Review: The Mark By Jen Nadol

Hardcover, 228 pages

Published January 19th 2010 by Bloomsbury

www.jennadolbooks.com

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

My Thoughts:

First of all I have to say I met Jen Nadol at a book signing in Larchmont, New York. And I have to say that she is an amazing person. She's a sweet, down-to-earth person. She took pictures with us and signed our books. We stood around and talked about books and life in general. She's simply amazing.

So at the book signing she read a page from her book, and I just had to read it. Good move Jen. So here's a question for you readers, that Jen asked us at the book signing. If you had the ability to see that someone is going to die on a specific day, would you tell them? Now Jen kinda freaked me out with this question. I personally wouldn't want that "gift" at all. But had I had it, I don't know if I would be able to tell that person. Because as Jen said "What if you tell them, then you can ruin their last few hours because of it." So my question to you is: What would you do if you can see people with "The Mark?"

In "The Mark" You have Cassie a teenager with a gift of "The Mark". When she sees someone with "The Mark" it means that, that person will die that day. And to Cassie she didn't have that understanding of what she saw. That was until she saw a man actually get killed after seeing him with "The Mark". She begins to search deep into her memory and realizes that she has had this gift since she was a young child. After realizing that she can see peoples last days, she tries to come to terms with her gift. She starts questioning her gift. Should she warn people or not? And is she the only one who can see "The Mark"?

Without giving too much, I'll say Cassie is not your typical teenager. She has this "gift" if that's what you wanna call it, of seeing someones last day. Cassie has already been through so much in her young life and yet she has to come to terms on what to do with this "gift" she has. In other terms she is like your typical teenager. She has her friends and a boyfriend, she goes through her arguements and decisions. I felt bad for her. I really enjoyed this book. Jen pulls you in emotionally. You feel what Cassie feels. Her confusion, her gift and her search for what she has to do in life with her "gift". I can't wait to see how she comes to terms and learns how to deal with gift in the sequel which is called "The Vision". Which is due to come out in September.

I really, really enjoyed "The Mark" not too paranormal for me. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and it's a Definite Good Choice for Reading.