The Other Ones (Novel) [Hardcover]

Jean Thesman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Novel

Ever since she can remember, 15-year-old Bridget has had extraordinary powers. She can talk to animals, move objects by thinking about them, and read minds. Bridget is a witch. For years, she has been pushing down her powers in order to fit in. Her aunt Cait, also a witch, has been urging her to accept her true self-but it's not until a new girl comes to school that Bridget has to take a stand. For Althea Peale is a shapeshifter, and only Bridget can save her and her family. The Other Ones is thoughtful, suspenseful, and laced with magic-the acclaimed Jean Thesman at her very best.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"It doesn't pay to be different. Not even a little bit." So concludes Bridget Raynes's best friend, Mitzie, after the two have made it through yet another demoralizing day of sophomore year. "Different" is something that Bridget has always beenAshe can move objects just by thinking about them, see the spirits of trees, even read other people's minds. But Bridget has worked hard to squelch her powers, to assure both herself and others that she's not different. Her aunt Cait, also marked by the family "gift," and Bridget's "threshold guardian", xiii (pronounced "shhh"), both try to convince her that by denying her powers, she is denying her true self. Bridget can't bring herself to believe them, even as her problems with the class bully and her wretch of a teacher mount. And when xiii and Cait tell her that by joining with the "Other Ones," the wicce or witches, she could help both her friend Jordan, who's been abandoned by his father, and the new girl in school, the mysterious and painfully different Althea, Bridget still resists. Uncharacteristically clumsy, Thesman (The Moonstones) hammers away at her "be true to yourself" theme so relentlessly and stacks the deck so obviously against any other perspective that readers are likely to grow impatient. Only the climax is truly compelling, in which the Jordan and Althea plot strands come together in an unexpected way. Unfortunately, many readers may not stay with the book long enough to experience it. Ages 10-14. (May)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9Although it is not immediately obvious, the main character of this odd novel is a witch. On the surface, Bridget is nothing more than an awkward misfit at her high school, an outsider with few friends. She is also one of the Other Ones, a circle of gentle, loving folk who possess great magical powers. The plot revolves around her struggle about whether to accept her true nature or be normal. She is watched over by a threshold guardian, a strange, cantankerous creature with an even stranger name, xiii, pronounced shhh. She also worries about her friend Jordan, who has been abandoned by his father, and a new girl at school who is taunted by her classmates and is, in fact, a shape-shifter who is really a falcon. As if all of this is not hard enough to swallow, the adults are strange as well. Bridgets Aunt Cait is a witch with two cats as familiars. Bridgets parents seem to care little for their daughter or her problems. Her English teacher and the class bully are irredeemably evil. There is excitement and suspense in the plot line, as Bridget must finally decide whether to use her powers for good or ill. However, while the story is well written, the characters remain black and white, with all of the Other Ones good and all of the other adults so reprehensible as to be unbelievable.Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670885940
• ISBN-13: 978-0670885947
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,717,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars review from the other one, April 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Other Ones (Novel) (Hardcover)

I thought that all of the characters in the book were potentially intresting and might have had ok personalities, but potential was all they had. Only the main character was really defined, and she in a predicatble way. The relationship between her and Greg should have been carried on. It was basically, she freaked and that was it. You'd think that might have some impact on her desision to accept herself, but it was just dropped. Also, the way she and Althea acted. While I can understand them being a little weird, considering one is a witch and the other a hawk, I'd say that it could be better developed. Great description though and the paralell between the way characters look and how they are is cool.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - about accepting and embracing your differences!, April 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Other Ones (Novel) (Hardcover)

A story about accepting your path in life along with its responsibilities and rewards. In a fresh, imaginative, mystical, and often humorous way, Bridget's story unfolds. The confusion and emotions of adolescence combined with her efforts to force down her emerging powers in an attempt to be "normal" comes through with the appropriate honesty and bewilderment. Her threshold guardian xiii adds a running commentary of riddles which give Bridget hints, but never a clear view of her destiny. An engaging story for 9-14 year-olds.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, August 12, 2000

By 

Sunshine (Eastern Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Ones (Novel) (Hardcover)

This is by far my favorite book. The words are lyrical and almost like poetry. While it may not be completely developed, for fantasy lovers, this doesn't matter. I laughed aloud numerous times, it has comedic parts. Most of all- I could relate to the character and that is very important. A must read for all fantasy lovers.