Claire de Lune [Hardcover]

Christine Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 18, 2010

Torn between two destinies…

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she’s the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she’s a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire’s new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever….

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—For Claire Benoit, life in Hanover Falls has been pretty normal and uneventful. But all that changes on the night of her 16th birthday when she discovers a secret that will change her world forever. Her mother explains that she is a werewolf, descended from an extensive line of strong, female wolves. After being introduced to the pack, Claire learns that her full change will occur at the next full moon when she will be initiated into the pack. Claire has never been close to her mother, so this revelation leaves her totally lost and alone. Struggling with her new identity, she turns to Matthew, the charming, hunky soccer star who has been recently flirting with her. As their relationship begins to heat up, events seem to work against them. Werewolf attacks are occurring at an alarming rate in Hanover Falls, creating a state of panic. This unrest is further fueled by Matthew's father, who is a lycanthropy scientist and has organized the hunt for the rogue werewolf. Overwhelmed with trying to balance her old and new life, Claire must make decisions that alter her behavior and have ramifications for her future. Johnson weaves a page-turning tale of forbidden love, loyalty, friendship, and deception that will leave readers eager for more. Strong characters and major plot twists coupled with a new twist on werewolf mythology make this a fun and entertaining read that will satisfy fans of the genre.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

On their sixteenth birthdays, the women in Claire's family begin a three-month transformation into werewolves—a secret kept from the girls until they turn 16. Beginning with Claire's suburban birthday party—which is abruptly broken up by a werewolf attack in another part of town, causing panicked parents to demand that their teens get home at once—Johnson spins out an engaging and provocative riff on the werewolf tradition. Are they intrinsically antihuman? Bloodthirsty? Due the same respect other animals should receive in laboratory situations? Those questions are underscored by a romance between Claire and Matthew, the son of the prime public-hysteria-provoking werewolf hunter. Smooth writing and engaging main characters make for an easy read, while a feminist focus offers just a bit more for thoughtful readers. The red herrings aren't particularly deluding, but bypassing them doesn't frustrate either. A good summer read for the romantically concerned and monster-obsessed midteen girl. Grades 8-10. --Francisca Goldsmith

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; 1 edition (May 18, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416991824
• ISBN-13: 978-1416991823
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #787,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in, moved away from, and finally came home to Indianapolis, Indiana. Now I live in an old house in an old neighborhood with my husband and kids. I have too many books and a weakness for anything sweet. I love yoga and cooking, but I'm not much of a movie person. I like watching soccer, and always look forward to the first sweater-worthy days in the fall. But mostly, I like making things up and writing them down and having people read them. So that's what I do, and I'm very, very lucky to be doing it!

~Christine Johnson

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute and Light.. July 27, 2010

By Rachel Rivera VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A deceptively cute young adult novel, Claire de Lune pairs a quaint tale of young love offset by a crazed, serial killing werewolf. While it did entertain, the fluctuation from cutesy young lovers to throat ripping wolf chomping was a bit outlandish and I felt at times the novel dragged in a day to day recitation of mundane tasks that the protag engaged in.

REVIEW: On Claire's sixteenth birthday she got more than a date with the cutest boy in school and a pair of sapphire earrings, she also sprouted hair and began craving rare venison. Claire's legacy isn't a penchant for sweets, or saddle bags - it's the lycanthropy gene. Which is severely cramping her new social life and her serious boy crush Matthew.

On top of her personal dramas her town is going berserk as a werewolf terrorizes the populace by randomly attacking and killing people. The killings are inciting an uproar in the town which seems to have only one conclusion - the capture and death of a werewolf - and Claire believes they won't care if the wolf is guilty of the killings or not.

Like I said earlier it is a strange mix. The wolves are out in this novel, but there is really no back story that reveals how "out" they are. There are agencies that regulate werewolves, but it doesn't seem like they know much about the werewolves. The overall novel has a very juvenile tone and the romance, while cute, didn't have me all agog with lovey emotions. I know I often complain about the lack of parental awareness in YA novels, but this one seemed to be the exact opposite. Too much influence gave the impression that Claire couldn't make a decision of her own. In fact her parental unit, one Marie, was maddening. I just didn't like the Mom at all.

What I did like about the novel was the character development, Claire was a very well written character and so were the secondary characters. The evil werewolf was also well played, I really didn't have a clue as to who it was going to be until right before the reveal. I also liked the boy, he was cute and crush worthy.

Entertaining, and a good novel to pass the time, it didn't evoke strong emotions in me either way. Much like some of the more lighter YA novels out there, Claire de Lune was quick to finish and refreshing but not as full-bodied like some of its memorable counterparts (Shiver, The Dark Divine).

RECOMMENDATIONS: Young adult suited for younger teens. Fans of Never Cry Werewolf and book so that ilk will enjoy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, fresh, and feminine look on werewolves May 15, 2010

By sithereandread

Format:Hardcover

CLAIRE DE LUNE, by Christine Johnson, was a magical and unique look at werewolves and the human society that knew of their existence. This new tale of female werewolves will dig its claws into you and not let go until the very end.

I love werewolf tales. I am always looking out for a new and different perspective on these fantasy characters. Johnson's fresh and feministic look on werewolves will not disappoint female readers. The background of the creatures portrayed in this book were based more on heredity and instinct. The ceremonies and magic that were bestowed on these women was fascinating to experience.

I do admit a lot of the book was predictable for a seasoned YA reader, but it was enjoyable at the same time. The imaginative background of the werewolves were enough to keep me wholly interested. Also, I thought the conflict between Claire and Marie was very realistic. Not every parent/child relationship is perfect, but in this book the overprotectiveness and the purposeful gap in communication between these characters added to the suspense. The rebellion of Claire taking Zahilia's side instead of her mothers kept me questioning different loyalties to the wolf pack.

I liked the relationship between Claire and Matthew. The secrets that Claire had to cover created more internal turmoil for her, and I anxiously waited to see how Matthew would handle it if he found out. Although this relationship was angst-filled and dramatic (what high school relationship isn't?), I think where it ended up was very sweet.

I think this was a great introductory book to this series, giving a lot of background of the characters. The final showdown was good but I see more action in the future for these characters and I can't wait to see what Johnson comes up with for the next installment.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A great summer read May 19, 2010

By The Compulsive Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Claire has never been very close to her mother. Marie's busy work schedule that requires her to travel has always kept her away, leaving Claire with an au pair, Lisbeth. But now that she's sixteen, Claire thinks she's old enough to be left alone a bit more, and is hoping to find freedom in a car of her own and perhaps a date with cute Matthew Engle.

Instead, her party is cut short by a spotting of a malicious werewolf, and Marie divulges a shocking secret: she and Claire are a part of an ancient line of werewolves themselves. Now besides worrying about friends and her new relationship with Matthew, Claire must deal with becoming something that everyone in her community misunderstands and hates, help her pack find the rogue werewolf who is hunting humans, and stay away from the man who is leading the hunt against the werewolves, Dr. Engle--who just happens to be Matthew's dad.

Claire de Lune is an interesting werewolf tale, with strong themes of loyalty and acceptance and a dash of romance to liven things up. Though there isn't always a lot of action, which made the book rather slow at times, Claire's struggles with learning to accept who she is and keeping her identity from Matthew, Lisbeth, and her friends provides plenty of drama and angst. Claire's relationship with her mother was well composed, as both mother and daughter struggle with communicating and trusting each other, and Claire attempts to find answers and guidance with another member of the pack, which frustrates Marie.

The novel is punctuated with a few short chapters from the point of view of the rogue werewolf as she stalks her prey, which creates enough suspense to keep the book from dragging too much. Though some may finds the climax predictable, the ending has some nice action and twists, and Johnson concludes the book nicely. For the YA supernatural enthusiast, Claire de Lune is a great summer read with a sweet romance and just enough thrills.