Good conceptual novel for the YA crowd.

The concepts that the book expands on, quite well for a YA novel, are mystical in nature - karma & reincarnation. The Salem Witch Trials are used as the backdrop, but no previous knowledge is necessary. Duncan does a wonderful job of giving just enough information to make the book easily understandable without weighing down the plot with irrelevant facts.

The book's protagonist is a teen named Sarah Zoltanne. She & her mother, Rosemary, have moved from Ventura, California to a small conservative town called Pine Crest in Missouri. They have moved because Rosemary met a soon-to-be divorced man, Ted Thompson, that she fell in love with. Ted has a daughter, Kyra, who is fiercely loyal to her mother - making the Zoltanne home a very tense place when the two families are together.

The plot hinges on the development of two main friendships - Sarah & Charlie Gorman and Kyra & Eric Garrett. Charlie Gorman is an overweight boy who is teased a lot at school but comes from a very liberal & educated home. Most of the talk of karma & reincarnation is started by him. Eric Garrett is probably the most popular boy at the local high school & his friendship with Kyra is key to the plot. There are times when the story, which is almost always told from Sarah's perspective, will divert to a conversation between Eric & Kyra. They move the plot.

There are a number of plot twists, most of which are very subtle but shocking. You need to pay attention as you read, or else you could easily overlook Duncan's great foreshadowing ability.

Though Charlie tends to only be used in the latter part of the book, he is my favourite character. His wit & charm are a welcome distraction from the somewhat morose tone the book sometimes carries.

8/10