Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Clearing by Heather Davis

Title: The Clearing
Author: Heather Davis
Pages: 228
Publisher: Graphia
Publication Date: April 12, 2010
Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.
Recovering from an abusive relationship, Amy goes to her great aunt Mae's house to run from her problems and start anew. When she discovers Henry's life on the other side of the clearing, she is immediately drawn to his world and the inexplicable connection they share. But their relationship might not last; for Henry's situation may be far too complicated to hold their bond. Their hearts are on the line and their feelings for each other are quickly growing. It may be too late to avoid heartache.

The Clearing is a beautiful, bittersweet book that portrays the hardships and obstacles that people like Amy and Henry have to go through, just for love. It focuses on perfectly capturing the essence of love and showing its different sides. The Clearing shows the ups and downs, and also depicts how people can mistake 'infatuation' or 'like' for love.

The concept of The Clearing is extraordinary yet convincing. The idea of the mist in the clearing separating two different times; present and 1944 stands out well and is solidified with the realistic references in the book. The Clearing has a simplistic backdrop that gives the plot a more intimate and rustic feel to it. Readers will be completely interlocked and captivated with the charming countryside where Amy and Henry reside.

Amy's voice as a narrator is clear and concise with a comfortable tone. Amy has been through a lot, and readers will resonate with her feelings and experiences as Amy strives to get over her abusive relationship. Henry, from a completely different time, is a well-established character from the very beginning and yearns for something different...something only Amy can give. Their relationship coincides with Henry's family's developing revelation of the situation they're in and this further complicates things between their boundaries. They won't get all of what they want, but they do get to experience something very valuable; love. Even if their romance is quite rushed, it's easy to overlook that tainting aspect and focus on the subtle and important messages in The Clearing.

Amy's situation is uncommon but the reader will become in tune with her situation because of the normalities that are present in the novel. Amy deals with school, trying to fit in, friends, and family problems just like many other teens today. Henry and his world serves as an escape from her unhappy reality which ultimately elaborates on the concept of reality and fantasy comparison.

Simple, beautiful, and compassionate, The Clearing is full of depth and simple messages that readers may have forgotten. It's reminiscent of quiet summer nights, the lovely countryside, and the slight paranormal tinge. The Clearing is a magical and thought-provoking read that will make readers truly question their morals and beliefs of love. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Breathtaking, simple, and balanced.

---Field Report---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 97/100 (A+)
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12 comments:

Unknown April 28, 2010 at 8:28 PM  

sounds really good, I'll have to pick it up. Great review!

Unknown April 28, 2010 at 9:36 PM  

Great review. This book sounds awesome.

Mary not so Contrary April 29, 2010 at 12:22 AM  

Great review! I love how you grade your reviews! This books sounds really sweet and I like that its orginal. Thanks for reviewing it!

Kaylyn April 29, 2010 at 12:35 AM  

I've really wanted to read this. Your review has me wanting to kill anyone to get to the novel! Lol. Good review, Reggie :)

bookaholic April 29, 2010 at 12:48 AM  

I totally agree with you...this is an extraordinary tale!! Love it!

Bookish in a Box April 29, 2010 at 3:40 AM  

This sounds so sweetly romantic, and I love historical/contemporary mergers.

(Arya) Paige April 29, 2010 at 9:57 AM  

This book looks really good! I adore Heather Davis. Never Cry Werewolf is one of my favorites =)

-Arya
http://seaofpages.blogspot.com

Anonymous,  April 30, 2010 at 12:38 AM  

Great review!

I've always loved books that had the past coexisting with the present. I'll have to check this one out!

Anonymous,  April 30, 2010 at 12:39 AM  

Great review!

I've always loved the idea of having the past coexist with the present.

I'll have to check this out.

Ladytink_534 May 3, 2010 at 6:34 AM  

Oh this sounds amazingly good! The 1940s were such a great era so I'll have to pick this up for that alone!

Unknown June 19, 2010 at 4:04 AM  

I LOVE The Clearing! I liked the concept of the mist and how Amy was only able to reach Henry through the meadow and not the other way around. I'm still unsure how I feel about the ending though...

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