Harper Teen, 2009
Overall Grade: B
When Princess Talia meets her fate and touches a spindle on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she falls into a deep sleep—like, 300 years deep. She wakes up to the kiss of a seventeen-year-old American tourist Jack—and he’s the only person more surprised than she is. When her father blames her for the country’s deplorable state, Talia flees with Jack to America, to face his fears, fight against the dangerous fairy who cursed her, and find love along the way.
A Kiss in Time was a creatively thought-out story, with many humorous moments and some good points made from something as small as the ridiculous societal views of beauty to something as grand as the universality of love or the power of forgiveness. Unfortunately, much of the character development didn’t ring true, particularly in the case of the male protagonist, Jack. It often felt as though in an attempt to create a “realistic modern guy,” Ms Flinn reverted to the stereotypical romantic-chick-flick version of a guy who has a lot of growing up to do. It was hard to believe that someone with such a depraved nature as Jack begins with could actually develop into a chivalrous, selfless young man by the end—and, frankly, portraying him as better than the average guy was rather insulting to young men in general. However, the story can be enjoyed for its interesting plot and funny depiction of what would happen if two cultures, three centuries apart, suddenly converged.
Literary Quality: B
Plot: A
Voice: B
Originality: A
Descriptive Ability: B
Humor: A-
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: C
Believability of Situations: B
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B
Possibly objectionable topics*: kissing (not intense); inappropriate touching (viewed as wrong); underage drinking (viewed as normal); mild language; objectification of women
Overall Grade: B
When Princess Talia meets her fate and touches a spindle on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she falls into a deep sleep—like, 300 years deep. She wakes up to the kiss of a seventeen-year-old American tourist Jack—and he’s the only person more surprised than she is. When her father blames her for the country’s deplorable state, Talia flees with Jack to America, to face his fears, fight against the dangerous fairy who cursed her, and find love along the way.
A Kiss in Time was a creatively thought-out story, with many humorous moments and some good points made from something as small as the ridiculous societal views of beauty to something as grand as the universality of love or the power of forgiveness. Unfortunately, much of the character development didn’t ring true, particularly in the case of the male protagonist, Jack. It often felt as though in an attempt to create a “realistic modern guy,” Ms Flinn reverted to the stereotypical romantic-chick-flick version of a guy who has a lot of growing up to do. It was hard to believe that someone with such a depraved nature as Jack begins with could actually develop into a chivalrous, selfless young man by the end—and, frankly, portraying him as better than the average guy was rather insulting to young men in general. However, the story can be enjoyed for its interesting plot and funny depiction of what would happen if two cultures, three centuries apart, suddenly converged.
Literary Quality: B
Plot: A
Voice: B
Originality: A
Descriptive Ability: B
Humor: A-
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: C
Believability of Situations: B
Overall Reading Enjoyment: B
Possibly objectionable topics*: kissing (not intense); inappropriate touching (viewed as wrong); underage drinking (viewed as normal); mild language; objectification of women
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