Customer Reviews

The Lost Girl (Fortune Teller's Club Series)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's summertime and the livin' is easy for Juniper and her two best friends since elementary school, Gena and Anne. It's the perfect time for riding their bikes, staring at boys at the pool and listening to Juniper's New Age music. Then Gena has to go and lose her retainer. She asks her friends to help her find it before her strict father finds out it's gone. Simple enough, right? Especially if you have "special" tools and the talents that allow you use them -- Ouija board, magic bowls of water, tarot cards. These three girls, who have formed their own Fortune Tellers Club to solve just such mysteries, have everything they need. The trio, led by Juniper (whose mother has special powers) asks the Ouija board about the retainer, and is mystified by the answer: p-a-r-k. Gena assures her friends that can't be right. Meanwhile, something else butts into their diviners' circle: The anguished, pale face of a young girl who has gone missing. The summer heats up and the girl won't leave Juniper's head. She knows that something is very wrong, but can't divine what it is. This well-written tale is the first in Texas writer Enderle's Fortune Tellers Club series. Look for book two, Playing With Fire, in March 2002.

Desperation over a lost retainer brings the Fortune Teller's Club together for an emergency meeting. Twelve-year-old friends Juniper, Anne, and Gena formed the club two years ago when they realized they each have a psychic gift using tarot cards, ESP, and a Magic 8-Ball to find lost objects and predict the future. When their usual methods fail, the friends turn to scrying in water to find answers. Instead of finding Gena's lost retainer, however, they see the face of a missing girl.

Author Dotti Enderle begins the Fortune Tellers Club with a captivating tale of paranormal proportions. Friends Juniper, Anne and Gena are uniquely realized characters with fascinating gifts. Author Enderle understands young adult's fascination with all things paranormal, seamlessly blending the supernatural with the mundane in this fast paced tale. Young readers seeking a different kind of read will find THE LOST GIRL incredibly satisfying. THE LOST GIRL comes very highly recommended.

The Fortune Tellers Club is a delightful series by professional storyteller Dotti Enderle. This series, geared towards ages 9-12, features three best friends--Juniper Lynch, Anne Donovan, and Gena Richmond--who use divination to solve mysteries, explain relationships, and understand life experiences.

The Lost Girl is the first book of the series, where we're introduced to the Fortune Tellers Club. Gena has lost her retainer, and she knows her Dad will be furious! She calls upon the other two members of the Club to help divine the location of the retainer. They tried to use an Ouija board, but with no success. Juniper decides to gaze into a bowl of water (a form of scrying) but instead of seeing Gena's lost retainer, she sees the gaunt face of a mysterious young girl! They soon find out that a local girl, Laurie Simmons, is missing. Is Laurie the girl that Juniper saw in the bowl? Will divination help them find the missing girl?

I admit, I wasn't big on this first book. I thought the characters were flat and the story so-so. I almost stopped at Book 1, but decided to give Book 2 a chance. I'm glad I did! Books 2-5 are fast-paced and interesting, and the characters are fleshed out nicely. Not only are we given a better sense of the girls' personalities, but also home life, interests, and strengths. Also, the series portrays real-life conflicts, especially with relationships, which young girls will readily identify with. For example, Anne is friends with "The Snotty Twins" who are fellow cheerleaders. However, Anne's friends don't like Gena and Juniper--and the feeling is mutual from the other two members of the Club!

In my opinion, you don't need to read the first book in order to enjoy the others in the series. However, there are progressing storylines, so reading books later in the series may have the reader just a *little* confused.

I'd give the book 2 stars as a stand-alone book, but am giving it 3 since it's the birth of a wonderful series in juvenile fiction.

I love reading this book to my 5 year old, because it is a nice introduction to alternative ideas to main stream spirituality. Obviously, it is not deep enough for adults to really enjoy, but it is a great one for the 5-8 year old range.

School's out. While Anne is thinking about the boys at the pool and Gena is pleading for help to find her lost retainer, Juniper sees something that will make sure they're summer days are full. This is a fun, wholesome mystery that everyone can share. There's mystery, suspense and humor...all wholesome and oh-so-preteen. A Magic 8-Ball always has the answers, right? This would be a fun book to older kids to share with their pre-reading/early reading siblings. The chapters are short, so if you're trying to get lights out, you can set reasonable reading limits. It will be hard for mystery lovers to put down. Those with strong beliefs may find the use of the Ouija board, Magic 8-Ball, and tarot cards as inappropriate on principal. Kids at every age can use a reminder about the importance (and rules) of friendship. For those squeemish about mystical arts, it's an opportunity to talk with your kids and keep the 'evil' in perspective.

This book has very real characters and a great story. Though the story encompasses some super-natural abilities, the story line is very strong and it does not rely on the new age or paranormal aspects to carry it along. It's a real page-turner and kids will eat up and beg for the next one in the series. Dotti Enderle is a superb story teller.

Well written adventure that the whole family can enjoy. I am sure all readers will be caught up in the excitement and suspense. We look forward to the next adventure of The Fortune Tellers Club.

Juniper, Gena and Anne immediately sweep you up in a whirlwind of excitement. Obvious best friends, these girls start out trying to solve where a item has been misplaced. Instead they end up staring life and death in the face.
The Lost Girl had me hooked from page one. It was fill with mystery and adventure, but it also took a break for whitty humor and fun. I say it's a must read for girls 8-12. Don't miss out on the fun!

The minute you start reading this engrossing and lively story of three girls who combine the comaraderie of the Babystitter's Club with the excitement of the Nancy Drew mysteries, you realize this is no ordinary book for girls. The Lost Girl by Dotti Enderle, introduces the reader to a group of girls who capture your interest immediately. Juniper, one of the Fortune Tellers Club, leads the group into a situation that will keep girls on the edge of their seat before the surprising climax. As a teacher with fifteen years of experience I recommend this book very highly. The characters are very well drawn and the book's language will appeal to girls of this age. I can't wait for the second book in this series.

The minute you start reading this engrossing and lively story of three girls who combine the comaraderie of the Babystitter's Club with the excitement of the Nancy Drew mysteries, you realize this is no ordinary book for girls. The Lost Girl by Dotti Enderle, introduces the reader to a group of girls who capture your interest immediately. Juniper, one of the Fortune Tellers Club, leads the group into a situation that will keep girls on the edge of their seat before the surprising climax. As a teacher with fifteen years of experience I recommend this book very highly. The characters are very well drawn and the book's language will appeal to girls of this age. I can't wait for the second book in this series.