Celeste has a wonderful life. Great family, part of a trio
of best friends that are always there for each other (no
matter how different they may be) and she is dating the boy
of her dreams. She should be completely happy with Nash,
but she can't help but wonder, especially when he does
things like leave her to fend for herself when they are
frightened in the woods.
Enter the new kid - Brandon. Mysterious, rumored bad boy,
and from the other side of town, Celeste's friends are
automatically shunning him, but she is for some reason drawn
to him. Celeste is attracted to him, but feels she cannot
act on this because she fears it may mean losing her best
friends.
A psychic reading warns Celeste of snow and wolves, and
kisses under a full moon. Little did she know they would
also involve Brandon.
Ellen Schreiber has crafted a tale of werewolves that is a
pleasant read. ONCE IN A FULL MOON is a sweet romance
story. As a young adult book, it is acceptable for the
pre-teen group. The romance between Celeste and Brandon is
one of innocence and is pretty tame BY today's standards,
which is good for a rising number of concerned parents
facing the increase of fantasy romance novels out there for
girls.
Adults may feel the story is a bit empty and lacking
substance, but please remember, this is not written with
them in mind. It's my opinion that this is targeted toward
pre-teen and teen girls discovering who they are apart from
the clicks. It's nicely done with no preaching. Celeste
makes a nice role model as does Brandon.
Celeste hangs with the popular crowd at Legend's Run High and is being wooed byNash Hunter, the football quarterback, but doesn't really feel that shebelongs. She only comes in contact with the new and enigmatic student, Brandon Maddox, when she passes him in classes, the hallway, and at lunch, but she suspects there is something different about him other than that he is a Westsider and comes from the wrong side of town. Ona dare, Celeste and her friends go to a psychic's shop for a reading. When it is Celeste's turn for a fortune, the psychic grabs Celeste's hands and warns, "Beware of a kiss under the full moon." Celeste and herfriends laugh and mock the fortune teller. But on her way home from their outing, Celeste is blinded by a blizzard. Disoriented, she finds herself deep in the woods bordering town. She is overcome by snowfall and unable to see anything. Above her hovers the glow of a full moon. Just then, she sees beady eyes staring back through the falling flakes. She finds herself in the midst of a pack of hungry wolves. The wolves begin to howl. She can't outrun them, and the shortest tree branch is out of reach. They slowly approach her. At the last moment, a stranger pulls her from the hungry pack. He grabs a branch and fights the pack ofwolves until they retreat. In the scuffle the stranger is bitten. It isBrandon Maddox. Celeste is enamored by her hero and can't get him out of her mind. Where Nash is a hero on the field and court, Brandon is a hero in reality. Celeste steals away from her friends to find Brandon, and they meet on a hilltop near his home. A cloudy sky lingers above them, and Celeste realizes she has fallen in love with a Westsider. But in the next few moments, Celeste will face an even biggerchallenge than falling for a guy from the wrong side of town. As the two lean in to kiss, the clouds pass, exposing the glow of a full moon. Brandon feels strange and pulls away. Something is about to change-him.