ARC Review: Auracle by Gina Rosati

Auracle by Gina Rosati

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; 1 edition (August 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596437103
• ISBN-13: 978-1596437104

Trapped outside her body, Anna sees and hears but cannot touch the one she longs to hold.

Anna has a secret: she can astrally project out of her body. But when there's an accident and her classmate Taylor gets into Anna's body, what was an exhilarating gift threatens to become a terrifying reality. Anna and her best friend Rei form a plan to set things right, but they don't anticipate the feelings that are beginning to grow between them. Auracle by Gina Rosati is an exciting, sensual novel that explores the relationship between body and soul and the power of a single touch.

AURACLE surprised me a lot…Well, just reading from the blurb makes one think this is another YA book, with paranormal bits…only that this book had got a lot more twist. Kudos to Ms. Rosati for writing a story with no vampires, angels or werewolves..at least ghost and astral projections are not so common and bland subjects.>:D

And how about the cover? Blue does fine. The girl, the falls, the light, it’s simple but put in a mysterious and beautiful way that perfectly fits the story within.

The plot is about a girl with an unnatural ability to project herself or her soul, whatever that thing is, outside of her body. Everything goes well until she witnessed an accident and the next thing she knows, the infamous, smart, flirty and recently deceased Taylor has occupied her body. What more? She or the one who’s occupying her body is accusing one of her friends, Seth, of Taylor’s death. Now she and her bestfriend Rei must do everything to find a way to get her body, save Seth, and prevent Taylor from hurting everyone else.

I don’t know about you, but for me, this is quite unique, haven’t heard of a book with astral projection or the conflicts of this one. Also, Ms. Rosati’s writing can be categorized in show-don’t-tell type of books. It’s easy to jump in each of the character’s background story without being too boring. The character’s feelings are there. It almost seemed as if I was there with them, dying to know what would happen next and what would it take for Taylor to give Anna her body back. Anna’s narration is refreshing and kept me reading til the end.

What’s also fresh is to have characters who are not perfect but perfectly relates to imperfections of ordinary people. Not that Anna’s problematic family is ideal, but it give us the feeling that we might relate with her because she has problems too that she has to deal with and not focus on hormones and high school drama. Her dad’s alcoholic and her mom left them. Seth, her friend also suffers from temperament and broken family. Rei’s torn between her own dreams and what her mom wants. Taylor, although I kind of hate her, develops fully in the story, she still had that snarky attitude, but she knows now that affection doesn’t come from being famous and all the crazy teens do to get everyone’s attention. I see her changed from that bitchy attitude to someone who understands that she needs to ask forgiveness, not just for what she done but also for herself.

Although, at some later part when Anna’s just floating around and observing people, my excitement went low, maybe I was just too geared up for new adventures, so the story felt slow there until they had this Taylor-give-me-back-my-body thing, that it all starts to get real exciting. I also would have loved to see Anna’s first reaction when she projected, isn’t she scared that she could see her body, I mean from another view point? And what about he relationship with Rei, it seems to be cut short, uhg..maybe I just don’t want the story to end just yet.. I know a sequel’s far fetch, but who knows?!

I highly recommend AURACLE to anyone who loves paranormal but wants something new, with the heroine not in control with her body..:D..with lots of unexpected turns, humorous situations and with a bestfriend that’s swoon worthy for! I can’t wait to read mor of Ms. Rosati’s writing…Great read for everyone!!!

What do you think of Auracle? Have you ever get the chance to read it?




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