Sleight: Book One of the AVRA-K by Jennifer Sommersby

Title:  Sleight: Book One of the AVRA-K
Author: Jennifer Sommersby
Genre: YA - Suspense/Mystery/Romance

Summary:
Her mom is dead.
Ghosts follow her around.
Her best friend is an elephant.
And she’s about to meet the biggest game changer of all: a boy. With a secret.

When circus-dwelling Gemma Flannery learns she will be attending public school for the first time in her seventeen years, little does she know that fitting in with her 12th-grade classmates will be the least of her concerns. A pro at hiding her knack for seeing the dead (“shades”), Gemma is grieving the recent suicide of her mentally ill mother, a process eased by the introduction of her first real love interest, the charming and painfully handsome Henry Dmitri, who is harboring his own collection of dangerous secrets. Together, they will be presented with a frightening challenge: to assume their roles as heirs to a 3000-year-old magical text, the AVRAKEDAVRA, a book the über-rich, sleight-of-being master Lucian Dmitri would do anything to get his hands on. As each terrifying layer in her new reality melts away, Gemma unearths truths that her quiet, nomadic life with the Cinzio Traveling Players is not at all what she’d always cherished. Gemma and Henry must rely on each other to stop Lucian’s diabolical plotting that will bring the world to its tired, scab-riddled knees, and are sent on the flight of their young lives, to save themselves, their families, and the world from the darkest kind of destruction.
Let the chase begin.

Review:
This book was recommended to me a few days ago and I have to say what a WHIRL-WIND adventure! Move over Edward Cullen! Here comes Henry Dmitri!!
On with the review... The characters are from a family circus (not like Water for Elephants) and they are being put into public school for the first time in their lives. What could be strange about that? How about Gemma seeing dead people? Maybe hearding other peoples thoughts?
Gemma meets Henry in school as he's assigned as her buddy. Henry is described as a drop-dead gorgeous hunk piece of meat... um I mean guy :) and they instantly take to each other.
Gemma's circus brother, Ash, sparks some jealousy at their new found friendship and is not the least bit concerned in sharing this with her. Juni, Ash's twin sister, is the 'cheerleader' of the group and loves everyone. She has my vote as prom queen.
Henry's father, Lucian, shows up and man is he evil! He sets out on a tyrant to get this book back from Gemma and Henry. What happens if they succeed or fail? Take a chance and read this fantastic story!!
While reading this book I kept thinking back to Harry Potter. Avakedavara meaning the words of death in HP series is completely different in this book. Lucian Dmitri reminds me of a mix between Voldemort and Lucian Malfoy. That is where the similarities end. Sleight can definitely stand out on its own against the HP series. This book flows well and kept my attention the entire length through. Recommended for a great read during the summer break!
To buy this book click here.