Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

Twelve-year-old Fern McAllister is the black sheep of her family, set apart by pale skin that blisters after moments in the sun and dark black hair in a family of blondes. Her strange sensitivity to light, and seeming ability to communicate with the family dog, are secondary concerns to the kids at her middle school who tease her for having an absent father. Despite gaining herself the nickname "freaky Fern," she leads a generally happy life, thanks to her mother's caring and her twin brother Sam's friendship.

But one day in the middle of English, Fern simply disappears. No one can find her; no one has seen her leave the room, much less her desk. Unbeknownst to her classmates, Fern has somehow managed to teleport to Pirate Cove, her favorite part of a nearby beach. Frightened and unsure of how she got there, Fern tries to tell the truth, but her mother isn't believing it and neither is the school's headmaster. The next time she vanishes and reappears, it is to a much more dangerous location, and by then it's impossible for Fern to keep her activities under wraps. It's only after a series of dangerous accidents that Fern discovers the truth of her identity and the full extent of her powers as an "otherworldly," the politically correct term for any creature that is not entirely human.

Kogler does a wonderful job of detailing the average twelve-year-old's insecurities and the way that they are magnified in Fern, who is anything but average. She presents a compelling picture of what it's like to grow up different in a world where schoolchildren are cruel and ostracize people who don't fit in. I found Fern, Sam, and their mother to all be very sympathetic and believable characters, whose motivations were easy to accept.

I also enjoyed Kogler's conception of the titular "otherworldlies," which made this book refreshingly different from other vampire stories I have read. Her use of Greek myths as the starting point for a number of inhuman creatures and supernatural powers put a new spin on the traditional vampire myths.

Overall, THE OTHERWORLDLIES was a satisfying read, with a plot that asked more questions than it answered but still managed to come to some kind of conclusion. Kogler's left herself open for a sequel, perhaps even an entire series, about Fern's future, and I for one look forward to whatever she comes up with next. ( )

Honestly, I was both pleased and disappointed with this book. Upon reading the description, I was thinking it was going to be a super powers/heroes kinda book. Unfortunately, it was just another book about vampires. (Don't get me wrong, I love vampire books, but this genre has gotten so flooded with vampires that I find myself a bit jaded when it comes to this paranormal subject.) However, I was pleased to find that Kogler was able to transform this book from an "average" vampire book to something a bit different. After all, who wants to continuously read the same plot over and over again. Not me.

What made this book so special for me is that Kogler shows the reader a different side of vampires by having them have different abilties and traits. I really enjoyed that Kogler was able to wonderfully blend vampire history and greek mythology in order to make this new breed of vampires. For this, I give her many kudos.

The plot is fast paced, but leaves the reader asking more questions than were answered. In addition, the ending is left semi-opened for the possibilty is a sequel. Personally, I would enjoy to learn more about this new breed of vampire. I look forward to possibly learning more about Fern and definitely reading more from this author. ( )

Yet another take on the increasingly popular vampire lore. This was a very interesting and original idea. I really enjoyed Fern’s character and watching her come to terms with becoming an Otherworldly and finally learning to accept herself. I loved Kogler’s blending of vampire history and Greek mythology! Though initially the two topics seem to have nothing in common, the context in the story played nicely! The plot was fast paced and suspense filled. I was never quite quick enough to figure out what exactly was going on. I recommend this read to younger vampire fans! ( )

Fern talks to her dog, blisters in the sun and has predicted the weather correctly for the past two years. But still she is considered a normal 12 year old. Until one day in the middle of English class she suddenly transports to her favorite beach. After that her life is turned upsidedown. Not only is she a vampire but she has special powers, that an evil vampire Vlad wants to use them to take control. She finds herself fighting between good and evil.

I didnt enjoy this book. The whole book was very unoriginal and I got nothing out of it. The characters had no depth and were very hard to relate to . It was a genaric vampire story struggle between good and bad, in a dramatic battle the good guy defies the odds and they all live hapily ever after. The Author portrayed vampires in a new way but it just didnt make the cut for me. ( )

12 yr. old Fern McAllister has some very unusual abilities; she can communicate with her dog, she blisters in sunlight and she can teleport. The teleportation brings a lot of undesired attention to Fern, and also brings a visit from a powerful vampire named Vlad who is extremely interested in Fern and her talents. Fern, her twin brother Sam, and her friend Lindsey Lin, find themselves in a centuries old battle between Blouts and Rollins, and the existences of everyone Fern loves is at stake. ( )