Publishers Weekly
First-time author White shows the technique and polish of a pro in this absorbing romance, which comes closer than most to hitting the Buffy mark. Evie, 16, works for the IPCA, an organization charged with keeping paranormal beings under control. Evie is the only human who can see through any glamour, and she's an expert at "bag and tag"--stun the target, slap on a tracking bracelet, and send it on for processing. It's a dull, regimented, and sequestered life from Evie's point of view, and she longs for normal things like a school locker and a driver's license. When a shape-shifter, Lend, is captured, Evie is drawn to this boy her own age who has lived in the normal world. Lend tells her uncomfortable truths about herself, but shares his secrets, too, and when Evie's certainties suddenly and terribly break down, Lend becomes the person she can count on. The action is fast; fun and fear are in abundance; and Lend's father is actually a cool grownup. How's that for supernatural? Ages 12–up. (Sept.)
Newsday
The most imaginative vampire/werewolf/supernatural series going.
ReadingTeen Parental Review (blog review)
This was one of my favorite books of the year! I thought it was absolutely fantastic! I laughed out loud so many times while reading it, and it was wonderfully written and so refreshingly clean!
Romantic Times
Buffy meets The X-Files in this darkly sexy story.
Booklist
A fast-paced, entertaining debut. Alternately funny and tragic but never maudlin, White’s debut will have broad appeal among fantasy fans.
ReadingTeen
From the very first page of Paranormalcy, I fell completely in love. It’s funny, light-hearted, sweet, and clever, while at the same time it’s unusual, romantic, mysterious, and even at brief times a little dark and scary. It’s everything that I love in a book!
ReadingTeen Parental Review
This was one of my favorite books of the year! I thought it was absolutely fantastic! I laughed out loud so many times while reading it, and it was wonderfully written and so refreshingly clean!
VOYA - Laura Woodruff
A tribe of Trillium rats, who are large, long lived, and highly civilized, lives under a human city in the Catacombs. Now controlled by High Minister Killdeer and his vicious commander Billycan, older rats can remember the bloody war that destroyed their benevolent rulers. Drunken, disgusting Killdeer exacts tribute from every family, kidnaps children for his army, and sleeps with Chosen Ones, while albino lab rat Billycan brutally carries out his commands. When Killdeer chooses lovely Clover, the last female of her clan, her uncle Juniper decides it is time to act. Juniper, who survived the coup, has built the secret city of Nightshade in preparation for the day of Killdeer's defeat and the restoration of freedom and peace. Many rat characters enliven the action prior to the final showdown. Besides rats, Juniper and his militia are assisted by talking earthworms and one small boy who opens doors for them, since the Nightshade exit is inside a room in his house. Human terms are generally used, except for Billycan and Killdeer, who are described as loathsomely ratlike. This first novel has a satisfying but open-ended conclusion, promising a sequel. Reminiscent of Redwall and the Warriors series, Nightshade City is likely to please most fantasy lovers. Reviewer: Laura Woodruff
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up—First in a trilogy, this clever, must-have debut focuses on sassy Evie, 16, who calls the International Paranormal Containment Agency home. Armed with her unique ability to see through all paranormal "glamours" and her trusty pink taser, Evie bags, tags, and helps IPCA track and contain a variety of familiar creatures. Despite her unconventional life (no origin story, mermaid best friend, werewolf colleagues, etc.), she considers herself to be pretty normal—until shape-shifting elemental and extremely cute Lend breaks into IPCA looking for answers and ironically becomes one of the agency's latest puzzles. The more pressing concern: Who's been murdering paranormals? Lend's arrival; fae ex-boyfriend's (literally) hot, increasingly threatening advances; unsettling dreams; and a well-planned attack on the agency force Evie to face surprising revelations about IPCA and herself. White's storytelling successfully balances the fun and the sinister. There's an interesting mix of magic and technology. The pace is brisk with plenty of action. White's faeries (not vamps) are the beautiful and manipulative paranormals to watch out for, a refreshing change for some readers. Characterization is consistent, though Evie is the most fleshed out. A perfect blend of normal/supernatural, she simultaneously doubts her genetic makeup while yearning for and worrying about typical teenage concerns. Featuring a clever, kick-butt heroine channeling both Buffy and a PG Sookie, this book will likely fly off library shelves.—Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ
Kirkus Reviews
Evie wants a normal teenage life, but at the IPCA Center(International Paranormal Containment Agency) life is decidedly not normal. Evie's unique ability to see past the glamours of all paranormals to their essence is a valued asset in the efforts to contain werewolves, vampires, hags and the like. Trained to handle their capture, Evie becomes attracted to her most recent catch, Lend, a unique paranormal who can change his look to match anyone around him. It's not his hot teen looks that pull her in, but the magically smooth and fluid way he seems underneath. Add in a faerie who is determined to pull her into real evil anda truly murderous unknown paranormal being attacking the Center for extra zing.Most of the fun of this novel is in the play between this imagined world and Evie's desire for such normal teen amusements as dates, shopping and prom. Her first-person narration is light, but she's appealingly determined to do the right thing when all else is upside down.Good, romantic—and a little weird—entertainment. (Paranormal romance. 10 & up)
