| Title | : | Highway to Hell (Maggie Quinn: Girl Vs. Evil, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0385734638 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780385734639 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 368 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2009 |
Dulcina, Texas—a town so small that it has an owner. And lately life in this small town hasn’t been all that peaceful. An eerie predator is stalking the ranchland.
Everyone in town has a theory, but not even Maggie’s psychic mojo can provide any answers. And the longer the girls are stranded, the more obvious it becomes that something is seriously wrong. Only no one—not even Maggie’s closest ally—wants to admit that they could have been forced on a detour down the highway to hell.
From the Hardcover edition.
Highway to Hell (Maggie Quinn: Girl Vs. Evil, #3) Reviews
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For those who haven't read the first two books in the series, don't worry. The only overarching plot so far is the main characters getting better at using their abilities and furthering their relationships. The books standalone quite well. Protagonist Maggie Quinn is snarky and capable, as is her best friend Lisa. (And Lisa is quite ready to call any guy out if he tries to be their white knight.) They're stranded in small town Dulcina, Texas when all they wanted to do is hang out on South Padre Island. Once more, Maggie has stumbled upon something that goes bump in the night.
What really struck me about this entry in the series is Rosemary Clement-Moore's addition of two new characters: a Catholic bruja and a seminary student. She does an excellent job of representing and respecting the theology without making it right or wrong. She applies the same weight to Lisa's New Age and science based ideas of how good should fight evil. It would be silly for a series about good and evil, set mostly in the real world, to ignore real theology. But it's also not the place of a YA novel to tell people what to believe. So I like that Clement-Moore handles the subject carefully and always puts telling the story first.
Funny, fresh, and fierce, HIGHWAY TO HELL will distract you from the boring parts of your own road trip. (And make you happy that the exciting parts don't include demons.) -
Все-таки люблю я автора.
За легкость, за юмор, за Ненси Дрю, за цитаты, даже за штампы, ибо у нее они выходят такими яркими, смешными и милыми, что только диву даешься.
Хорошая развлекательная серия получилась)) -
This is the 3rd book in a series by Rosemary Clement-Moore. Maggie is a Seer and along with her Dungeon and Dragon best-friend, Lisa, get in trouble with the "dark side" in each book. While Maggie and Lisa's abilities grow in each book, (I hope there will be more) so do their knowledge about relationships on a more "normal" realm.
I liked the way it showed a boy/girl relationship in a way that each character doesn't have to be jealous regarding the other person. It's okay for each to have their own friends, but not have to spend every waking moment with each other and they can each have their own hobby and interests. There is no sex between Maggie and Justin and it keeps the focus on their caring for each other and the waiting involved without consummating this relationship. The theme of waiting for sex, while not necessarily popular, is inspiring to show that there are authors who will show it's ok to wait. The first book was while Maggie was still in high school and this book is set when she is in college.
The dichotomy between good and evil plays a roll throughout the novel. It continuously reminds us that when there is God there is also a Devil and how it might be important in the "big picture" of things to have both in this world. While trying to "vanquish" a demon, it takes a witch and a priest (both in training) to help create the spell to contain the bad energy.
This would not be a book which could be incorporated into a teaching curriculum, but it would be a tool to use when a student is only focusing on the demonic or evil side of life. It might give insight into why the good is also needed to balance out life. The no sex thing is just a bonus. While there is some superstitions made up and some which, if researched, might be real, it's all about fantasy. -
To read series reread recap click
here.
By all accounts, this book should be my favorite because it looks very Lisa centric and Lisa is by far my favorite character in this book. Only thing is it’s not Lisa centric in hindsight.
God, the pacing is extremely off in this one.
I mean, rereading this series wasn’t exactly a horrible experience BUT it was easier to see the problems in this series and in this installment pacing is an extreme issue.
Don’t get me wrong there are some parts I like. I did like Maggie’s friendship with Lisa, and I did like her interactions with Justin. But the whole chupacabra thing was never really explained and sort of…well, sort of fell flat. Most like the relationship between Lisa and Zeke.
I just felt like as far as characters went, the Zeke character was poorly sketched. He was very archetypical at best and so are the rest of these characters.
Again, I get what Clement-Moore is trying to do, she’s going for a Nancy Drew vibe BUT again I didn’t feel these characters. In the first book, I felt like the side characters were vibrant enough. You had the stereotypical popular jerks, but you also had Maggie’s science teacher who was interesting, and some of her classmates actually had personalities that differed from being a complete stereotypical. With the supplement books though…yeah. I mean, here we have cowboys. And they’re…well, cowboys. -
Third times is THE charm in this wonderful series. Maggie's rite of passage into adulthood rolls on at highway speeds in what I consider the best of the series. Maggie ages like a splendid wine, gaining depth and character with every turn of the page.
I should add that the setting of this book just comes alive. This IS South Texas. You don't have to go there, sunburning in your car on a twenty mile grocery run, dodging coyotes and armadilloes, thanking God for the miracle of air conditioning. Just read this book. [Grin:]
This is definitely the scariest book in the series. Definitely not for young folks alone at night. Hell, definitely not for old gals like me alone at night either!
And for fans, it's time to PRESS the author for a Lisa book!!!!
Rosemary Clement-Moore -
I really enjoy this series. So sad this is the last book :c
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The third book in the Maggie Quinn series has Maggie and her best friend Lisa driving to Spring Break on South Padre Island. Neither are really the Spring Break type. Maggie wants to do an article for her school newspaper and Lisa just wants to do something normal.
However, their plans fall apart when Maggie's jeep hits a dead cow in the road and the two of them find themselves stranded in Dulcina, Texas, with something supernatural going on. The locals are sure that El Chupacabra has made a return as evidenced by missing and dead animals ranging from a small dog through goats and calves and cows. Both Maggie and Lisa are intrigued, and both are hoping that this won't be their next encounter with evil.
With Justin spending some time with his best friend Henry, Maggie feels a bit lost without his support and his research skills. A trip to a small local roadside museum with a faked-up skeleton of a supposed chupacabra doesn't shed much light on the mystery though a small relic from a long-lost Indian tribe may hold a clue.
Evidence of some sort of supernatural something becomes hard to dismiss as Maggie is having visions about something evil despite Lisa new friend Zeke's assurance that it is just some natural creature made more dangerous by the drought. Zeke's grandmother who appears in Maggie's visions is busy denying any sort of supernatural evil despite having bested it some fifty years earlier. When Justing and Henry join the girls, the whole Scooby gang is together again and just in time to battle a demon.
This story has it all. There is great worldbuilding, intriguing supernatural characters, snarky conversations between best friends, and all sorts of action as they bettle the demon. Fans of YA paranormal fiction will enjoy this one. -
With new access to a bunch of books from my TBR list, I finally finished this series that I started in 2014!
It took me a little bit to get back in sync with the story - book three takes place not too long after book two, which I remembered vaguely - but yeah, I still like it. I like the way the author writes, fitting in many pop culture references and humor. When a theology student quotes Saint Paul to her, Maggie quotes Spider-Man back at him. Its the kind of nerd shit that would make me befriend her. References to "Dogma" and BSG and "Men in Black" keep things fun
"Maggie Quinn: Girl Vs. Evil" has a very Buffy-slash-Veronica Mars-esqe feel to it, in that it is fun and witty and action-y, but not too scary for a big scaredy-cat like me. I like my demon fighting PG-13 and not too lethal. Also, she's an intrepid girl reporter, taking pictures and notes of scary things she doesn't yet make sense of to connect the dots.
During the first few chapters things moved slow for me, but I ended up giving the book four stars because I found the ending fun and badass.
"I never thought I'd need so much science to fight Evil." -
*2.5
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It was a good book. Had all the same sarcastic comedy I expect from this author. The ending for me personally was lackluster. Otherwise, good though.
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This is the third book in Rosemary Clement-Moore’s Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series. In this installment, Maggie (who’s still coming to terms with her supernatural powers) and her best friend (who’s also a witch) are on their way to a spring break getaway when car trouble gets them stuck in a small Texas town where cattle are being killed by a mysterious beast. There’s a rumor that the deaths are due to the mythical Chupacabra, but Maggie’s worried they have something much more familiar on their hands: a demon.
Highway to Hell is a fun, snarky, paranormal romp through a rural ranch. The book is equal parts creepy plot, small town atmosphere, and witty dialogue. It’s got just the right amount of YA angst to make the characters’ relationships both hilarious and relatable. My only complaint about this third book is that it’s the last one. I desperately wish Rosemary Clement-Moore had kept the adventure going because I’d gladly follow Maggie and her friends anywhere.
Although you probably don’t have to read the first two books to enjoy this one, you should anyway because they’re all terrific. Start with Prom Dates from Hell and get ready for some otherworldly fun. -
Poor Maggie. She can’t even go on vacation without running into something Evil. Maggie and her best friend Lisa find themselves stranded in a tiny town in Texas when they attempt to try their hand at something as normal as Spring Break. However, normalcy is the last thing they find as they investigate the legend of el Chupacabra.
This book could have easily just been a mid-series filler, but instead it was something much more. The story by itself is compelling – a great build up, a climax right out of a Spielberg film, excellent use of the landscape and culture, and some gasp-out-loud moments – but it is also obviously in the middle of something bigger as the main characters do some growing and introspection, as well as learning how big (and intertwined) the supernatural world is. It’s really great to see Maggie gradually learning how to use the Gift, and really struggling to figure out the Rules – the slow, series long accumulation is much better than your typical movie montage where 30 seconds of quick clips with bouncy music and the hero has learned all skills needed.
Loved, loved, loved the pop culture calls out – all of the geeks greatest hits are referenced: Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, 2001, the Matrix, Indiana Jones, etc, and all are perfectly in context. They’re the kind of quotes that any normal geeky girl would quote if she found herself battling ancient Evil in this day and age.
Although, as stepped in both geek culture and supernatural experience as the two girls are, I’m on the fence about how much in denial they were that they had stumbled, once again, on something Evil. On the one hand, it’s understandable for them to pray for normalcy, the same way a beachgoer prays for sun as the storm clouds gather; on the other hand, they should both really know better by now. (Someone needs to tell them about Hector's Law of Anomalous Phenomena Attraction)
Lisa and Maggie are center stage here, but the supporting cast was good too. However, if Clement-Moore has a flaw in her writing style, it’s a tendency to have a few too many secondary characters – a lot of the local guys blended together here, and I kept waiting for the two bartenders’ characters to be more developed.
Then there’s Dona Isabel, a force to be reckoned with. At one point Maggie compares her to Obi Wan, but I saw her as a direct literary descendent of Catherine of Aragon – her obstinacy inspires just as much admiration as exasperation. (Side note: why don’t Protestants ever battle Evil? Don’t tell me Nathaniel Hawthorne was right!)
Maggie’s boyfriend (correctly nicknamed The Paladin by Lisa) literally stumbles into the book halfway through, dragging his soon-to-be priest friend with him who isn’t used quite as much as he could be, although he makes a good information source. I miss the professors and teachers Maggie’s consulted in the past two books, but, hey, she’s on vacation here. And even in the middle of nowhere, there’s the Internet. And I loved the search for cell signal – Lisa standing on the roof of the car, searching for a signal, was hilarious.
Lisa is my favorite character and after being absent for most of book 2 I was glad to see her take front stage here, and really growing as a character, even briefly coming out of her snarky shell a few times. Some might think she over does it with the mea culpa bit, but having been in her shoes (without the supernatural parts) I can relate and fully understand the reality of having to live with the knowledge of having made a mistake, and the apology not feeling like enough. I can also see why she’s kind of freaked at the power that calls to her. Maggie may be the one who quotes Spiderman’s famous ‘great power = great responsibility,’ but Lisa is the one I think grappling with it more. With Maggie it’s a responsibility she’s been given to do Good, while with Lisa, it’s more of a choice – she has to choose every single time she picks up her magic wand (so to speak) to use her powers for Good instead of Evil (which I can also relate to).
Favorite quotes:
“We’re just prophets, not angels.”
"Whenever an archangel or burning bush turns up, its generally not to say, Hey, go out and have a happy and uncomplicated life." -
Of the three Maggie Quinn books, I feel that this is the weakest of the three in regards to character development. There’s still some holdover development from the last two books, but what we find out about the characters—mainly Justin—doesn’t really make any impact or carry weight to the plot.
I do like the main plot set-up of the book. First, we’re finally dealing with a demon who’s not at the behest of a power-hungry human, and it’s also creepy. The fact that people attribute the demon’s physical shape to being a chupacabra also fits in perfectly with the setting. Not only is the Southwest US notorious for those legends (although the chupacabra story’s origins are explained in the book as being coined in Puerto Rico), but the isolated nature of Velasquez County really makes the plot fit the book. Also, the actual geography of the land provides a really good reason for why the demon’s trapped there; there’s some demon-hunting powers involved, but the make-up of the land plays a large role. The only issue I had was that there’s a lot of build-up concerning a local Native American tribe who disappeared right around the time of colonization. It’s implied that they married into the families that eventually own the land but never get fully explained and it doesn’t play as large of a role as I expected.
Like I said, the biggest problem I had was characterization. While all three books can be largely read as stand-alone volumes, main conflict-wise, Maggie and Lisa do end up growing in both character and their powers, respectively. However, Highway to Hell doesn’t really develop them much further in this respect. Lisa has a little more characterization, as she’s accepted her role as the resident chaotic good witch and she reverts to her personality from the first book. On the other hand, there’s not much for Maggie to grow on. She does met another Seer in this book, and has her powers grow and develop, but she doesn’t really change from the girl in book 2.
Justin is the only who—finally—gets the most development of the three main characters. He’s always been presented as the paladin character, the guy who just wants to do the right thing (he’s even called Galahad by Lisa), but we’ve never found out much about his backstory, aside that his parents are dead and several Catholic school noodle incidents involving his best friend Henry. (Who finally appears in this book!) His parents’ death turns out to be the reason why he’s so interested in folklore and mythology; his theory involves several symbols found near their things on a missionary trip. However, the revelation comes at the end of the book, and for some reason, I just can’t get the sense that this is supposed to be as important as Justin says it is. He’s proven knowledgeable about different global folklores, but the specific reason why he’s interested doesn’t seem to tie in with the things he and Maggie normally go up against.
It’s not a bad book, but seeing as that it’s currently the last entry in the series, Highway to Hell feels more like a standalone book. The development feels like there’s someplace to go with a fourth book, and overall, it feels like a filler volume. Compared the previous volumes, it’s weaker. I still enjoyed reading it, but I didn’t have the same kind of giddy feeling as I went through; that, and I really wish that there were more Maggie Quinn books in the works. For now, this’ll have to do for an ending. -
This is the third (and so far final) book in the Maggie Quinn vs. Evil series. I really enjoyed the first two (Prom Dates from Hell and Hell Week), but I have to say I was a little disappointed in this one. However, I will admit that much of my disappointment can be tied to my expectations that the book was going to be something that it was not.
The story follows Maggie Quinn and her old high-school friend D&D Lisa, aka Lisa the Evil Genius, on their way down to Padre Island in south Texas for a week of spring break debauchery. Along the way, they get sidetracked and end up spending the bulk of their week investigating a local legend and ultimately going into battle against capital-E Evil.
Some of the other supporting cast of do-gooders show up to join in, and the locals add their own skills. Probably what I liked best was seeing them all come to rely on one another’s strengths. It was reminiscent of the final battle in the summer movie Avengers when they finally stopped bickering and worked as a team. And the Evil and the supporting history for it fit together nicely.
However, I was really expecting them to actually reach Padre Island and run into some as-yet-unknown capital-E Evil down amongst the bikinis and beer kegs. You see, to me, much of the charm of the first two books was how Maggie dealt with Evil amidst some common rite of passage. The first book was battling a demon in the run-up to high school prom, while the second book dealt with curses and blood pacts all tied in with a college sorority’s initiation rituals. This one seemed to be aimed at the rite of spring break.
So I figured they would be fighting Evil during the road trip itself or on the island of crazy parties and loose morals. (Not that Maggie Quinn’s morals were ever going to be all that loose. I mean, really, she’s a good girl.) But still, I was expecting another rite of passage. Yes, the conflict occurred on a road trip, but the road trip wasn’t really part of the story. It merely bookended the tale, providing an excuse for their arrival in middle-of-nowhere and a reason for their eventual escape, so it wasn’t even a proper road trip, with bad fast food, dirty rest stops, scary truckers or any of the other elements of a long cross-country trip. Instead of a rite of passage, they were out-of-towners tangled up in some local legend.
I suppose if I could have gotten past that, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more. After all, the plot and characters really worked, but in the end, I confess I felt like Private Hudson in Aliens asking, “Is this going to be a stand-up fight, sir, or another bug hunt?” Well, as my reaction shows, it was a bug hunt. -
Maggie and her best friend, Lisa, decide to head to South Padre Island for a normal Spring Break. Just because they battle demons and save the world on a regular basis doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to have some normal teenager time, right? Wrong!
On the way, on a dark and lonely highway, they run over a dead cow that is laying in the middle of the road. The fuel tank on Maggie’s Jeep is ripped open which leaves her and Lisa stranded in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, a nice cowboy drives by and gives them a lift to the nearest town to get some sleep and find a mechanic to tow her Jeep in the next day.
Once settled in Dulcina, TX, Maggie realizes that the cow she ran over isn’t the only animal that has been killed lately. Dogs, goats, calves, and now cows are being torn apart by unknown predators. Some people say its because of the drought and the coyotes getting more bold, but others say it is the el chupacabra - a creature with blood red eyes, scales on its back, and razor-sharp teeth.
As long as they are stuck there anyway, Maggie and Lisa decide they may as well see if they can figure out what is going on in the sleepy town. As they research the history of the town and meet some of its founding members, it becomes clear that the big “E” is at work again and this time Maggie needs the help of the “big gun” if they are going to make it out alive.
HIGHWAY TO HELL is just as good as the others in the series, but like HELL WEEK, it doesn’t have the same amount of humor as PROM DATES FROM HELL. Rosemary Clement-Moore did a great job of creating the side characters in Dulcina. She makes it so easy to picture the locals in your mind.
For up-to-date information, visit Rosemary’s website. -
This is the third book in the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series by Clement-Moore, and like the first two, it doesn’t disappoint. Like the first two books, it is light hearted, humorous, and quick paced. This book also gives reader a chance to get to know several of the supporting characters better. Both Lisa and Justin who are in the first two books play a role in this one as well. Lisa especially comes through stronger in this book as she is involved in the action from the start, and the reader gets a real sense of just who she is and how the events from the past books have effected her. The reader also gets to learn a little bit about Justin’s backstory, and we finally get to meet Henry, who is mentioned in both of the previous books but has not actually been introduced until now.
As with the other books, some of the pop culture references may not age well, but most of them are iconic. The reading level of the book is fairly accessible, and the content should be appropriate for any YAs thirteen and older. Highway to Hell will appeal to fans of shows like Buffy and Charmed, and it will also appeal to those who want supernatural or urban fantasy stories that do not involve vampires. The entire Girl vs. Evil series has proven to be well written and engaging so far. Currently the three titles (Prom Dates from Hell, Hell Week, and Highway to Hell) are the only ones in the series, and it is unclear if there will be more, though Clement-Moore has recently published a new YA novel in a different universe. She will be an author that I continue to watch. Highway to Hell was a really satisfying continuation of a series I enjoy, and I would definitely recommend it to others. I give this book four stars out of five. -
The Setting — is southern Texas on the great highway to South Padre Island, great mecca of spring breakers and vacationers wanting fun in the sun. However, the destination is halted in a tiny ranching town with more cattle than people, and a very racially diverse population.
The Characters — are some returns of the favorites from the previous books. Maggie, D&D Lisa, and Justin, as well as a colorful cast of locals. I think one of the things I adore about Rosemary’s books – are her characters. I love Maggie’s sharp wit and Lisa’s dry sense of humor and Justin’s sense of do-goodedness. They seem like living people to me. Like I might actually meet Maggie at the coffee shop or something.
The Plot — is at first nothing more than a spring break road trip – but when you’re the paranormal version of Nancy Drew nothing is that simple! A turn of circumstances leaves Maggie and D&D Lisa stranded in a small town with a strange situation of disappearing livestock. Maggie, Lisa, and eventually the uber cute boys must figure out what’s going on and how to defeat it! But all along the way there are other problems to solve, things in their way and questions to answer.
Rosemary’s books are so much fun to read. The stories may or may not be simple and straight forward, but part of me could believe them – which I think is rather important when you write paranormals these days. It’s a world on top of our own and we know this one well enough to spot a bad copy when we see it, so being able to overly those tones and make me suspend my own reality is a thumbs up job. -
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Maggie and Lisa are doing Spring Break - if only so Maggie can get a newspaper article out of it.
On the way there, they run over a dead cow in the middle of the road, which damages the car. The closest town isn't too far away, but it's a town in the middle of nowhere - and it takes some time to get the parts required.
While they wait, they discover that something's not right in the town. Animals are dying...and not naturally. Legend surrounds the town of a creature in history that might be back.
For Maggie and Lisa, fighting demons isn't new. They begin to investigate. However, not everyone takes kindly to their nosiness and not everyone is willing to talk. Things quickly get worse. Animals aren't the only ones getting hurt.
It's time to take action, even if it means going against very important people in town. Can Maggie and Lisa survive another fight with demons?
HIGHWAY TO HELL continues the fight of Maggie against demons, with her fabulous sidekick Lisa and her trusty white knight, Justin. The once-again solid friendship between Maggie and Lisa fills the story with tension and humor.
This is a fabulous supernatural series that will leave readers wanting more. -
AWESOME. This one is so up my alley. Definitely had the flavor of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Whedon TV series) at its best. Witty and sarcastic teen dialogue, super pop-cultural references, characters you can really wrap your arms around (and adore)...and supernatural bad-boys to put in their place. Doesn't get any better. And the supernatural elements didn't overtake the story and turn it into a cheap horror/thrill fest - the story was grounded in reality and gave our band of heroes/heroines plenty of room to breathe.
Early in the beginning, I read a paragraph that implied there was some history to this series...and of course I then discovered there were 2 previous entries (which I will shortly be devouring). But not having the previous volumes didn't detract at all from this volume or leave me confused and displaced as can sometimes happen if you jump into the middle of a series. I clearly missed some build-up in character relationships, but enough of the history was explained (smoothy, not awkwardly) that I wasn't out of sorts.
I highly recommend this one, especially for folks who love snappy, fun, sarcastic dialogue galore with a little of the supernatural thrown in. -
Maggie and her former BFF Lisa attempt to rebuild their relationship via a Spring Break roadtrip to a Texas beach resort. When they hit an already-dead steer in the middle of the night, Maggie's car sistains substantial damage. They are quickly lured into the strange goings-on associated with Dulcina, TX where it would appear that a chupacabra (or worse yet, chupacabras) is stalking this ranching community.
The parallel characters (e.g., Henry: Lisa, Dona Isabel: Gran, Zeke: Justin, etc.) are a bit obvious, but loads of fun nonetheless to watch as their thought processes and values are juxtaposed. The story here is a good deal more complex than its predecessor in the Maggie Quin: Girl vs. Evil series, and that's greatly appreciated.
Bottom line: Rosemary Clement-Moore has a wicked sense of humor and I'm pretty sure that if we were neighbors we'd be spending a lot of time on my porch with quelque chose a boire talking books, movies, and pop culture. That said, I don't see a fourth book in the series yet, so am hoping that Ms. Clement-Moore will return to the well and would be happy to serve as a beta-reader if she ever finds herself in need of another one. -
This one took me a little more time to get through than the first two in this series, but possibly in a good way? Highway to Hell has a very different setting than its predecessors--Maggie and Lisa are on Spring Break and end up stranded in the small ranch-town of Dulcina, Texas when they hit a dead cow in the road (doing some major damage to Maggie's Jeep) on their way to South Padre. Naturally, Maggie senses something fishy going on and aims to find out what it is. There are some interesting characters in Dulcina, and we also get to meet Justin's best friend (and priest-in-training) Henry and hear a little more about Justin's mysterious past (although it turns out not to be all THAT exciting, in my opinion). This one felt a little less fluffy than the first two (in large part because of the setting, I think), which I actually really enjoyed, and I found this the most interesting of the demons Maggie's faced. All in all, another great book in the series! I very much hope there will be more.
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I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I will definitely be looking them up now. If you love Good vs Evil stories, enjoy mystery novels, or just really miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there's something for you in this quirky, one-liner filled read.
While this book's probably never going to be considered classroom-worthy, I'd recommend it any day based on the strong, day-saving, yet surprisingly nerdy heroines and their protective yet supportive boyfriends. How nice to see positive, balanced relationships acted out in YA fiction, instead of all-consuming lust and drama. Evil-fighting psychic Maggie may pine for her man when he's away and admire him when he's around, but she never lets love get in the way of the bigger issues, like hoards of demons trying to break through into the human world.
Recommend to: Age 13+, mystery fans, fantasy fans, light horror fans, Buffy fans, girls in general
Don't recommend to: Readers who will take issue at the book mixing Christianity and paganism -
This one took me a little more time to get through than the first two in this series, but possibly in a good way? Highway to Hell has a very different setting than its predecessors--Maggie and Lisa are on Spring Break and end up stranded in the small ranch-town of Dulcina, Texas when they hit a dead cow in the road (doing some major damage to Maggie's Jeep) on their way to South Padre. Naturally, Maggie senses something fishy going on and aims to find out what it is. There are some interesting characters in Dulcina, and we also get to meet Justin's best friend (and priest-in-training) Henry and hear a little more about Justin's mysterious past (although it turns out not to be all THAT exciting, in my opinion). This one felt a little less fluffy than the first two (in large part because of the setting, I think), which I actually really enjoyed, and I found this the most interesting of the demons Maggie's faced. All in all, another great book in the series! I very much hope there will be more.
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Things this novel does well:
* cute friendship story for best friends
* interesting relationship between magic and Catholicism
* Nancy Drew call outs... Not only does the main character have some sort of Nancy Drew fixation, but she has a standard ND adventure, including the point where Ned (errr, Justin) shows up to carry things (when directed) and be competent backup.
Things this novel could do better:
* cutting cliches
* a more interesting plot (C'mon, it's supposed to be a mystery.)
* relationship/character development (e.g., the bestie is practically a cookie-cutter "former Goth")
* pop-culture references (a lot are so out of date that I know them--not good for current YA--and others are so wide-ranging that I had to ask my SO for help)
Conclusion:
Hell Week is by far the best novel in the series so far, but you can read this one if you want. -
Does Evil seek out Maggie Quinn? This is what she begins to wonder when D & D Lisa and she find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere battling a demon that feeds on blood.
First a dog, then a herd of goats, finally, cattle start dying, and the common denominator is their mutilated, drained bodies. Some blame the drought and think it's a pack of hungry coyotes while others blame a lone cougar. Droughts make animals do crazy things, the locals say. What if something other than an animal is feeding on this town? What if it's a demon that is no longer satisfied being locked in hell?
Great book. RCM stays true to Maggie and Lisa'a girl power by turning their roadtrip into a rite-of-passage that requires Maggie to accept who/what she is and Lisa to forgive herself to defeat this "thing" plaguing Dulcina, TX.
I currently have this book on my shelf, but wouldn't be allowed to teach it because it deals with witchcraft and demons. -
'Highway to Hell' is the 3rd book in the Maggie series by Rosemary Clement-Moore. If you haven't read the first 2, 'Prom Date from Hell' and 'Hell Week', you probably should to get some background information. Basically, Maggie is a Seer, she can sense evil, usually in the form of demons. With the help of her friend Lisa, who is a sorceress, she fights the demons to return them to wherever they have come from. In 'Highway to Hell', she and Lisa are headed to the Texas coast for Spring Break when they run over a dead steer in the road. This disables their car and they are forced to spent Spring Break in the small Texas town of Dulcina. Strange things are happening around Dulcina. The steer that the girls ran over was not the first animal to be found dead. Maggie senses the evil surrounding the deaths and knows that she needs to help the ranchers fight the 'chupacabra' that is terrorizing the area.
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It's Maggie Quinn vs. el chupacabra! Every series needs a good road trip, and Lisa and Maggie's is a doozy. One notable addition is Justin's priest-in-training friend Henry, only mentioned in previous books. Henry adds a nice skeptical balance to our trio of believers, and I sincerely hope he makes an appearance in the next book. Now we have our heroine (our chosen one -- not capitalized!), our sorceress, our hero/knight, and our priest. Excellent!
The second notable addition to this book is the intensification of Maggie's role in the universe -- clearly she has a Purpose (yes, that one's capitalized). Can't wait to see where this goes.
I haven't mentioned yet how much I love the artwork for this series. I would love a set of posters with these drawings on it. My boyfriend agrees that these need to hang in our house somewhere.
