Autumn 2005 Review:

        A Great and Terrible Beauty is about the adventures of a girl named Gemma and her three friends, Pipa, Ann, and Felicity.  Gemma has a special gift: she can travel back and forth through the sacred reams.  When her mother dies a mysterious death, Gemma's journey begins.  She learns about her heritage as part of the order, which is a group of sorceresses that keep the realm's magic safe from dark spirits.  Also, Gemma starts to realize that her mother's death s not the only thing mysterious about her . . .

    A Great and Terrible Beauty is the best book I have ever read and it also has a good sequel!  It is one of those books that you can't put down.  There is adventure and excitement from start to finish.  I would have to say my favorite part of it was when Gemma finally found out what happened twenty years ago to Mary Dowd and Sara, also know as Cerce.

    I would recommend this book to girls ages 12 and up.  There is some adult material in it but, I think for the most part, girls 12 and up could handle it.

~ Tammy Chevlen, grade 8, Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley