Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The 13th Sign (with ARC giveaway!)

The 13th Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb releases on January 8th! Woohoo! To celebrate with Kristin, I have a signed ARC I'd like to give away. Giveaway details are at the end of this post.

The premise: Every birthday, Jalen and her grandma visit Madame Beausoleil's shop to have Jalen's horoscope read. Even though Jalen's pretty sure she doesn't believe in "dis hoo," she comes on her thirteenth birthday mostly because her beloved grandmother is sick and she wants to honor her 'Nina.' This year, Jalen finds a book in the shop, a book which--when unlocked--releases the 13th Zodiac sign. And accidentally, Jalen releases this sign, the sign of the Healer. But then everyone's personalities shift . . . and the other twelve signs are furious . . . with Jalen.

What keeps readers reading: The action. Jalen has twenty-three hours to battle the twelve zodiac signs before the changes she unleashed become permanent, so this novel moves fast. Jalen, her best friend Ellie, and Ellie's brother Brennan barely catch their breath as the story races along. And readers are breathless right beside them.

What I loved: There is a healing theme woven throughout this story. It's a story under the main story, but to me, it is the more important story. It involves a healing of the heart, not the body, and centers around Jalen, her grandmother, and Jalen's father who disappeared at a crucial moment in Jalen's life four years ago.

Because of its intricate plot and underlying theme, The 13th Sign is designed for upper middle grade readers. To snag my (signed!) ARC, simply comment on this post by 8pm CST on Sunday, January 13th, 2013. Blog followers get their name in the drawing twice. U.S. residents only. Winner announced next Monday.

For more middle grade fun, check the links on

Shannon Messenger's blog.
And on Thursday I have an interview with Kristin O'Donnell Tubb!

Happy middle grade reading!