Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - ESSENTIAL

Barnes, Jennifer Lynn Every Other Day,  336 p. Egmont, DECEMBER 2011.  $18.  Language: PG-13 (12 swears, 0 ‘f’); Violence: PG-13.  Monday – ordinary girl, ordinary day of torture at the local public school; Tuesday – supernatural creature slayer with super strength, super skills and super healing.  Why should Kali care that one of the evil cheerleaders has been bitten by a chupacabra and will die within 24 hours?  Because she seems to have been born to kill monsters, that’s why.  But after she coaxes the beastie out of the cheerleader, Kali has suddenly acquired two shadows – not only the cheerleader, whose dad seems to be involved in an evil scheme, but also Skylar, short, witty, kind of a psychic and maybe Kali’s new (ever) best friend.  After all of these years of hiding her secrets, Kali has a hard time trusting, but Skylar and Bethany are determined to help Kali whether they have her permission or not.  Wow!  I want to live inside Jennifer Barnes head.  Or maybe I don’t  She has written another fabulous book.  I was left gasping for air as I raced to the end.  Definitely not for the squeamish, though.  MS – OPTIONAL (see ratings); HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher