Review: Energy-The Awakening (The Energy Chronicles: Book I) by M. J. Schutte
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 8, 2012
"Energy" is a YA novel with the main protagonists in their very early teens at the start moving through their late teens and early twenties. It is not suitable for the under 18 age group due to adult sexual situations.Lilian and Brighton have been friends since early childhood. They enjoy each others company and spend long days together while Brighton watches out for the heard of sheep his family keeps. Brighton is a few years older and is Lilian's protector. He is the sensible one in the friendship and she is the catalyst.As they reach their early teens the feelings they have for each other begin to change. They feel the first stirrings of hormone driven emotions which are making subtle differences in how they see each other.Living in a small town fondly called Four Mountains they have the security of being isolated from big town worries and the freedom to explore the forests which surround them. But even in small towns trouble can happen, and on one day, both their lives change in extraordinary ways.A stranger comes to town and Brighton must tap into the gift he has been born with. Not knowing or understanding what has happened he fights to save Lilian. But even though he wins the first battle he loses everything that is important to him. Lilian is gone, his family and home are destroyed and he must, at the tender age of fifteen, begin his life anew.Brighton finds solace and a new home with a much older woman who gives him shelter in exchange for his experience in handling family landholdings. Here he finds a place to grieve his losses and he begins to raise goats and expand gardens for food, while she imparts wisdom and manners helping him grown into a man.After the passing of 6 years he finds that everything he knew or thought about what happened that day in Four Mountains is wrong. Nothing and no one is as he knew them to be. His life will change, once again, in an instant. But this time it will be a voice from the past that precipitates the heart wrenching transition.As Brighton comes to terms with the special gifts he has been given, he finds he is not alone. He is challenged and must fight for his life and the lives of those he loves. Brighton learns that winning battles are never enough, you must also win hearts.This is a very good novel which transcends the YA category and will be a good read for adults as well.  Very well written, with an interesting story, lovable characters and intricate plot twists. There is plenty of action and good dialogue which moves the plot forward well. The author brings the tension up with slow deliberation drawing the reader into a gentle complacency and then stuns with a new twist. I will be sure to read the next in the series.By the way, my favorite character, Mischief, is one I think you will fall in love with too. Mischief steals the story.Karen Bryant Doering,Parents' Little Black Book