Prom Dates from Hell (Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil)
Grade 9 Up—Under normal circumstances, Maggie Quinn would want nothing to do with the vicious, elite clique at her high school. But when the jocks and their girlfriends start falling prey to a series of situations ranging from embarrassing to potentially fatal, not to mention reeking of sulfur, the school newspaper reporter can't ignore the story. In addition to being a Nancy Drew wannabe, Maggie has inherited her grandmother's sixth sense, as evidenced by the demon appearing in her dreams. Although she is initially reluctant to believe that anything supernatural is going on, her partnership with a paranormal-studies college student who is in one of her father's classes eventually leads her to a salt-throwing showdown with the demon and his minions at her senior prom. Maggie's transformation into a butt-kicking demon hunter is well drawn as is the budding romance with her partner. The pair launch into a routine set of investigations to reveal a weak backstory accounting for the origins of the demon that will not compel readers to suspend disbelief. The main draw of this book, however, is Maggie's sarcastic tone, which is dripping with wit on nearly every page. Sharp writing and a satirical portrayal of the high school social scene make this an enjoyable read in the vein of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."—Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.