Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Date: June 14th, 2011

One hour to rewrite the past . . . 

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Where do I even start? This book was so many things. Remarkable. Original. Addictive. Mind-Bending. AMAZING. I just don't have enough gushing, positive words to articulate how I feel about this book. As one of my most anticipated books of 2011, I am so relieved that it has not only lived up to my expectations, but far exceeded them. I loved it, and am already anxiously awaiting book #2. I have a feeling that this is a new favorite series for me.

I'll be honest and say that I initially wanted this book for one reason,and one reason only. The cover. Hi. Can you say fantastic? I was immediately drawn to this book because of it. Then I read the synopsis and there was just no way I wasn't going to read it. Now that I have, I need to make sure everyone else does too.

This book was so well written. I could not stop turning the pages. (I actually felt bad for my parents, who I only visit in NY once a year, because I kind of ignored them for two days of my visit to read this.) The story was phenomenal. I never saw the twists coming, and neither will you. They are just THAT original. Now, if you're used to my reviews, you know that I never reveal spoilers in them. The Goodreads synopsis is about all you'll get. That said, you should understand that the above synopsis does not even come close to revealing the depth of this book. I loved the characters, the plot, the tension, the energy. Ugh. Could sometime-in-2012-when-Untilted-book-2-is-released come already? Please? I NEED to know what happens next.

Oh, and did I mention that the cover is amazing?

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + 

Grade Level Recommendation: Clean as a whistle. The only things I can think of that very conservative parents might object to is a murder mystery and some very innocent romantic undertones. Perfectly fine for an advanced reading 4th grader+ (ages 9+).