Messenger - Softcover

A girl who's recently moved to a small Florida town knows the women in her family gain control of supernatural Gifts on their 15th birthdays, but the nature of her own gift might not make Evie happy.At first, Evie Messenger is sure she has no Gift at all. When a medium fails to see what her Gift might be, the white teen doesn't press the issue because she's happy to be an "oddball," a Messenger woman with no Gift. But that night, she meets a pale, black-haired girl named Tommie, who keeps showing up and has some sort of undefined problem. It turns out that Evie indeed does have a Gift, a terrifying one: she can directly communicate with the dead. Tommie, of course, has died, but she doesn't know it. Complicating matters is the fact that Tommie was the daughter of JimDaddy, Evie's new stepfather, and the girlfriend of Buddy, Evie's new boyfriend. Evie not only must deal with this tangled web, but also come to terms with her Gift and learn how to use it properly so that she can help the dead souls that come to her. Williams creates a recognizable world with Evie and her working-class, white family, whose colloquial speech ("Now lookit") provides extra dimension. Even though her Gift may be supernatural, Evie herself comes across as a well-rounded, likable character. Another solid outing from Williams. (Paranormal fiction. 12-18)--Kirkus Reviews "8/1/16 "

Evie Messenger s 15th birthday is the catalyst for this paranormal coming-of-age story. Throughout the generations, the Messengers have each received a gift for helping others. They don t know what their gift will be until their 15th birthday. Unexpectedly, Evie discovers that she can see, hear, and communicate with the dead. In addition to the usual complications possessing paranormal talents in the mortal world brings, Evie s first experience is even more complex, as the first ghost she sees is Tommie, the deceased daughter of her new stepfather. To make matters more confusing, Tommie also happens to be the former girlfriend of Evie s current crush, Buddy. Luckily, the teen is surrounded by a loving extended family who help her cope. Although this book is set in the present day, the genteel, classic tone hints at a bygone era without seeming dated. All of the characters are fully formed, including the adults, who are often one-dimensional in YA. The Southern setting and manners add to the overall charm. There are no great surprises or twists, the romance between Evie and Buddy is tame, and the ending will likely be expected by readers, but none of that mars this sweet offering. VERDICT A gentle tale with lots of heart that should find an audience with all but the most cynical readers.--School Library Journal "August 2016 ""

"Eerie and poignant, Carol Lynch William s powerful MESSENGER will haunt its readers. This book about family and destiny will grab the reader s heart and refuse to let go."
Carrie Jones, New York Timesand internationally bestsellingauthor of the NEED series
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Williams creates a recognizable world with Evie ... Even though her Gift may be supernatural, Evie herself comes across as a well-rounded, likable character. Another solid outing from Williams.--Kirkus Reviews "8/1/16 "

All of the characters are fully formed, including the adults, who are often one-dimensional in YA. The Southern setting and manners add to the overall charm. A gentle tale with lots of heart ...--School Library Journal "August 2016 "

Melancholy and sweet, this coming-of-age tale deals in love, loss, and memories, blendingtogether romance, mystery, and the supernatural for a haunting read.. Booklist--Booklist online "September 1, 2016 ""

"Cever twists and efficient world building keep the pace swift, and Williams makes smart use of her premise to encapsulate what it s like to straddle the line between childhood and adolescence." Publishers Weekly--Publishers Weekly "August 22, 2016 ""

From PEN Award–winning author Carol Lynch Williams comes a “haunting read” (Booklist) in this coming-of-age tale about a girl who can talk to the dead—even if she would rather not.

Evie Messenger knows that her family is different from other families. But it isn’t until her fifteenth birthday that the Messenger gift is revealed to her. Evie has the family’s gift—a special power. Soon she realizes she is able to see and talk to the dead—ghosts—often with no idea who the person was. Or as Evie says: “I see Dead People. It’s a Messenger gift.” That doesn’t necessarily mean she wants the Messenger gift. So Evie tries to ignore it but soon she finds she cannot. Can Evie find a way to live her life without letting her power take over?And what if the dead person is someone close to Evie’s family?