Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Published: January 4, 2011 by HarperTeen
Received: Bought from Barnes & Noble

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart. {taken from goodreads.com}

Wow. This book really grabbed me, & I was unable to put it down until I finished this chapter in this new series by Cynthia Hand.  If you're a fan of paranormal meets young adult contemporary, then this book is meant for you!  There were several moments while reading that I forgot angels were even involved because I was so swept up in the intensity of young teenage love & all the baggage (good & bad) it brings with it.

The story begins explaining Clara, who she is, & what her abilities are.  She's a quarter angel (or angel-blood as they like to call themselves) who has a purpose in life.  Her purpose slowly comes to her the closer she reaches her prime teenage years through visions.  With the help of her mother (who is also an angel-blood), & her reluctant younger brother, she begins to put the pieces together of her visions in order to find out what her purpose is.  And so they move to Wyoming, as a family, in order for Clara to fulfill her purpose in life as an angel-blood. 

Clara's visions are always of a young boy, Christian, & her saving him from a forest fire.  She finds him in Wyoming, and soon finds herself attending school with him & having an every day life as any normal teenager would.  She feels drawn to him & little by little the visions reveal to her that Christian is supposed to mean more to her than just a friendly acquaintance.  Clara is still young in learning her strengths & abilities as an angel-blood though.  One rule that her mother shares with her is that you never reveal yourself to a human.  This is one of the few rules that her mother is willing to share with Clara, though.  For whatever reason, Clara's mother likes to keep their abilities & their purposes in the dark.   A new face becomes a constant in Clara's world.  Tucker.  She first meets him at school, as the brother to one of her new friends she's made since moving to Wyoming.  He plays the typical role of a teenage boy picking on a girl, for whom he really has a crush on.  Tucker is the perfect gentleman to those he is respectful towards.  He is witty & charming when he wants to be.  His boyish grin, dimple and all, start to flood Clara's thoughts.  It's these thoughts that steer Clara away from her purpose, away from Christian.

Clara & Tucker's summer romance in the mountains & on the lake were a dream to read about.  The author, Cynthia Hand, beautifully choreographed the build up of what only was inevitable.  Clara & Tucker fall in love.  His gentleness & patience while teaching her how to fly fish, their shared kisses under the stars while laying in the bed of his truck.  These moments propelled the book & swept me away to what every girl wishes her first love should feel like.  You almost believe that it's just a girl & a boy, and start to forget that it's an angel with a purpose & a boy who has no idea that world even exists.  As time marches on, Clara is reminded she came to Wyoming for a reason.  She has choices to make, and lots of questions she needs answers to.

The last few chapters I was completely engulfed in.  I could not put the book down.  I had to know what happened next.  My heart was racing & I felt myself holding my breath.  Clara is being forced to choose between what her heart wants: Tucker, and what her purpose is meant for: Christian.  This being the first book in the series, I knew I would not get the answers all wrapped up at the end.  I was pleased with the conclusion that Cynthia Hand gives us though.  Just enough to satisfy me, but even more to keep me intrigued.  The dialogue that is being told through Clara's thoughts & words is right on when it comes to the teenage spirit.  I think that is why, as the reader, you forget it's a paranormal book & read it as just young adult fiction.  My first thought when I closed this book: I need more. NOW.  I am anxious, yet terrified to learn what lies ahead for Clara.  What challenges must she face based on the choices that she's made?  Unearthly is unbelievably & unconditionally brilliant.  I think angels are giving vampires a run for their money.. at least in the young adult world.

Side note: the cover for this book is GORGEOUS. I am seriously in love with it.  The pictures shown online do not do it's justice.  Even underneath the jacket, the hard bound cover is breathtaking.  This is by far one of the most dazzling book covers I've seen in a long, long time.  If anything - you must go to the bookstore & see it for yourself!  You'll want to touch it & stare at it like I have so many times :-)