A Season Of Transformation [Kindle Edition]

Jayne Fordham (Author)

Book Description

A Season of Transformation is a young adult fantasy/ romance novel set in the contemporary world. It is the story of five young people drawn together to complete a Quest, to protect their town from destruction. In order to defeat the story’s villain, Maxvale, the five virtual strangers must come together and not only forge a bond of trust but become proficient with the ‘abilities’ temporarily bestowed upon them.

In the midst of the lead up to the battle each of the young people has their own personal struggles they are trying to deal with. Lucas, an adopted and bitter teenager struggles to become the person he wants to be whilst developing feelings for Makenna, a rich kid who doesn’t like his attitude. Bonnie is a ‘gothic’ that is dealing with an alcoholic father, Ben the school nerd and Adam the class clown are trying to break free from their high school stereotypes. Can these five teens put their differences aside to defeat Maxvale and save their town?


Praise for A Season Of Transformation:

“I recommend this to all YA Fiction fans with craving for lovable characters and great storyline.” Mia, Girl about Books

“I have been truly honored to be allowed to read, review, and feature this
novel. Coming from a psychology background, I feel that Jayne can relate to the human feelings and interactions of the group better than most authors could. ” Cassie, Gathering Leaves Reviews

“A good first novel that caters to a market too often passed by, the Australian YA. While this book and the characters and story can be enjoyed anywhere in the world, it really rings true for the Australian audience.” Perry Gamsby, Author

“The ending was great. Action filled, and tied up all the loose ends really well in a seamless conclusion. All problems are solved just the way I wanted, and all questions were answered. You’d turn to the last page satisfied, and well entertained. I really liked the idea about five strangers having to work together, and though there have been stories like this, Ms. Fordham puts her own unique mark on her book, and makes it a great addition to your reading list. ” Bree @ The Awesome Magic Attic.


About the Author:
Jayne Fordham is a psychologist, freelance writer and debut author of A Season of Transformation. She resides in South-West Sydney with her boyfriend and loveable cocker spaniel, Buddy.

Product Details

• File Size: 305 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1447548434
• Publisher: Jayne Fordham (March 31, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004X2HNBA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #880,340 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique YA Read! September 10, 2011

By ange_1908

Format:Kindle Edition

When I first received this book, I was intrigued by the summary because it was unique and interesting. I couldn't wait to get started! First of all I loved that this book was set in Australia, specifically a small town called Catherine Vale outside of Sydney. Plus I also loved that Aussie lingo was used, which I can definitely relate to being an Aussie myself.

So what is this book about you say?? Well, five teenagers from the same town come together because of one thing, a box. They are all compelled to go into the bush whilst at a local carnival and dig up a box. There they find that they have been specially chosen for a mission to save their home town from an evil spirit, Maxvale. Makenna, Lucas, Bonnie, Adam and Ben all run in different cliques at school and have never talked to each other. They all have very different personalities and find it difficult to relate to each other.

I enjoyed reading how the characters developed and matured throughout the book and came together to fight Maxvale. The characters were honest, genuine and very relatable. The development of the relationships between the five characters came slowly and made their friendships feel real. I liked that Jayne Fordham didn't just focus on the paranormal aspect on the book but also included tension building romance as well. A light, quick, fun and unique read! I recommend to it to anyone who enjoys paranormal, with some romance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic YA novel! September 4, 2011

By Cassie McCown

Format:Kindle Edition

A Season of Transformation
By: Jayne Fordham
ISBN: 9781447548
Published March 31, 2011
Available Format: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: '''''

In Jayne Fordham's new novel, A Season of Transformation, five teenagers from diverse circumstances and social circles are brought together to save their town from a paranormal menace. In response to this threat and with the help of their clever ancestors, each of the five begins to develop their own supernatural abilities. In addition, each of the teens is struggling with personal issues. Ben, the nerd, and Adam, the clown, are trying to break free from their labels and express who they truly are as individuals. Lucas masks his pain with a bitter and repelling attitude but soon finds he might be pushing away the very person he is falling in love with. Bonnie works hard to hide her father's battle with alcohol behind her `gothic' exterior and introverted demeanor. Makenna, the rich kid, deals with a bit of an arrogant and judgmental mother and best friend as she develops a bond with each of the misfits of their group. This seemingly incompatible crew must overcome their differences and learn to trust each other, or their beloved town may be doomed.

I received a copy of this book from the author for review.

What I loved the most about A Season of Transformation was that the "transformation" was not just focused on the supernatural abilities the teens develop. It also encompassed the transformations that were taking place in their lives. Makenna learned to truly humble herself and encouraged her mother and friends to do the same. Lucas was able to allow himself to fully trust and love and let others into his lonely life.... Bonnie confided in her new friends and was able to get help for her father and truly open her bruised heart to love. Each character is forced out of his or her comfort zone, where they begin to reexamine themselves and make important changes in different areas of their lives. I think that is the essence of this book, and I believe that is the most important message the reader can gain.

There were a couple times in the book that I had to stop and re-read and ask myself who exactly was talking. I think Jayne switched the POV then, and it just threw me off for a minute. If she were to change anything about the book, I think I would work on syncing up all the points-of-view and making everything flow more smoothly in that regard. I also felt these shifts in POV and the changes in scene should have been separated more within the text. For instance, we might be alone with Makenna in her bedroom one minute, and then right away in the next paragraph we are suddenly walking the high school halls chatting with Aliysha. If there was just an extra space or something there to highlight the change, it would have made it easier to follow. (I was reading this on my Kindle, so formatting issues could also be attributed to the type of file.) Aside from these minor technical, easily fixed issues, I cannot criticize anything else about this read!

I have been truly honored to be allowed to read, review, and feature this novel. Coming from a psychology background, I feel that Jayne can relate to the human feelings and interactions of the group better than most authors could. I think it is a wonderful way to help teens realize that they can all too often be self-centered and judgmental of others through their own struggles and insecurities. In that way I think the message of this book is if we can open ourselves up and accept others for what they truly are, rather than what they appear to be, we can overcome anything and work together to make the world a better place. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A story about looking beyond stereotypes, having confidence, courage, and somewhere to belong. August 29, 2011

By The Tales Compendium

Format:Kindle Edition

When five unlikely high school students are mysteriously granted magical abilities so they can save their town, they must work together, despite their differences, to avoid a centuries old act of revenge from ruining their community. From the perspective of Makenna, we see how the characters are challenged to look beyond stereotypes, as they become more efficient with their new abilities, their confidence builds as they face their insecurities, new friendships and feeling emerge and each person individually shines.

As a title, A Season of Transformation refers to all five main characters. Over the course of three months, they not only experience having some pretty cool new abilities but each of their lives transform in their own way. Each of our heroes all fit a particular stereotype - the jerk (Lucas), the nerd (Ben), the class clown (Adam), the goth (Bonnie) and the rich girl (Makenna). It looks at how each of them are treated in a high school, their feelings because if this, and why they have allowed a stereotype to represent them. The story brings these five together, who would normally never be friends, let alone even talk to each other.

To me, the fantasy element only played a small part of the story. Their new found powers (telekineasis, super speed, photographic memory, invisibility and the ability to walk through walls) are what brought them together and what they will ultimately use when the time comes, but it wasn't a main genre of the story. The powers overall aren't too ridiculous and they simmer away to a degree that I forgot it was a fantasy and not a general teen fiction. I really liked this since I have trouble with some fantasy novels. I got very caught up in the lives of each of the characters and really hoped they would find their place in the group.... There was also a delicious new romance with all those early feelings of excitement that I got totally caught up in.

My only tiny issue with the story was that I sometimes got the feeling that it was being told to someone who hadn't experienced high school before. There was a lot of detail explaining each stereotype, especially the goths, but also the general school day. I personally don't think some of it was needed.

There are many issues discussed throughout A Season Of Transformation, some in depth, some only lightly touched upon. Bullying and confidence are the main ones but so is adoption, the death of a parent, friendships, relationships, and having an alcoholic parent. I believe it would be a good text for ages 12 to 15 to study, or in the very least, read. While I know the author is a psychologist, I wonder if she has been a school psychologist. The content suggests so.

Originally posted at [....] Read more ›

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Debut Novel. May 12, 2012

By Kate

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Five teenagers - a geek (Ben), a bad boy (Lucas), a class clown (Adam), a goth (Bonnie) and a rich kid (Makenna) - are all drawn together. Not knowing why, they all feel the urge to visit the Carnival. Unbeknownst to them, their ancestors have buried a box containing a letter - a letter stating that they are the only hope their town has against Maxvale, a man the ancestors defeated all those years ago but somehow has the power to come back and terrorize the town.

After digging up and opening the mysterious box, the teenagers all develop special abilities that are supposed to help them in fighting Maxvale.

Bonnie, the girl who feels like nobody knows she exists, gets invisibility. Quick-witted Adam who fires off jokes at the speed of light can now run kilometres in seconds. Ben, the nerd of the group, who has always excelled in school is now able to memorize textbooks in a heartbeat. Bad Boy Lucas who is repeating year 11 and is living with a foster family can walk though walls. Makenna, the final member of the group and narrator of the novel, is gifted with telekinesis - the ability to move objects with her mind.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It felt a little like The Breakfast Club meets X-Men. Makenna is the narrator and tells the story in first person present tense. I can't remember the last time I read a book in this style and it took me a little while to get used to it. But once I was used to it, I could appreciate that it suited the novel. There were a few point of view changes - from Makenna to a third person - and I liked that it gave me a little more insight into the other teenagers but I felt like it took me out of it a little and I felt a little detached from the novel after the switch....

The powers that the teenagers get are perfectly suited for their personalities. I really liked how they all came together to help each other in the mission to find and destroy Maxvale. I did feel like the mission was a little rushed in the end but it was appropriate for the villain (He's not as big and bad as I was expecting. I wanted him to be ferocious and terrifying and completely town destroying... rather than a bit of a pussy cat...).

The strength of this novel is the development of the characters throughout. I loved how they grew as people and as friends. There's a message of stereotyping and that people are not always what they seem at first glance. The relationship between Makenna and Lucas was lovely to read - I liked the pace and the fact that they did have their struggles. These characters (all of them) were written in a way that did make them likeable and realistic. Many of the issues that were faced were ones that I have faced myself in my youth. I also enjoyed the Aussie-isms inserted into the novel - things like petrol being it's cheapest on Tuesdays, the P plates etc.

I thought this was a fantastic debut novel by a self-published author. It was entertaining and interesting and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys young adult paranormal fiction with an Australian flavour. Read more ›