Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Healey, Karen Guardian of the Dead, 333 p. Little, Brown, 2010. $17.99  Language: R (60+ swears, 5 “f”); Sexual Content: PG-13 (creation myth with reverse birthing).  Ellie Spencer, 17, Lives at a boarding school on the South Island of New Zealand, fairly unprepossessing, not entirely friendless, until the day she runs into her long time crush – literally.  After touching the bracelet on his wrist, Ellie’s fate has changed forever.  She is now a key figure in either the destruction or salvation of the North Island.  The creatures of Maori mythology are real – and some of them have dastardly plans for all human life.  Maybe Ellie can stumble her way into a solution.  Ellie joins a long cast of recent “heroines” who really fdo nothing for themselves, but instead blindly follow along in the name of love and friendship and somehow find themselves to be a hero.  BORING. Oh – unsophisticated teen readers will probably adore the fantasy and romance elements, but they really shouldn’t be encouraged.  HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.