character, setting the stage for a strange and highly confusing love triangle. Violence is straightforward and just as free of graphic content as the language used, which is to say quite. The monsters the kind of scary that gives one chills without threatening to keep one up at night, suiting this novel extremely well.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers looking for a simple story about an ordinary girl who must save a group of strangers by sending them to another world. There's action, romance, and an unusual sort of magic, all set to the tune of Los Angeles' busy urban atmosphere. Unfortunately, the writing style is less than ideal, the characters barely change over time, and the romance is less than swoon-worthy. On the other hand, the plot is interesting and there is a very real chance these people may never make it home, so there are still plenty of reasons to read on until the end. For twists, turns, high stakes, and daring to bring a fantasy world into our own, Lindsey Klingele's The Marked Girl deserves a solid three stars.