CREATIVE TEEN READ
Magonia
By Maria Dehvana Headley
Teen / YA
Paranormal
Science Fiction
Kickin' Female Lead
Aza Ray Boyle has been sick since she was born and waiting to die since forever. With life and death in every breath, Aza decided a long time ago that life was worth living well if she never knew when that last breath would be the death of her. Since she has always had trouble breathing, trouble gaining weight, trouble everywhere she goes, she decided that trouble she would be. So she lives her life in a reality that is her own and drags her family and Jason her best friend along for the ride.
Poetry, random fact collections, sailors amongst the clouds, alligators at fifth birthday parties, crashing the family car, lists of apologies. These are the things that matter to her and have always mattered. And if it weren't for her oldest and bestest friend Jason to share everything with, she probably would have given up the ghost years ago. He makes life worth hanging on for, and every breath worth breathing. And her family have always made sure she had everything she needed and everything she wanted too – like watching stars in the dark in the middle of winter even if it meant she ends up in hospital again the next day.
So she's waiting for death. Not something your average teen aged girl is constantly thinking about but that's Aza for you. Then something strange starts happening, voices in the wind, sailing ships in the clouds, birds in her bedroom, hundreds of them. And she wonders if she is hallucinating, that her meds are finally rotting her brain and what she sees and hears isn't real. Then the thing they were all waiting for finally happens, but when Aza wakes up in a new, blue body on said sailing ships, her life goes from crazy to bat-ship crazy – not literally bat-ship, the ship is sailed by a giant bat.
This story is a creative work from an author who really does think outside the box. The internal workings of the two main characters, Aza and Jason, are so creatively written, interesting and emotive and enjoyable to read.
The change in setting and the foundation for the metamorphosis that takes place is a little jarring and I found it hard to accept without the load of explaining that eventually comes for Aza, but apart from that I enjoyed the book. I did look for more in a series but found it was a stand-alone.
4 stars out of 5. A very creative read.
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