After a whirlwind couple of months Alex finds herself living in an ancient Savannah mansion with a grandmother she had never known, and the surroundings are a complete contrast to what she had grown up in.
Before Alex knows it, she is entangled in mystical family traditions, and she discovers family secrets that has a reach she could never have imagined.
The Magnolia League is a book that will keep you reading, it is filled with southern ambiance, teenage troubles and a dose of mystique. Attempting to become the perfect southern belle takes much more than etiquette lessons and diets, and Alex turns to hoodoo traditions for some extra help.
Crouch successfully pulls the reader into Alex’ dramatic life, and through her descriptive writing style, the magic of Savannah comes to life in a way that was unexpected. The development of Alex’ character also takes surprise turns throughout the story, but I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and superficial which is one of the reasons why I only give the Magnolia League four out of five stars.
While the appearance of hoodoo in the storyline did not cause me to loose interest in the book itself, as natural herbs and the use thereof do fit well into the story and the setting, the extent to which hoodoo is used in the Magnolia League was a bit disappointing to me. It simply seems to be too much of a good thing, and it takes away the connection to reality and thereby moves the story into a different more paranormal genre.
While the Magnolia League is categorized as a young adult book, I personally think it reads closely to the adult book category, touching on themes that are more suitable for teenagers 16 and up.
The Magnolia League is the first in a series by Katie Crouch, and the second book White Glove War is set to be released in 2012. This is a sequel I will be looking forward to, and it will definitely be on my to-read list.
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Poppy (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316078492
ISBN-13: 978-0316078498
