Davidson, Mary Janice & Alongi, Anthony. Jennifer Scales and the messenger of light.

DAVIDSON, Mary danice & ALONGI, Anthony. Jennifer Scales and the messenger of light. (Sequel to Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace.) Penguin, Berkley. 3260. c2006. 0-425-21011-1. $9.99. JSA 

Davidson, who is also the author of the Undead series, continues the saga of the half weredragon, half Beaststalker girl, Jennifer Scales. While having problems with her training as a Beaststalker (she only seems to be able to call up tiny black-and-gray spotted pygmy owls), Jennifer is also unsure of her feelings for her friend Skip, a werearachnid. Little do either of them suspect that they both have a half sister who was abandoned in another dimension, learning only evil to survive; she now is bent on returning to Earth with paybacks in mind.

Reading the first Jennifer Scales story will make this easier to follow, but those who enjoyed it will be ready for this installment and the next to follow. The only implausibility is how Jennifer and her friends can forgive/overcome serious faults (for instance, Jennifer's mother killed Skip's father in the last volume and in this one, Eddie attacks Jennifer with intent to kill). Give this to Buffy fans or the literate Goths. Sherry Hoy, Lib. Media Spec., Tuscarora JHS, Mifflintown, PA

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.