Customer Reviews

Lily Dale: Awakening

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My ten-year old loved this and Believing - can't wait for the next book in the series!

Being a medium and psychic myself, I found that the Wendy Corsi Staub presented a believable and accurate story with sensitivity about a subject often misunderstood and/or presented as "hokey poky" or otherwise. Her examples of how one might see a spirit is accurate as is how psychic information is received. I enjoyed how the main character, a teen named Calla, slowly awakens and accepts to her psychic abilities. As well as how Odelia, her gifted seer - grandmother, doesn't push her in any way to do so. I think that the younger reader would appreciate how Calla had that freedom of choice from an adult. The acceptance of this young character of her grandmother's "unusual" psychic was handled by the writer in such a way to allow the reader to explore if a psychic reader could indeed be a "normal" person. Not that Calla's grandmother's character is--she is rather eccentric. But, the reader is introduce to others of Odelia's ilk who live in this small town in New York. The town Lily Dale does exist and is home to psychics, mediums and healers. Also, I found Calla's peers at Lily Dale believable characters. They weren't too "out there" or "clickish" but rather presented so teen reader could find interest while remaining aware of differences as developed psychic children. Quite honestly, I thought the writing a bit choppy and not detailed enough of the relationship between Calla and her mother and found the ending unsatisfactory to my curiosity. I would recommend this book to my young clients and their parents to have a clearer picture of the psychic.

Being an avid fan of Wendy Corsi Staub's adult suspense novels, I couldn't resist the opportunity to read this book, her return to YA fiction, three days before its official release. (Thank you, Borders!) Fans of IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE will recognize the setting-Lily Dale, an actual community of psychic mediums located in New York. With this intriguing locale as a backdrop, WCS spins a story full of suspense, romance, and quirky characters that practically walk off the page. Case in point is the protagonist's (Calla) grandmother, the eccentric Odelia, who sings along to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, sleeps until noon, and happily admits to reading on the pot. Oh, and did I mention that she's a registered medium? Surprise! Calla has come to Lily Dale after the tragic death of her mother, and finds herself drawn to the unanswered questions of the past, including the falling out between her mother and grandmother that tore their family apart. (Just what is the significance of the argument about dredging the lake that Calla remembers overhearing as a child?) As if Calla's life hasn't taken enough unexpected turns, she finds herself seeing ghosts-or spirit guides, as Odelia prefers to call them-hearing voices, and having visions that just may unlock the secrets of the past. And it doesn't take long for Calla to realize that she may have a lot more in common with the Lily Dale community-and with the women of her own family-than she ever could have expected. As the first book in this exceptional series comes to a close, it finds Calla beginning to embrace her "gift" and choosing to stay on in Lily Dale longer than expected. Book Two, the upcoming BELIEVING, promises to find Calla confronting the burden of such powers, and it could just cost her her life, as her unwitting discovery at the conclusion of AWAKENING has marked her as a potential target. The trademark elements of suspense that set this author's adult work far above that of her contemporaries are more than evident here, and long after closing the book, the reader can't help but ponder what's going to happen next. LILY DALE: AWAKENING made me ask myself, Harry Potter who?

When Calla Delaney's mother died in a freak accident, life changes dramatically for the teenager. Her grief is magnified because she recently broke up with her boyfriend, the brother of her best friend.

Calla's father is a teacher starting a sabbatical and can't take Calla with him to California right away. And Calla doesn't want to visit her uncle and his family. The only other place she can go is to her grandmother's home in Lily Dale, New York. Even that's not the best choice as far as Calla is concerned. She barely knows her grandmother (it seems there was an estrangement between grandma and her mother).

Soon after Calla's arrival in Lily Dale, she learns her eccentric grandmother, Odelia, is a medium in a town of psychics and mediums. Calla is skeptical, but soon experiences some strange events that trigger memories of growing up `knowing things.' Could she be a psychic? Her awakening provides clues to a missing girl. She also begins to examine her mother's life and death. And in between, she meets several interesting boys and begins to accept her gift.

Lily Dale: Awakening is the beginning of a series and is the `set-up' book for the others that will follow. There are unanswered questions that leads the reader to believe will be answered in the next book, Believing.

This is a satisfying read. It's not exciting or compelling, but perhaps, due to the subject matter, requires the lengthy set-up. I enjoy the authors adult novels and will give Believin, the next in the series, the benefit of the doubt.

Armchair Interviews says: Teens will like the paranormal setting and the romantic elements.

One of my favorite things about this book was Calla's grandmother. What a lovable weirdo! She was eccentric, funny, and I enjoyed getting to know her. What a surprise Calla gets when she discovers that not only does her grandmother talk to dead people, but that the whole town shares this special talent. What a lot to absorb, right?

Calla starts to make friends and get settled in while, juggling the attentions of two town hotties! Now, maybe she can get over that loser ex-boyfriend of hers!

The mysterious death of her mother, coupled with a creepy town full of ghosts and pschics is just enough to keep you wanting more. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next on in the series! 3 STARS

When I saw this book at a library sale, I thought the cover was kind of eerie and the summary sounded great. I haven't read any books by Wendy Corsi Staub, so this was a new to me author. I was pleasantly surprised by the book. The author had a writing style that was easy flowing and kept me interested until the end.


When Calla's Mother passes away, she starts seeing unusual things. Ghost are appearing to her, but she refuses to believe in them. After her Father moves to California for a job offer, Calla decides to stay the summer with her Grandmother Odelia. Reluctantly, her Father agrees to it for the summer while he finds them a place to settle into in California. Calla has not spent much time with her 'Gammy' and doesn't even know what Odelia does for a living. She quickly realizes though, her Gammy is a Medium. She speaks with the dead. While Calla adjusts to Odelia's lifestyle and community of Mediums, she starts to discover she might have inherited it as well.


I loved Calla and Odelia in this book. Odelia was a riot with the way the author describes her personality and dress attire. I also loved how Calla found new friends who seemed to genuinely want to be close to her. I didn't like the whole ex-boyfriend storyline, but I am assuming it will develop into a planned plot in the future books or maybe just be a hint at why Calla is having a hard time choosing between two other boys in town. I wasn't a fan of Blue. Now my feelings on him might change as I read more of the series, but in this book he seemed a little snobby. I wanted Calla to explore more of a relationship with Jacy instead. So for now, I am Team Jacy in the love triangle.


Overall this was a great book to a new series for me. I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next book with the cliffhanger ending this one leaves the reader with. Mysteries will unravel and I am anxious to know if Calla is finally going to embrace her psychic ability.

This was the first book I purchased for my Kindle and I was very happy with the story and the series. I had never heard of Lily Dale, but I am always watching tv shows that deal with Ghosts and the paranormal. While watching one of these, there was a story on Lily Dale, so I looked it up online and managed to somehow find out about these books. I read all four and just like another reviewer, was sad to see the series come to an end. Maybe the author can revisit Lily Dale at some point in the future.

Awakening is the second book in the Lily Dale series. Good read, I have really enjoyed this series thus far.

I am a senior citizen and I really enjoyed this book. So it is not just for young adults. I love supernatural books. This is a nice read. It is definately a series book though. I am going for the rest of them now. I just finished this one.

Lily Dale Awakening Walker Publisher Company 2007 pp.228 $7.99
Wendy Corsi Staub ISBM -10: 0-8027-9655-4

Would you be up set if you didn't know your mom or dad?
I know I would Calla didn't know her mom very well because she was in a freak car accident. Her mom was only 20 when she died. Calla's dad disappeared when Calla had her 16th birthday. Calla went ro her grandma's house in Lily Dale. Calla wanted to know more about her mom and dad. Calla's grandma is very sick every day Calla has to drive down to Lily Dale to take care of her grandma. Calla's grandma is the only thing close to Calla. Calla feels confused and lost with out her mom and dad. She is an easy going person. She has friends that live by her. She has on friend named Sally. Sally is popular because her sister Emiyl wants her to be popular and Sally won't hang out with Calla that much at school. Calla has another friend named Sara. Sara is Calla closest friend. They have known each other since they could rember. Sara is a bright loving girl who listens to Calla's secrets and her feelings. Sara is the friend you could hang out with. Calla is worried about moving to a different state because she is tired of not having her mom and dad watching over her. Calla is thinking about moving in with Sara.