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. ( )

Our main character, Fern, is a girl who breaks out in sun blisters after being in the sun for less than a half an hour, has to wear sunglasses in the morning, and finds she can teleport to places that she is thinking about. Fern was an abnormal 7th grader before she teleported in the middle of class, now she will find out why she has these powers with the help of her twin brother Sam and a her first friend, a girl named Lindsey. ( )

ern has no idea who she is, but she (and everyone else) knows there is something different about her. Fern's skin blisters in the slightest sun, she can communicate with her dog, she has to wear sunglasses when she wakes up to get used to the light...Oh, and she can teleport.
No matter how neat these talents may seem, Fern is regarded as a "freak" at school. When her strange abilities land her on the beach (when she's supposed to be at school), everyone, including the evil Vlad, notices.
As soon as Fern realizes she can't explain away everything anymore, Lindsey Lin shows up. Popular, beautiful Lindsey Lin? Oh, yes. And Lindsey Lin is there to help, because they both have something in common.
They're Otherworldlies.

The Otherworldlies is a classic example of the underprivileged outcast who "saves the world". Yes, it was written well. Yes, Fern's suffering was easily felt and sympathized with. But the whole premise of the story changes once you figure out what an "Otherworldly" is. This revelation mostly ruined the book for me, as I was expecting an "Otherworldly" to be something original.
However, I did find that Kogler's characters and intensity kept the pages flipping and salvaged this book from being a horrific failure. ( )

Fern is different. Not in the normal “everyone is unique way” either. She is sensitive to the sun, accurately predicts the weather for over 2 years running, and talks to her dog. This may sound pretty awesome, but in middle school, it doesn't make for a busy social life. She's a social pariah, actually, especially after she teleports to the beach in the middle of English class. Then the mystery unfolds. She's a vampire and possibly part of the Unusual Eleven, a group of vampires prophesied to be more powerful than any that have existed before. A man named Vlad is looking for her, but is he friend or foe? Should she listen to the Vampire Alliance or are they just out to use her? Who can she trust?

The Otherworldlies was a fun read and not your typical vampire novel. I felt like Fern was my little sister. She was endearing, sweet, and good at heart. She was also intelligent, resourceful, and clever. The story was action packed, complete with vampire lore, history, and Greek mythology. Every character had defining characteristics and interesting personalities, no matter how seemingly unimportant they are. The plot was never predictable or formulaic. It had me guessing up to the very end. I recommend this book, especially to those who enjoyed Heather Brewer's Vladimir Tod series. ( )

Unusual girl

seeks her true identity.

It's sequel-worthy.

http://www.book-blog.com/2008/08/kogl... ( )

Fern is an unusual girl, and in middle school, that’s just not acceptable. Every day, she has to deal with others’ spite over her strange qualities and habits such as blistering from sun exposure, a knack for accurate weather prediction, hearing voices without bodies, and talking with her dog. But what she doesn’t know is that she isn’t normal; she’s a vampire, or an Otherworldy. And among those, she’s one of the most special, because her unique ability to teleport distinguishes her as one of the foretold Unusual Eleven. Fern soon finds herself in the midst of an ages-old battle between the two factions of Otherworldies that could destroy her, the people she loves, and possibly the entire world.

The Otherworldies was a fantastic and action-filled combination of vampirism, ancient mythology, and supernatural powers; it was incredible how Kogler linked the three together even though they may seem to be unrelated. The plot was very fast moving and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as the story neared its ending. I loved how this story kept me guessing right up until the end and how some of the characters I thought were insignificant turned out to be crucial to the plot. You really have no idea what’s going to happen next. Besides having a well-written plot, The Otherworldies also has creative characters. My favorite was Fern; I found her to be much more mature than her twelve years would suggest as well as witty and resourceful.

Readers looking for a suspenseful, well-written, and unique read should most definitely check out The Otherworldies. Although I believe this novel is considered in the middle grade genre, teens and adults will also enjoy this story.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com ( )