Meridian

September 21, 2009
Kizer's (One Butt Cheek at a Time) sophomore outing, an urban fantasy, has intriguing premise: on her 16th birthday Meridian Sozu learns that she is a Fenestra, a human of angelic descent who acts as a "window" for souls passing to the afterlife. She is vulnerable to the malicious Nocti, who steal life energy and send souls to hell. Sent to her great-aunt Merry's house in Revelation, Colo., Meridian begin to learn how to survive and fulfill her purpose from Merry and her eventual love interest, Tens. But time is short, and the sinister Reverend Perimo is orchestrating an effort to drive Fenestra "witchcraft" out of Revelation. Kizer's ear for teenage dialogue doesn't fail, and despite numerous deus ex machina plot weaknesses, the fast pace keeps the story compelling. Less appealing are the murky metaphysics, the attribution of tragedies like Nazi atrocities to Nocti interference and the fact that souls' fates are subject to the whims and proximity of Nocti or Fenestra, rather than human choices or behavior. Ages 12âup.

December 1, 2009
Gr 7-10-Meridian's parents try to give her a normal childhood in spite of the strange attraction she holds for the dead and dying animals that appear in her bed nearly every morning. On her 16th birthday, a horrific traffic accident occurs right in front of her, causing her terrible pain even though she is uninjured. Her parents realize that the time has come to tell Meridian what she truly is: a Fenestra. Within hours she is on a bus heading to Revelation, CO, and her Auntie. She learns that a Fenestra is a being capable of opening windows into the afterlife for the dying. With the help of Great-aunt Merry, also a Fenestra, and Tens, her Protector, Meridian comes gradually, though reluctantly, to understand her powers and her place in the eternal struggle between the forces of light and darkness for the souls of humankind. The author brings a fresh voice to the realm of teen paranormal romantic fiction. Although the narrative stumbles occasionally, and the ending is hurried, the characters are compelling and the themes of good and evil, life and death will keep readers engaged."Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
A car crash on Meridian's sixteenth birthday brings the revelation that she's a Fenestra, a half-angel who helps the dying transition to the afterlife. Aided by her similarly gifted great-aunt and the attractive but irascible Tens, Meridian fights to protect innocent souls from the evil Aternocti. A satisfying balance of answered and unanswered questions allows for tantalizing possibilities.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)