About the Author

Brigid Kemmerer hails from Pasadena, Maryland, where she works in the finance industry.

Reviews

Gr 8 Up-Spark revisits the wonders of blossoming young love with a twist. Gabriel Merrick has a destructive streak, ruining every positive aspect of his life. Gabriel, his friends, and his family are Elementals: they each harness some control over a natural element. Fire, the most volatile, calls for Gabriel to come and play. After trying to recover from his last screwup with the Guides, which seriously injured his twin brother, Nick, he grapples with the task of regulating his abilities in a safe environment while trying to graduate from high school. Amid these supernatural and real-life issues is beautiful Layne, the inconspicuous girl who sits next to him in math, his worst subject. He has more in common with her than he realizes. Their romance is well developed and gradual, though it takes place over a span of two short weeks. Kemmerer uses straightforward yet precise voices for her characters; each one is distinct and realistic, each emotion resonating. The conclusion is the author's playlist, allowing readers to connect the personalities, passions, and positions with more than mere words.-Jamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.