Illuminate

January 16, 2012
Agresti’s debut novel (first in a projected trilogy) is a tense tale of angels, devils, and the cult of celebrity that is let down somewhat by an unrealistic setup, paranormal elements aside. Nerdy Haven Terra is suffering through her junior year of high school when she and two other high-achieving students are picked for a prestigious internship, living and working at a newly reopened luxury hotel in Chicago. The teens are repeatedly told that this is their chance to make connections with the rich and powerful, but Haven suspects the staff is hiding something sinister, a theory confirmed by a magical book that warns her of danger and tells her that she’s in training for a greater purpose. When Haven figures out she and her friends are being groomed in a plot to collect souls, the race is on to save all three of them. The internship premise is pure wish fulfillment, and some characters, such as Haven’s gay best friend Dante, are painted very broadly. Still, Agresti’s story accelerates to an exciting climax, and the blossoming romance is sweet and satisfying. Ages 12–up. Agent: Stéphanie Abou, Foundry Literary + Media.

April 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-Shy and smart, 16-year-old Haven is thrilled when she and her BFF, Dante, and another classmate, Lance, are granted internships at a swank Chicago hotel. At first, the students are impressed by the hotel's owner, Aurelia; her right-hand man, Lucian; and their stunning staff, the Outfit. Soon though, tingling scars, a mysterious notebook, and tell-tale nightmares clue in Haven and Lance to their budding roles as angels, and Aurelia's and Lucian's true identities as aides to Satan, who plan to steal hundreds of souls on prom night. Using the Lexington Hotel where Al Capone stayed as the setting, Agresti creates a vivid environment rich with Capone lore, complete with a 1920s-themed party, hidden passageways, and a subterranean vault. Adding a spooky factor is a motif of incremental inner rot, a la Dorian Gray, reflected in photographs of Aurelia and the Outfit. While Haven is a likable, engaging protagonist, her lack of common sense is unbelievable. At the first hint of demonism and mortal peril (and that's well before she discovers she is an angel), why doesn't she just go home? Why does she so blindly obey the instructions, however dangerous or weird, of the anonymously written notebook? Another weak link is the lack of a convincing antithesis to the evil that Aurelia and company have in spades. Haven and her friends are not religious or spiritual. They do not meditate or pray. God is never mentioned. They are nice people but are lackluster candidates for carrying the banner for all that is righteous.-Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC

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