LitPick Review
"The Crystal Swan" by Suzan Tanner McCoury is an appropriate novel for young readers. The plot revolves around thirteen-year-old Leah. Leah goes to a nursing homes against her wishes to help out her mother volunteer. Not fond of elderly persons, Leah's sour disposition is clear to those at the nursing home. Speaking to the elderly, Leah is very incorrigible. Before she finally leaves, one older woman gives her a crystal swan. Shortly thereafter, the girl has disturbing "episodes," which are really flashbacks of elderly people of when they were young. Convinced Leah is mentally unstable, her mother brings her to a psychiatrist. At the conclusion of the novel, Leah discovers the mystery of the swan, and her mother is convinced of her sanity in a plot-twisting ending.
Opinion:
What's great about this novel is that it revolves around young teenagers and teenage issues while not at all bordering on inappropriateness or vulgarity. Leah and her friends, like all girls that age, are a bit boy-crazy. However, the extent of the romance is a hug and giggling. Additionally, there is an air of mysteriousness that is not too scary for the reader. Young ones will get excited about the events without being too horrified to keep turning the pages. Overall, this book is a quick read and great segway into chapter books for young readers that want a suspenseful glimpse into teenage life.
