Wright, Nina. Homefree.

WRIGHT, Nina. Homefree. Llewellyn, Flux. 230p. c2006. 0-7387-0927-1. $8.95. JS

Perpetual outsider Easter Hutton has spent the majority of her 16 years in constant motion. Her mother chases an endless line of no-good men, hoping one of them will turn out to have some cash, and she bounces Easter all around the country. At each school, Easter is a loner and a target for her classmates' boundless hatred, forcing her to stay one step ahead of their cruelty. After settling in (for now) in Florida, Easter begins to experience the most unexpected form of motion: she has moments of astral projection. As she travels through time and space, she visits people and places from her past and finds others who need her help. Her talent allows her to show up in times of crisis and offer support. Sometimes, she is invisible; other times, she can be seen. The more she travels, the more pieces of the puzzle fall into place. She helps find other teens with paranormal abilities and together they learn about Homefree, an organization that will protect them and nurture their exceptional gifts.

Wright's story falls somewhere between realistic fiction and science fiction, which gives this a wide audience. Initially it is difficult to grasp what is happening. Who are these people Easter is visiting, who needs rescuing, and who else has special abilities? Easter quickly slides between planes of reality, jumping to and from different states and times. As the story grows more established, Easter's journey and role become more apparent. Unfortunately, the execution of the story, with its loose ends and uneven writing, leaves much to be desired. Amanda MacGregor, St. Cloud, MN

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.