The 13th Sign

Apr 29, 2013 Hylary Locsin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Every year on her birthday, Jalen and her grandmother, Nina, visit Madame Beausoleil’s shop and have a horoscope reading. This year, her thirteenth-birthday, Nina is in the hospital battling breast cancer, so Jalen and her best friend, Ellie, have decided to continue the tradition and get Jalen’s horoscope read. While exploring the books in Madame Beausoleil’s quirky shop, Jalen discovers a myster...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Every year on her birthday, Jalen and her grandmother, Nina, visit Madame Beausoleil’s shop and have a horoscope reading. This year, her thirteenth-birthday, Nina is in the hospital battling breast cancer, so Jalen and her best friend, Ellie, have decided to continue the tradition and get Jalen’s horoscope read. While exploring the books in Madame Beausoleil’s quirky shop, Jalen discovers a mysterious book hidden at the back of a shelf called The Keypers of the Zodiack. She and Ellie purchase the book and take it home where they discover that it contains not twelve but thirteen Zodiac signs. The thirteenth, Ophiuchus the serpent, would be Jalen’s actual Zodiac sign were it included in the calendar. Jalen doesn’t realize she is about to find out exactly what it means to be an Ophiuchus, however, when she and Ellie accidentally unlock the thirteenth sign and the entire Zodiac calendar shifts. Everyone now has a new sign, causing personality changes around the world. Surgeons are now timid, unable to perform their jobs, once brave policemen hide in the shadows and airline pilots are afraid to fly. Jalen, Ellie and Ellie’s older brother, Brennan, now find themselves in the middle of a battle between the other twelve Zodiac signs who have descended from the stars to make sure that Ophiuchus doesn’t come into power and make the calendar shift permanent. Can Jalen return Ophiuchus to its rightful place and prevent the world from being irrevocably altered?

Historical fiction author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb ventures into the realm of fantasy with her latest novel, The 13th Sign. Set in the already mystical town of New Orleans, the author weaves an interesting and unique story of Zodiac signs gone rogue. The bulk of the novel is dedicated to the consequences Jalen, Ellie and Brennan must deal with after Jalen accidentally invokes Ophiuchus (a constellation that does actually exist), causing the personalities of everyone on Earth to shift. Readers who aren’t interested in the Zodiac or don’t put much stock into its ability to predict or guide a person’s life will likely not find much in the novel to enjoy. There is a limited amount of backstory to Jalen and her relationship with her mother, grandmother and the father that disappeared years earlier. There is also a very tiny bit of romance between Jalen and Brennan, as well as a small amount of development in Jalen’s friendship with Ellie. Apart from these tiny subplots, however, the plot surrounds Jalen battling the various Zodiac signs. Readers who find this intriguing will enjoy the different ways the author introduces familiar names like Gemini, Leo and Capricorn, as well as the methods Jalen must use to defeat them. Since the novel never really gets too deep and is, instead, more of an action/adventure story, it is a good choice for older elementary/early middle school readers who want something fun and entertaining. The book might also be a good extra credit project in a science class to spark interest in astronomy and the history of constellations.

I have always been interested in the Zodiac and found many of the character traits it assigns to be fairly accurate, so when I heard about The 13th Sign I was immediately intrigued. The book is a very quick read and I would easily be able to recommend it to an upper elementary/early middle school-er who wants something fun and fast-paced. I do somewhat wish the author would have developed the characters a little bit more, but the lack of depth works if it’s simply being read for entertainment purposes. I’m looking forward to seeing what Kristin O’Donnell Tubb comes up with next! (less)

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Mar 20, 2013 Susan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile

Sometimes it seems a fun concept is hard to pass up, but when a book becomes too much about the gimmick, and not enough about heart, it leaves the reader feeling a little empty. In this case the concept revolves around the mysterious "13th sign" of the zodiac. Jalen, the heroine has been through a fair share of tragedy in her young life. She survived a serious illness as a child only to have her father disappear, her overprotective mother keeps her so sheltered she lives an isolated life with fe...more Sometimes it seems a fun concept is hard to pass up, but when a book becomes too much about the gimmick, and not enough about heart, it leaves the reader feeling a little empty. In this case the concept revolves around the mysterious "13th sign" of the zodiac. Jalen, the heroine has been through a fair share of tragedy in her young life. She survived a serious illness as a child only to have her father disappear, her overprotective mother keeps her so sheltered she lives an isolated life with few friends, and her beloved grandmother is dying in a hospital. She looks for an escape from the grimness of her life through the mysticism of astrology, but when she accidentally releases the 13th sign and her "Keepers" the other signs of the zodiac, she gets more than she bargained for.

Some time ago a brief fuss was kicked up in real life news about this "lost" sign of the zodiac and what it signifies, considering that with the alternate system, everyone's astrological signs would be something different than what they were used to, but in the end, the majority of people seemed to set little store in this unfamiliar sign and its convoluted history and name (Ophiuchus), so this author may have have had a tough road ahead turning this tempest in a teapot into something that felt more urgent and compelling. Unfortunately, her task here is not helped by the fact that her main character herself sets very little store in astrology (though her grandmother and father took an interest) right up until the second where suddenly she--doesn't? Her sudden choice to immerse herself in astrology even before the live action zodiac extravganza takes place, given her barely even casual interest and very active skepticism feels contrived, and given the fact that readers barely know the other characters going in, the personality changes affected by the 13th sign are hard to appreciate too much. Though it's almost constant action as Jalen, her best friend, and her best friend's brother battle through the zodiac signs, that's all the plot appears to have time to deal with. The characters don't develop more than superficially and never feel three dimensional enough for the reader to feel too invested, and attempts to hint at more depth here and there (for example, with the friendship between Jalen and the brother) are left dangling, unresolved. What may be the biggest danger to the story however is the fact that the framework of the concept itself doesn't feel like it holds together. Outside of the impression that "that's the way it's supposed to be" it's never that clear why Jalen must do what she has to do, and Ophiuchus herself, seeming to be the only positive sign of the pack, is hard to see as much of a danger. The rules of Jalen's book and the whole quest process seem muddled-especially with some of the revelations towards the end of the book, and if the battles don't make much sense, it takes away from the victories afterwards.

They're not related to mythology or astrology, but if someone's looking for a good read with quests and mysteries and magic (and the number 13) I might recommend 13 Treasures or 13 Curses instead.(less)

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Feb 17, 2013 Shellie rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Jalen free Ophiuchus, the 13th zodiac sign, she wreaks havoc with not only her friends and family, but with the whole world. Everyone’s sign shifts and their personalities shift right along with their signs. While Jalen chases down all the zodiac signs to get them back into their celestial homes, she also learns a lot about her own earthly existence. She learns about the fallibility of the adults in her life, and that no one is really all bad. She also learns that trying to alter the cycle...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Cindy Hudson rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Jalen finds a mysterious, locked book called The Keypers of the Zodiac in a voodoo shop in New Orleans, she is irresistibly drawn to it. But when she finds a way to unlock it, she sets off a chain of events that shifts the signs of the zodiac to make way for a new one, Ophiuchus.

Not only does everyone’s personality shift as their birth dates place them in a different sign than they were in before, but suddenly Jalen finds herself facing challenges from each zodiac. If she wants to make it o...more When Jalen finds a mysterious, locked book called The Keypers of the Zodiac in a voodoo shop in New Orleans, she is irresistibly drawn to it. But when she finds a way to unlock it, she sets off a chain of events that shifts the signs of the zodiac to make way for a new one, Ophiuchus.

Not only does everyone’s personality shift as their birth dates place them in a different sign than they were in before, but suddenly Jalen finds herself facing challenges from each zodiac. If she wants to make it out alive, and change everything back to the way it was before, she’ll have to conquer her fears, draw on skills she didn’t know she had, and get help from her best friends.

The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb goes on a wild ride through the city of New Orleans as Jalen and her friends face one challenge after another while they make their way to Jalen’s grandmother, who is in the hospital. As Jalen faces a challenge from each sign of the zodiac she also must face her fears: of heights, of the reason for her father’s disappearance when she was young, of her grandmother dying, and of her friends changing. Along the way she grows more confident in the decisions she makes and more determined to set things right.

Each time Jalen faces a sign of the zodiac she learns something about the strengths and weaknesses of the sign—and the people who were born under it. She learns that winning isn’t always about conquering, and that sometimes she needs to trust her own ability to make decisions instead of deferring to others.

You’ll find dates for the traditional and the revised zodiac in the back of the book, and it’s fun to think about how your own personality may change if one day you woke up and instead of being a Virgo you were a Leo. Whether you follow the zodiac or not, it could make for an interesting discussion, along with issues of trust, having self-confidence to do what you think is right, and relying on friends when you need them.

The author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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Jan 14, 2013 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I feel like this book needs a few things going into it. You either need toreallybelieve in astrology -- like, awholelot -- or, if you don't believe in it, you have to be completely willing to thoroughly suspend your disbelief. I fall into the latter category. But how many fantasy worlds do we really believe are actually real? Um, if you're like me, none of them. So I was totally willing to jump into the fantasy world of this book, where personalities really are determined by your Zodiac si...more Okay, I feel like this book needs a few things going into it. You either need to really believe in astrology -- like, a whole lot -- or, if you don't believe in it, you have to be completely willing to thoroughly suspend your disbelief. I fall into the latter category. But how many fantasy worlds do we really believe are actually real? Um, if you're like me, none of them. So I was totally willing to jump into the fantasy world of this book, where personalities really are determined by your Zodiac sign, even though I personally don't buy into it in the real world.

You also need to remember it's a middle grade, not YA. And as such, it reads like a book for 13-year-olds, not 18-year olds. And that's what it's supposed to do. I've read some reviews that seemed to want it to skew older, and that's just not its purpose. It's the whole "don't judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree" thing.

Disclaimers aside, I thought this book was a lot of fun. I honestly have never paid much attention to the Zodiac -- I couldn't even tell you any of the defining personality traits of my sign (Virgo) -- but as each of the signs manifested and challenged Jalen, I found their different personalities really interesting. I also loved the New Orleans setting (because who doesn't love a New Orleans setting?) and the non-stop action.

I did think some of the challenges Jalen faced were a bit too easy, and the solutions a tad bit contrived, but again, had to remind myself that given the intended audience, they were fitting. And I liked the "altered" version of some of the characters' personalities better than the original versions. Which...that could be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective. I enjoyed the creativity, the little puzzles Jalen had to solve, and just the overall charm of the book. There was just something fun and refreshing about it.

By far, my favorite thing about this book was the break-neck pace. It honestly had no good stopping point, which is why I read the whole thing in a day. When Kristin saw I had finished it the day after receiving it in the mail, she said, "Wow, you're a fast reader!" My response: "Well, you didn't give me a good place to take a break!" The characters literally spend the entire book running and fighting. It's crazy.

If you want a fun and original fast-paced middle grade fantasy, this could be the book for you.

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Jan 04, 2013 Ashley (Firestarbooks) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, mg, must-review

The 13th Sign. When I first heard of it, I literally spazzed. What a brilliant idea! Like Jalen, I am a Sagittarius that feel like the horoscope didn't depict my personality right. And so I started wondering if there was a 13th sign. The idea intrigued me dearly. And recently I got into looking at horoscope more because of Midorima from Kuroko no Basuke (I miss you Shin-chan). So when Raincoast Books provided me a copy of The 13th Sign, I freaked. So on the night of January the 4th, I started r...more The 13th Sign. When I first heard of it, I literally spazzed. What a brilliant idea! Like Jalen, I am a Sagittarius that feel like the horoscope didn't depict my personality right. And so I started wondering if there was a 13th sign. The idea intrigued me dearly. And recently I got into looking at horoscope more because of Midorima from Kuroko no Basuke (I miss you Shin-chan). So when Raincoast Books provided me a copy of The 13th Sign, I freaked. So on the night of January the 4th, I started reading and man I didn't put the book down until I was finished. I finished this within hours (and I read SUPER slow) so this is saying a lot! Now I am currently writing this review at 12:30 in the morning. I have to say my mind works better at night anyway.

Okay let's talk about the cover. WOW! Is it ever gorgeous?! It somewhat reminded me of The Night Circus' cover and this Alice in Wonderland mythical depth. I adore it! It seemed goth but also elegant. I couldn't stop staring at it.

I mean the book is not perfect for example, the start of the book. The book didn't start out very well. Maybe it was me but I was confused. I didn't understand the characters, ie who is Ellie, and what's her relationship with Jalen? How old is she? How about Brennan? Nina? Jalen kept on referring Nina as "her Nina", why? What is going on?(Oh Nina is her grandmother, after 43 pages I find this out). And I thought they were locked out of the house, how did they get in?

So I was a bit frustrated with the beginning, but that said, if you look past all that, everything was good. I mean you get to be introduced to all the zodiac signs as people, almost like Greek Gods from Percy Jackson. Each of them had their own personalities that fit the horoscope. That was pretty cool. :) Oh speaking of Percy Jackson, there were many things this book resembled of Percy Jackson series. You know the Minotaur encounter in the lightning thief? There was something similar but with Taurus the Bull. So if you know the adventure Percy went on such as Medusa's lair etc, you get most of the action from this book. BUT! The big difference is that the Percy Jackson series seemed to had more layers and complexity. Some of the "fights" in this book lacked many excitement. It just didn't have the same impact as the Percy Jackson series but I mean, who can compete with Rick Riordan? He is practically a God himself.

So overall, this book is a fast-paced adventure that's for sure. It is full of magic, myth, danger and more! Once the story got started, the pace was fast. It kept things interesting and not dull. One adventure followed another, one Keeper after another. If you like Percy Jackson (but a step down), why not give this one a try?

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Jan 02, 2013 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

First Thoughts
I loved the cover and the entire concept of a 13th sign. Ok, Do you guys remembers, not sure when this happened, but no more than a year ago they were telling us about this new sign? It was big news for a couple weeks and although I’m not one that believes in horoscopes and your sign dictating your personality; I am one that has had the same birth stone my entire life, to one day being told that I’m no longer a Sagittarius (Dec.13) but an Ophiuchus. Needless to say I was not a fan!...more First Thoughts
I loved the cover and the entire concept of a 13th sign. Ok, Do you guys remembers, not sure when this happened, but no more than a year ago they were telling us about this new sign? It was big news for a couple weeks and although I’m not one that believes in horoscopes and your sign dictating your personality; I am one that has had the same birth stone my entire life, to one day being told that I’m no longer a Sagittarius (Dec.13) but an Ophiuchus. Needless to say I was not a fan! So this book really appealed to me.

My Thoughts
This was my first middle grade in years, and honestly I can’t remember why I don’t read them as often, but the 13th sign was a great book to start off with! This book is about Jalen (cool name), a girl every year on her birthday goes and visits Madame Beausoleil to have her horoscope read. She usually does this with her Nina every year, but this year her Nina is sick and she decides to keep with tradition and still go. After getting a false reading she then walks around the store and comes across a book labeled “The Keypers of The Zodiack”, a book not for sale but she takes it anyway. She later realizes that she has unlocked the 13th Sign, the Ophiuchus, and the other signs are far from happy about this. They are sworn to protect Ophiuchus powers from humans. Jalen now has to defeat each keeper, or the alters to everyone personality well be permanent. The universe depends on her!
The Characters are Jalen, the strong challenger, and the girl who has the world on her shoulders, literally! Also, along for the ride, is Ellie and Brennan, a brother /sister duo that will be there to help her on her Journey. Making a cameo is each other the signs, they bring a long their personalities, and action.

When I first starting reading the 13th sign I was not invested at all. I wasn’t feeling the whole concept and I could only read a couple lines at a time. But by the second chapter I was ready for this journey. I realized how truly unique this book was from everything else I’d read before. The author had me thinking about the zodiac signs, and the back story, and basically just wanting to fully understand the Zodiac calendar.

What I didn’t like was the pacing. I felt that it wasn’t enough pages and time between signs before we were already jumping to the next thing. I would have loved to see each gatekeeper get their own story. I felt that only then, would we have a full understanding of the entire story and the history of each sign.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I take my hats off to the author for coming up with something both unique and interesting. Even though this is a middle grade I can see people of all ages enjoying this one, and I can easily see it being a movie or TV show! If you are looking for action and a story completely different than anything out, I would recommend the 13th sign!

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Dec 24, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

THE 13th SIGN was a fast-paced middle grade novel about a young girl who is dealing with the serious illness of her grandmother and still reeling from the disappearance of her father when she was nine and had a serious illness of her own. We start the story with Jalen and her friend Ellie in a French Quarter voodoo store on her thirteenth birthday as she carries on the tradition of having her horoscope read. Her beloved Nina would be with her but is in the hospital and is too ill.

Jalen is a cyni...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Dorine White rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Story-
Jalen doesn’t believe in horoscopes, but her grandma does. So on her 13th birthday she continues the family tradition of visiting a psychic. Much to her surprise, she finds a very old book about the zodiac resting on the dusty shelves in the shop. Jalen and her best friend Ellie steal the book and take it home to unlock its secrets.

To Jalen’s horror the book is really magic, and by opening it, she releases the thirteenth zodiac sign, Ophiuchus the Healer. Now everyone’s horoscope shi...more

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Mar 05, 2013 LaQuita (Just Us Girls) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb was an interesting read, to say the least. Set in New Orleans, we follow the coming of age story of a teenage girl named Jalen. After many hardships with personal family issues, and the normal “teen angst” many of us feel at that age, Jalen gets the chance to experience another life after her and her friend Ellie unlock the secret of the 13th zodiac sign (Ophiuschus). Throughout the book, we read about Jalen conquering fears and battling the twelve members...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really want to give this book 2 stars since it's targeted for a younger age group than what I'm used to, but I didn't feel that it was fair to "punish" the book because it really wasn't for me.

First, I do think that it's interesting that Tubb made a story about the big news a year or two ago when someone entertained the idea that there was really a 13th sign in the zodiac. And I think it was a fun book to read because the book was filled with action as Jalen and her friends faced down each "ch...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Ashley (Loves Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

[Note: this review will be published to Ashley Loves Books on January 3, 2013)

I have a confession: I totally read my horoscope, and I 100% believe I am a token Pisces with a touch of Aries (seeing as how my birthday falls a day before the cusp, it makes sense). While I'm not entirely sure I believe in the zodiac, I can't deny how well the attributes to each sign describe me. While the daily horoscopes seem like a bunch of hooey, the overall descriptions are spot on for me, my family and friends...more [Note: this review will be published to Ashley Loves Books on January 3, 2013)

I have a confession: I totally read my horoscope, and I 100% believe I am a token Pisces with a touch of Aries (seeing as how my birthday falls a day before the cusp, it makes sense). While I'm not entirely sure I believe in the zodiac, I can't deny how well the attributes to each sign describe me. While the daily horoscopes seem like a bunch of hooey, the overall descriptions are spot on for me, my family and friends.

Obviously, I know a bit about the zodiac signs - which was one of the reasons I wanted to read The 13th Sign so badly! But at the same time, it also made me totally resistant to the idea of adding a thirteenth sign and shifting everyone. Though I'd still remain a Pisces under the new dates of the 13th Sign did exist, I would be smack in the middle - without all my Aries tendencies. And I reject that idea!

Moving along to an actual review of the book...

Here's the sad truth: I was super excited to read this book, and I was definitely underwhelmed. It was this crazy adventure of accidentally releasing the 13th sign onto the world and changing absolutely everything; so Jalen (the unfortunate unlocker) has to defeat the traditional 12 plus Ophiuchus the 13th in order to restore order and normalcy as we all once knew. Sounds fantastic right?

Eh.

It was a pretty great adventure, and I really enjoyed how Jalen had to meet each sign and how well they seem to represent the core characteristics of the sign. But cramming 13 battles amongst a real plotline into a meager 270-someodd pages left a lot to be desired. I wanted more, I wanted more detail, I wanted more action and less movement. A lot of the resolutions to the battles were abrupt and, honestly, a bit cheesy to me. There was especially one that had me rolling my eyes so hard at the pages it felt like I pulled something. I understand that not all 13 battles can be MIND-BLOWING EARTH-SHATTERING EPIC, but I expect a few of them to be at least!

I was also disappointed in the personality shifts that happen when Jalen accidentally unlocks Ophiuchus. I get why they happen, and I don't have a problem with how everyone shifts. That all makes sense. But it was so convenient what each person around Jalen turned into, and I hated that it felt like everyone else turned into a pretty big wuss. It made Jalen's "sudden" transformation into a sassy, back-talking fighter a little less impressive. They were all incredibly extreme shifts, and it was just a little too much.

I think I just wanted more from the book. So many things were touched upon - Jalen's Nana, Jalen's father abandonment issues, some vague twinges of romance with a few of the guys - but nothing really fleshes out into real plotlines that I invested myself into. The concept, the potential is totally here; but it didn't carry through.

Something I really did like was the message in the end, though. I know I've whined that some of this is cheesy, and the ending is a little bit too - but it fits. It wraps up everything Jalen and her friends have gone through nicely and gives a satisfying purpose to the whole adventure; and I love that that's what the reader gets to leave the story with. It actually made me change my star rating, because originally I was feeling like a lot of this was a waste of a day to read. But then the ending happened, and while yes it is pretty predictable, the message is clear and fantastic: no absolutes.(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Bonnie at A Backwards Story added it

Shelves: 2013, middle-grade, fantasy, cover-crazy

With the start of the Chinese New Year, I thought it would be a fun time to pick up THE 13TH SIGN by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, which is based on the zodiac. For those not in the know, astrologically, there are thirteen constellations that cross the ecliptic, Ophiuchus being one of them, yet only twelve of these are in the zodiac. (Here's more info more info on Ophiuchus and the history of where it falls for those curious to learn more) Tubb looked at this when setting the foundation for THE 13TH S...more With the start of the Chinese New Year, I thought it would be a fun time to pick up THE 13TH SIGN by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, which is based on the zodiac. For those not in the know, astrologically, there are thirteen constellations that cross the ecliptic, Ophiuchus being one of them, yet only twelve of these are in the zodiac. (Here's more info more info on Ophiuchus and the history of where it falls for those curious to learn more) Tubb looked at this when setting the foundation for THE 13TH SIGN. She writes,

I hovered above the paper, studying this new zodiac chart--this ancient zodiac chart, according to what Ellie read in The Keypers of the Zodiack. There were actually thirteen constellations in the path our planet took around the sun. Thirteen signs, not twelve.
" 'When the Babylonians first developed a zodiac chart,' " Ellie read, " 'they rightly included all thirteen constellations. The twelve-sign zodiac evolved later from the Greeks. The Greeks based their zodiac on the Legend of the Twelve Labours of Hercules. In this myth, Hercules has angered King Eurystheus, and the king demanded that Hercules perform Twelve Labours, or challenges, to spare his life.
" 'As Hercules achieved victory after victory, he honored his Challengers by casting them into the heavens as constellations. These twelve groupings of stars, the Greeks believed, were given the power to control our personalities.' "
Ellie continued reading, " 'Over time, the twelve-sign zodiac became the standard. The thirteenth sign, Ophiuschus, was forever lost.' "
(Page 25, US ARC edition)

This book that Jalen and her friend Ellie read from, The Keypers of the Zodiack, will unlock the thirteenth lost sign, Ophiuschus, to disastrous consequences.

The story begins when Jalen and Ellie carry on a birthday tradition started by Jalen's Nina, despite the fact that Jalen doesn't believe in horoscopes. She's never anything like her sign, Sagittarius, portrays her to be. When the girls find an old, locked book, they don't know what they possess. Upon opening it, Jalen realizes that her birthday should fall under the sign of Ophiuschus, which was lost over time.
With the book to guide her, she accidentally unlocks Ophiuschus, bringing the thirteenth constellation into reality...and changing the personalities of people across the world as they fall beneath new signs as the zodiac shifts. There is a reason that Ophiuschus was hidden, a dangerous one, and people would kill to lay hands on this secret. Jalen must now fix the wrong she created and defeat the twelve members of the zodiac as they descend from the heavens to challenge her for unleashing Ophiuschus.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when picking this up. It sounded like a fun read, and I have a soft spot for thirteenth zodiac signs thanks to my love of the left-out cat from the Fruits Basket series, which I used to love. I wasn't expecting the action-packed adventure THE 13TH SIGN takes readers on. This book would make a great video game, in a sort of Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World sort of way, which is what I kept thinking of as Jalen faced each new challenge set before her. I also like the way Tubb incorporated Greek mythology into Jalen's journey as she defeats each hurdle in a very Herculean fashion. The twelve zodiacs had the feel of gods among us, which is an element I love in series such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. It intrigued me to see this spin on mythology, rather than one incorporating actual gods, and feel it will really appeal to readers.

I really identified with Jalen, who never felt she quite fit with her sign. I'm a Leo, and never felt that the horoscopes described my personality. I always felt I was closer to Cancer, the sign right before mine. It was only within the last few years that I realized there was something called a Cusp that affects some people as one sign rotates into the other. I'm technically a Cancer/Leo Cusp, which actually makes more sense to me, so I related with Jalen's disillusionment with horoscope readings over the years. While the book is lighter on depth, it's middle-grade, and this works in its favor. I always love books where learning doesn't feel like work, but a little golden nugget you clutch and hold on to, sharing with others because it's so intriguing. THE 13TH SIGN is the perfect book to keep its audience's interest and encourage them to become interested in the zodiac, as well as imbuing them with both history and mythology in a sneaky way.

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Dec 27, 2012 Valia Lind rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewed on http://wordsareinnermusic.blogspot.co...

The 13th Sign is a story about Jalen, a girl who doesn’t believe in astrology, until one day when she makes a choice that changes the world around her. She discovers the 13th sign, altering the other twelve signs and the personalities that go with them. Soon she is in a race to save the world and stop the other twelve signs from taking over. With the help of some unlikely characters, Jalen set off on a journey like now other.
There were two th...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Megan (Megan Likes Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The 13th Sign starts off with an interesting concept. What if everyone's personality shifted? Would it be chaos? Political leaders suddenly indecisive? Surgeons suddenly squeamish?

However, the 13th Sign fell a bit flat for me. While there was quite a bit of action and Tubb spelled out the lessons in the book pretty explicitly, it lacked the spark that makes a book great.

I'm fairly indifferent towards the main character, Jalen. There was nothing in particular that I disliked about her, but I jus...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Richa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Originally posted at City of Books - http://ecstatic-for-books.blogspot.com/

I've recently read a book which incorporates the 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus, and since then I've been really interested in it. (The book was Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway, in case you were wondering) I even looked it up and read all about it online. I think the concept of the sign is great, but I'm glad it isn't really included, because there's no way I would give up being a Leo! Kristin O'Donnell Tubb did an amazing...more Originally posted at City of Books - http://ecstatic-for-books.blogspot.com/

I've recently read a book which incorporates the 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus, and since then I've been really interested in it. (The book was Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway, in case you were wondering) I even looked it up and read all about it online. I think the concept of the sign is great, but I'm glad it isn't really included, because there's no way I would give up being a Leo! Kristin O'Donnell Tubb did an amazing job with The 13th Sign, and I was drawn in right from the beginning.

I haven't read a middle grade book in ages, and to find out that the main character was only thirteen initially shocked me. I became even more astonished later on in the novel, when reading about everything Jalen, Ellie (her best friend) and Brennan (Ellie's brother) had to do to send the 12 zodiac signs back.

I guess I should explain what that means. Jalen is originally a Sagittarius, but after discovering the 13th sign, she realized her actual sign is Ophiuchus. She unknowingly unlocks this sign, changing the personality of everyone on the planet. This part I found a bit hard to believe, because I personally don't believe in horoscopes, and it's pretty far-fetched that everyone's personality changes when their signs change. It totally worked in this book, though. Tubb almost had me believing in the signs!

The 13th Sign follows Jalen, Ellie, and Brennan as they go on a quest to retrieve the birthstones of the 12 signs in order to send them back to the heavens. Oh, and they receive some unexpected help. They're very different from the people they were before the signs changed, though. It was interesting to see how Ellie's and Brennan's personality changes affected Jalen. Jalen also found herself doing and saying things she would never have said before. I like the Ophiuchus Jalen better, since she's feisty and isn't afraid to say what she thinks. Brennan becomes a lot sweeter after the personality shift, but I kind of missed the jerk Brennan. He was funny and sarcastic, while the new one, well, is scared of water. As for Ellie, I'm honestly torn. I didn't even know who Ellie was most of the time (you'll find out when you read the book), but I think she's pretty cool before as well as after.

I found out a lot of interesting facts about all the zodiac signs while reading The 13th Sign, and the action present throughout the book also kept me glued to the pages. I loved how different all the zodiacs were, and it was intriguing to see what they were like in human form. Some of them really surprised me, even though I don't really believe in them (yeah, I'm nothing like what my sign says I'm supposed to be). There are a few plot twists in this book, and that's another aspect that made this a really enjoyable read.

The 13th Sign is really something that anyone can read - it's fun, it's interesting, and I think it would be enjoyable to adults, too. And if you're really into horoscopes, I think you'll love this! The characters are all very likeable, and the plot is well-paced. This book is great as a standalone, although I do think it has potential for a series. The underlying theme of self-discovery makes this book great for YA readers as well, so on the whole, The 13th Sign is a book that would appeal to a large number of readers!

*Thank you to Kristin O'Donnell Tubb for providing a copy for review*(less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Jenni Arndt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-own

I was told a few weeks ago that whenever I review a middle grade novel I talk about how surprised I am by it. So I am going to switch it up in this one and say that The 13th Sign was a refreshing read. Something about the innocence of the characters and the genres ability to get me to go along with whatever fantastical plot the author throws at me, gets me everytime. This one reminded me a lot of Jumanji, the releasing of ancient magic and the race to put it back in its place.

On her thirteenth b...more I was told a few weeks ago that whenever I review a middle grade novel I talk about how surprised I am by it. So I am going to switch it up in this one and say that The 13th Sign was a refreshing read. Something about the innocence of the characters and the genres ability to get me to go along with whatever fantastical plot the author throws at me, gets me everytime. This one reminded me a lot of Jumanji, the releasing of ancient magic and the race to put it back in its place.

On her thirteenth birthday Jalen and her friend Ellie head out to fulfill her tradition of going to the local voodoo shop and having her horoscope read to her. Upon searching the shelves she comes across a mysterious locked book called The Keypers of the Zodiack, upon trying to purchase the book she is told that she isn’t ready for it and immediately shutdown by the shopkeeper. So naturally this sparks the girls' interest and they take the book and run (but it’s not really stealing because they leave money behind! Haha) I’m sure you can kind of piece together where the story goes from here; the girls open the mysterious book and release the 13th sign into the universe which leads to personality shifts in everyone and also the other 12 signs on a hunt for Jalen and to put the sign (and it’s hidden power) back.

The story is very much a race against time. I loved how fast paced it was and the challenges that Jalen had to overcome when she met each sign were definitely interesting. I will say though that while the challenges in the beginning felt epic and really tested Jalen’s strength, the ones at the end felt rushed and rather lazy. At first she has to test her strength and wits and really push herself to the limits and some of the very last ones were as simple as kicking over a pot. I really wish the caliber of the first challenges was maintained throughout. Even though it wasn’t, it still made for an engrossing read and I was sucked into a plot that didn’t let up at all.

As for the characters here, it’s really difficult to talk about how I connected with them. After the switch they weren’t even sure who they were anymore so neither was I. I will say that while Jalen started out feeling like a timid girl who always stayed in her place, I loved that she would just blurt out snarky things after the change and be left wondering where it came from. Her best friend Ellie was also a winner for me she was hilarious! I liked the girls banter and could feel that their friendship was deep rooted.

Of course, being a middle grade novel, there isn’t too much romance to be had here, which is one of my favorite things about the genre. Sure there are a few crushes here and there but the main focus is definitely on the plot. Brennan, Ellie’s older brother and Jalen’s crush, started out as someone that I really didn’t like. He was rude to the girls and just all around pushy but once the switch occurred he was a caring guy who was looking out for the girls best interest at every moment. This created a neat dynamic because Jalen remembered him for who he was, and he had no idea so he didn’t understand why she was so indifferent to him. Along that line though I was left to wonder why he didn’t remember anything about himself from before the switch but at the end of the novel was able to know exactly where to go because of a boy scout trip he had been on when he was younger. Maybe an explanation was needed to say that they didn’t remember how they acted but they still had memories of things they had done.

While I did take issue with a few elements in The 13th Sign it was still a novel I enjoyed a lot and was able to devour in a single sitting. It’s a fast paced story that is rich in astrological history and even some Greek mythology sprinkled in for good measure.
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Sep 28, 2012 Tj Shay rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is an extremely well crafted story that draws you in and doesn't let go. Traveling along with Jalen on this magical/mythical journey was great fun. There are so many facets to this story. Not only does the reader learn about characters and the things that take place inside their heads, but the reader will also imagine his/herself in the story and wondering how he/she might change if the zodiac were somehow shifted.

My favorite quote, "I used to think of Bourbon Street as a seedy, strange sid...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Lizzy Lessard rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mg, reviewed

How much does your star sign affect your personality? According to the 13th Sign, it completely controls it. When Jalen unleashes the 13th zodiac sign, she changes the personality of everyone, including herself. This personality shift of all the characters did inhibit my ability to connect to the characters, as I wasn’t sure what they would do with the new personalities vs their old personalities. Ellie, Jalen’s best friend, is impersonated TOO well by Gemini, and the fact that Jalen couldn’t fi...more How much does your star sign affect your personality? According to the 13th Sign, it completely controls it. When Jalen unleashes the 13th zodiac sign, she changes the personality of everyone, including herself. This personality shift of all the characters did inhibit my ability to connect to the characters, as I wasn’t sure what they would do with the new personalities vs their old personalities. Ellie, Jalen’s best friend, is impersonated TOO well by Gemini, and the fact that Jalen couldn’t figure out who was who caused her to distance herself from Ellie. It’s a shame, because I liked both Ellie and her impostor. I’m not quite sure what was the point of Jalen constantly trying to figure out the real Ellie. It would work in a movie, but in a book where the two characters can change places, look identical, and there’s no possibility of inserting hints when the reader can’t keep visual track – it’s annoying.

The plot was very reminiscent of Percy Jackson, only the monsters and helpers didn’t seem to “happen” by any pattern. There was no buildup, in fact the pacing seemed to lag to the point of closing the book for good right before the next bad guy showed up. And then it was over too quickly and another boring spout of “will the real Ellie please stand up?” began. The helpers showed up as if the writer written herself into a corner…and it happened almost every chapter. Jalen and her friends weren’t able to solve anything on their own – unlike Percy Jackson and his friends.

I think this story would of been better as a series, and have Jalen vanquish only a couple a “monsters” in a book. Since she was running around trying to get from point A to point B and on a strict time limit, there wasn’t any room for subplots or character development. The story definitely did not live up to its potential.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.)

Review to be posted on December 19th at Lizzy's Dark Fiction.(less)

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Feb 06, 2013 Juhina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: raincoast, review-books, ebook

I started reading The 13th Sign thinking it is a young adult novel, however soon enough I found out it was a middle grade novel. I don't read much Middle Grade novels but I continued reading The 13th Sign because the synopsis sounding interesting, plus I am a sagittarius, just like the protagonist. Jalen somehow unlocks the 13th sign, Ophiuchus, and as a consequence, the personalities of everyone in the world shift depending on their new star sign. Logical, fair judges turn into emotional ones,...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Demi (Breaking Bookshelves) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: digital-arc, reviewed, shelf-of-disappoint

When I first read the blurb for The 13th Sign, I was intrigued. I've always been fascinated with Zodiacs and the traits believed to be connected to them. That alone made me want to like the book.

The concept was interesting, but the execution definitely fell short. To be honest, I think I skimmed the entire book, and it still took me two weeks or so to finish reading.

Yes, there was a decent amount of action. Yes, the book had some good points. No, it was not memorable in the least. The action dis...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Joyce Lansky rated it 5 of 5 stars

The 13th Sign is a refreshingly novel idea for a story that is carried off with an abundance of action and intrigue. I love the way Kristin Tubb impersonated all of the zodiac signs in original and unpredictable ways while still keeping them true to their legends. Believing in horoscopes or not is irrelevant if the reader will allow the fantasy element of this story to lead the way. She also provided a surprise ending and a nice tie up to all of the unknowns in the novel. The book is strong with...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Janastasia Whydra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, fiction, magic, mystery, reinterpretation, young-adult

I'm somewhere in between thinking Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's The 13th Sign is "ok" and I "liked it". The story is good, but my honest opinion of Jalen, our protagonist, is dumb. I know she is roughly around the age of thirteen-years-old, but the author didn't need to make a character who is incapabale of acknowledging the most obvious of clues. For those of you who grew up with Hermione Granger, Jalen might not be your next favorite heroine. Each of the zodiac sign characters and personalities wer...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Mhdills rated it 5 of 5 stars

"This is a REALLY GOOD Book" That is high praise from a middle grade boy! My son and I both loved reading The 13th Sign. Author Kristin O'Donnell Tubb carries us along Jalen's fast-paced adventure to try to recapture all of the Zodiac signs she unknowingly released. From hot air balloon rides, to racing away from archers, to escaping from Leo the Lion, the action never stops. We loved learning about the Zodiac signs, characters, and personality types! Someday, we would love to find a dusty old b...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Drucilla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: t

I liked the premise and I liked the fact that this book is a standalone work and wasn't dragged out over multiple books. Having said that, Jalen's (view spoiler) seem to happen very quickly or without much effort and I would have liked to have seen a grander battle for each one. The story hits the ground running which is nice, but the reader barely gets the chance to get to know the characters before they change and while you pick up parts of Jalen's...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Su rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another book going straight into my "favorites" list. The overview of the book caught my attention for I've always loved Astrology since I was barely a teenager. I read all things about astrology readings, learning all the signs and their personal traits. Having such a passion for this subject, I thought that this book would be interesting for me.
My guess was right, and this book met beyond my expectations. What I thought was merely interesting turned out to be mysterious, creepy, adventurous,...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Chapter by Chapter rated it 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely enjoyed The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, and I truly believe it is a story that MG readers will thoroughly enjoy. Why? Ummmm…because the twelve signs of the Zodiac come to life! Yes, you heard me…pretty awesomesauce right?

The 13th Sign opens up in a voodoo shop in New Orleans, and on main protagonists, Jalen’s, birthday! After many years of tradition where Jalen and her grandmother, Nina, come and get their tea leaves, palms, or tarot cards read. But this year, Nina is in th...more I absolutely enjoyed The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, and I truly believe it is a story that MG readers will thoroughly enjoy. Why? Ummmm…because the twelve signs of the Zodiac come to life! Yes, you heard me…pretty awesomesauce right?

The 13th Sign opens up in a voodoo shop in New Orleans, and on main protagonists, Jalen’s, birthday! After many years of tradition where Jalen and her grandmother, Nina, come and get their tea leaves, palms, or tarot cards read. But this year, Nina is in the hospital battling cancer, so this year, Jalen has brought her best friend, Ellie, with her.

It’s in this shop that Jalen comes across The Keypers of the Zodiak book. After being told by the shop keeper that she can’t have the book, Jalen and Ellie take the book and go to Jalen’s home to try and open it. After figuring out that the key to open the intricate lock on the book is in her grandmothers jewelry box, Jalen started an unbelievable event that changes everyone in the world.

Jalen unknowingly opens up a 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus. And in doing this, apparently Jalen has angered the other 12 zodiac signs, and they come to life and are now after Jalen to stop her from gaining the power of Ophiuchus. And now, the zodiac signs have deemed Jalen as their challenger and will stop at nothing to stop what Jalen has started. One by one, the signs come after Jalen and her friends, and one by one, Jalen and her friends have to defeat the signs and send them home into the stars.

The idea and concept of this book was one that I found so interesting. I loved the idea of all the different zodiac signs to come to life, and allow us to see some of their powers. I loved how the key to defeating these signs was to decipher a cryptic answer found within the descriptions of the signs. And I also loved the idea that because of the entrance of this 13th sign, the personalities of every one has been altered…whether it’s for the better or for the worse. I also really enjoyed the side story regarding the disappearance of Jalen’s father.

Author, Kristin O’Donnell Tubb does a fantabulous job of grabbing the reader’s attention with the multitude of battles. Her descriptive writing skills are amazing, and you can’t help but get caught up in the moments. I also really loved the emotional side of the story when dealing with Jalen’s grandmother. Just reading the intimate moments between Jalen and Nina were tugging at my heartstrings.

I was a little annoyed the extreme 360 to Jalen’s mother’s personality when the 13th sign was released. I couldn’t really understand how she could freak out as much as she did to Jalen.

I would recommend this read to MG readers everywhere! Fans of horoscopes and zodiac signs will devour this quick read, and will have them totally comparing themselves to the zodiac descriptions found in the book. I know I did, and I am such a Cancer!(less)

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Mar 23, 2013 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-own

THE 13TH SIGN is unlike any kind of book you will ever read. Filled with a clever protagonist and outstanding pacing, THE 13TH SIGN is one of kind a book that should definitely be on your radar!

I mean, wow. The pacing is incredible in this book! I read in this book in a matter of 24 hours, simply because I couldn't set the book down. The first chapter was very enticing, and the rest of the book got even better. THE 13TH SIGN definitely shines out from other books.

Jalen was such a great main cha...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, from-publisher-author, young-adult

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Jalen and her best friend, Ellie, are visiting the psychic for a reading on her thirteenth birthday as she has for years with her grandmother, except this year, her grandmother is in the hospital. When the pair of newly minted teens enter the store, Ellie suggests buying something from the store but she can't find anything until the two come upon a small book of the zodiac that is bound in chains and not for sale. So they take it. When Jalen unlocks the book, she unlocks a new...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Rabiah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-event, arrived

Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...

Whenever I'd flip through a magazine and come through the horoscope section, I would just look for my zodiac sign (Aquarius) and then continue flipping on. I never really looked into the mythology behind the zodiac, and The 13th Sign was definitely an interesting way to get introduced to it.
Initially, when I first started reading this book, it stalled for a little while, it was a little slow. I was at first also confused what was goin...more Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...

Whenever I'd flip through a magazine and come through the horoscope section, I would just look for my zodiac sign (Aquarius) and then continue flipping on. I never really looked into the mythology behind the zodiac, and The 13th Sign was definitely an interesting way to get introduced to it.
Initially, when I first started reading this book, it stalled for a little while, it was a little slow. I was at first also confused what was going on, but then BAM– everything picked up! I love the use of mythology in the modern world, like with the Percy Jackson series, and this was certainly no exception. It was fun, action-packed and very informative on the zodiac.

Even though the main characters were younger than I am, I still found myself connecting to them. I appreciated Jalen's vulnerability, it was just something that made her more human! I often find it odd when character's are just rush into action, waiting for danger to arrive, but of course, she's got that courage, sure, but she's also shown fear and even at one point, had given up. I, personally, would be freaked if I was in this situation and would probably curl up into a ball and wish it would end. I admire her bold nature and determination, and could empathize with her pain and sadness.
Ellie is Jalen's best friend and she's adorable! I love the complications that arise with her (you'll see when you read the book!), and she adds so much of that hilarious element to the novel. Her brother Brennan is also someone who's hilarious at times, and his change when the thirteenth zodiac is added is quite apparent, likewise with his sister. His personality is really different from the first impression we get of him, and it's just such a hilariously adventurous journey with these three!

I mentioned previously that it reminds me of the Percy Jackson series and there's another reason to that, other than modern mythology: the zodiac signs? They're totally like the gods! Each come up in random places, presenting a new challenge for Jalen and her friends. They're also present in different forms, so they just keep springing up everywhere! It's interesting to see how their attributes are portrayed in human form.
There's also a lot of information on each sign of the zodiac throughout this book. I learnt quite a lot about my own sign as well as some of the others, and it was cool to see the personality traits, the weaknesses, the flaws, etc. of each sign as well.

The setting of this novel is GORGEOUS. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans (Mardi Gras, hello?!), and this book really brought the landscape to life. I could imagine easily what it was like, how the city was laid out, and the cultures which are prominent in this fabulous city. The element of voodoo is something new to me in YA fiction and so I liked the culture and mythology associated with it added into this novel.

The 13th Sign is a novel which children, teens, and adults alike will enjoy. It's got action, humor and originality pouring out of the pages. Kristin O'Donnell Tubb has written a fabulous book, one which has both taught me so much, and had me flipping pages like mad. Definitely give this one a try– you won't regret it!

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Kristin O'Donnell Tubb for providing a copy of The 13th Sign for review and BTS2013! ▪ ▪ ▪(less)

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