Impossible [Library Binding]

 

 

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What was supposed to be a quite unique and intriguing story, lost all its magic and interest after a few chapters. The main story revolves around a strong-headed Lucy who is cursed to accomplish three impossible tasks found in the song "The Scarborough Fair" or she will turn insane.
I was hoping that this book will be somewhat "magical" and perhaps romantic (afterall, only the true love of a mysterious man can solve the song's puzzle). I was disappointed to find that the only fantasy happens through a very charismatic elf who can trick people into telling him and doing whatever he likes.

The author tries too hard to keep the issues contemporary and real, and we get bored as Lucy starts to worry more over marrying her childhood friend and being pregnant than actually worrying about accomplishing the tasks... which are solved really easily in the last few chapters.

Very disappointing.

If you like wedding stories of pregnant teenagers, this book is for you.
Otherwise, stay away.

Nancy Werlin uses a variation of the folksong "Scarborough Fair" as the backdrop for an interesting combination of mystery, fantasy, suspense, and the paranormal.

Generations ago an angry elfin knight placed a curse on the young women of the Scarborough clan. Each girl became pregnant as a teen and upon giving birth to a daughter, each girl went insane. The only way to break the curse was to complete three tasks described in the lyrics of the song. Until now it seemed the curse would carry on forever.

Lucy Scarborough, now seventeen, has always known her birth mother was Miranda Scarborough, but luck brought her into the lives of Leo and Soledad Markowitz. They have raised her since birth and understand the complications of her life story. Through the years they have been plagued by visits from Miranda. Her insanity has been the cause of many embarrassing situations. Now, as Lucy is approaching her last year in high school, she hopes that she can avoid anymore encounters with her crazy mother and get on with her life.

Early in the story, Lucy is preparing for her prom and her date with Gray Spencer. Her adopted parents are nervous about the date since it is one of her first, and they haven't actually met Gray. As the couple is posing for pictures and is about to leave for the evening, the unthinkable happens. Miranda shows up in her baggy T-shirt and flowing skirt, pushing her rusty shopping cart full of bottles and cans. Everyone is shocked when she begins to attack, throwing glass bottles at everyone in the yard. She is finally hauled away by the police, but not before Gray makes a get-away in his new car, leaving Lucy humiliated and dateless.

Just when Lucy is ready to give up on him and attend the prom with a long-time childhood friend, Gray returns, apologizes for running off, and begs her to still be his date. She happily accepts, but it proves to be the beginning of yet another horrible experience. As the two are leaving the prom later that evening, Gray takes Lucy aside and forces himself on her. The experience is not only terrible, but also puzzling as Lucy tries to connect the gentle high school boy with the vicious act and the sinister voice she hears during that attack.

Weeks after the prom, Lucy discovers she has followed in the footsteps of the Scarborough women and become a pregnant teen. Will her fate be the same? Will she give birth to a daughter, and will she lose her mind?

Werlin creates an interesting mix of past and present. Lucy seems one moment to be a typical teen, and the next, the victim of an ancient evil. The turning of each page reveals another fact about the family curse. The lyrics of the song provide the clues necessary to break the curse, but those clues are not crystal clear and require creative solutions from Lucy and her helpful family and friends. Encouraged by hope and love, Lucy fights to change the direction of her life at the same time as she learns to accept the hand fate has dealt. Werlin fans will not be disappointed.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Lucy is 17 and pregnant. She has just discovered that the women in her family are doomed to deliver a daughter at age 18, and then go mad. Lucy has nine months to break the curse.

Her only guide is the ballad "Scarborough Fair," which describes three impossible tasks she must accomplish: she must make a shirt without needles or seams; find an acre of land between the ocean and the shore; and plow that land with a goat's horn, sowing it all with one grain of corn.

No one has ever beaten the curse. But then again, no one else had the support of Lucy's foster parents or her neighbor, Zach. Can they solve the riddles in time to save Lucy?

This is a story about love and hope, and it's exceptional. The cover is also gorgeous. Highly recommended!!

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