Twister

Twister's father has gone missing. Her mother is depressed, and people are accusing her father of starting a fatal fire. Even school is horrible now, despite Twister's love for learning, and other than her Aunt Honey and her dog Point she feels that everyone is now against her. Then one day Twister finds a magic necklace with transformative powers. Will this discovery help her to find her missing father, or will the dark forces looking for the necklace be too much for Twister?

Forrest has created a compelling protagonist, with all the hallmarks of a great heroine. Twister is brave, smart, strong willed but also relatable in her adolescent uncertainty about herself and the world around her. While magic features heavily, it does not detract from the emotional pull and character development that are so key to this book. The story rolls from hilarity to horror, and even extremely touching and heart-wrenching moments, without missing a beat and never feeling forced.