Review: The 12th Year Awakening: Amelia Maylock by Jason Ellis
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 20, 2012
In the spring of her 12th years, just as the term begins, Amelia Maylock's happy life in her English school begins to crumble, literally. Falling through the floor in her school she finds herself in a dark cave. Confused and afraid she calls for help. But the help that does come is not quite what she was expecting. Instead of rescue workers with ropes and pulleys she meets the beautiful Anin who opens a portal to a new dimension. Once there Amelia begins to see things she didn't think possible. A mouse reading a newspaper, and Old Hag who expects Amealia to understand things she can't believe. Not to mention the owls playing chess.Having been given a sword with a lovely jewel in it, Amelia is told she must use it to find the rest of the jewels needed to complete the sword and defeat and enemy she was unaware of. Before completely coming to terms with these new developments in her life she meets many weird and wonderful characters, visits worlds she didn't know existed and fight an enemy she is unprepared for.Amelia is a wonderful 7th grade student. She is funny, bright, and happy. Up until the floor falls out from under her Amelia has lived her life with the joy and exuberance of a regular middle school girl. She likes to go to the mall, socialize with her girlfriends and talk about boys. All the normal things a girl her age enjoys. But her life has changed and she can never go back to being the pre-teen she was.If she makes the decision to help the people in the other dimension she will always be looking behind her, over her shoulder, watching shadows and questioning everything. But if she doesn't, they, and all they know will be harmed. Either way, Amelia will never be the kid she was before.This is a very imaginative story with fun, wacky, weird and scary characters. The plot twist and turns and the action are believable. Amelia shows good decision making and has adults to counsel her when she needs help. The writing is good and the flow is easy.A wonderful story for middle school and up. The main characters are female and good role models abound.Karen Bryant Doering,Parents' Little Black Book