Rebel Belle
Gr 7 Up—Harper Price is not your typical Southern belle. When the ancient powers of a Paladin are passed on to her during Homecoming, her life changes instantly. According to the legend of Charlemagne, a Paladin is a guardian charged with protecting a particular being. In Harper's case, this being is none other than her sworn enemy, David Stark. As her new abilities grow, they threaten to ruin her relationships with her parents, her boyfriend, and her best friend. Armed with the advice of those who have lived with this responsibility, along with the best knowledge the Internet has to offer, Harper faces her uncertain future with her pearls and agility skills at the ready, prepared for whatever adventure may lie ahead. With Rebel Belle, Hawkins provides a soft place for readers of her "Hex Hall" series (Hyperion) to land. Rife with legendary beings and their accumulated lore, the novel presents a worthwhile heroine in Harper Price. Overscheduled and overly responsible, she is a familiar character to teens, and by the end of the book, Hawkins convinces them that she may be the perfect recipient of the power of a Paladin.—Colleen S. Banick, Westport Public Schools, CT