Annie's mother has special powers.
Annie's mother is a master at drawing out secrets.
Annie's mother is the one and only, the irresis... read full description
Annie's mother is a master at drawing out secrets.
Annie's mother is the one and only, the irresis... read full description
reviews
Sep 17, 2007
Linda (Librarian)
rated it: 
Annie's mother is Madame Caterina, a "spiritual advisor," who brings people messages from the dead loved ones. Annie and her mother move from one town to another as people become suspicious of Madame Caterina. Annie wants to stay in Peach Hill and live a normal life, especially because she has met a boy she really likes, but she is forced to act like an idiot to help her mother fool her clients. Read this book to find out if Annie gets to stay in Peach Hill or is run out of town once
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Aug 19, 2009
Kim
rated it:
Gr 5-9-During the 1920s, 15-year-old Annie travels from town to town in upstate New York with her mother, a self-proclaimed spiritual adviser. Annie is her mother's secret weapon: by posing as an idiot, she can eavesdrop on conversations around town and gather fodder for "Madame Caterina's " fortune-telling sessions. The downside, of course, is that Annie is never able to let anyone learn just how intelligent and lonely she really is. When they move to Peach Hill, the teen longs to set
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Aug 02, 2011
EParkinson
rated it: 
After reading a review of this novel in School Library Journal, I was so excited to read it. The review made the book sound like a mystery novel with the flair of historical fiction since it takes place in 1924. I was very disappointed after finishing the novel. Not only was their no mystery or scandal, but the novel was very slow and repetitive. Annie, the protagonist, is the child of Madame Caterina, a clairvoyant, who preys on peoples weaknesses and wants through her daughter. She forces
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Dec 27, 2008
Donalyn
rated it: 
As part of my book a day holiday challenge to myself, I have been grabbing any book sitting in the cascading mountain of books I have to read. I wish my hand had grabbed something other than this lackluster book.
The book is set in 1924, and follows a teenage girl, Annie, and her mother, who travel from town to town as psychics and fortune-tellers (usually one step ahead of the law).
Annie is weary of traveling and longs for a normal life away from the control of her mothe More...
The book is set in 1924, and follows a teenage girl, Annie, and her mother, who travel from town to town as psychics and fortune-tellers (usually one step ahead of the law).
Annie is weary of traveling and longs for a normal life away from the control of her mothe More...
Feb 02, 2011
Jacquelyn
rated it:
Great book. It's set in the twenties (I'm assuming) as it mentions the Great War (now known as WWI) but not the Stock Market crash.
About a sixteen year old Annie who started life travelling with a carnival, her mother working as a fortune teller. She talks about travelling after the carnival went bankrupt, going from town to town and helping her mother read palms, give fortunes, and perform seances. Then leaving town before too many townspeople get suspicious. Currently in Peach Hill, Ann More...
About a sixteen year old Annie who started life travelling with a carnival, her mother working as a fortune teller. She talks about travelling after the carnival went bankrupt, going from town to town and helping her mother read palms, give fortunes, and perform seances. Then leaving town before too many townspeople get suspicious. Currently in Peach Hill, Ann More...
Sep 10, 2011
Phoebe
rated it:
Annie and her "clairvoyant" mother need a fresh start after the police catch them in the act. They travel to Peach Hill where they set up house; Mama as a palm reader, spiritual advisor, and mistress of the seance, and Annie acting as her idiot daughter. But Annie is not an idiot, and as she nears 16, she begins to imagine a life that is not tied to her vain mother, to whom life is one big performance. She begins to question the ethics of what her mother does. She meets a boy, and find
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Oct 08, 2010
JiaMin
rated it:
What kind of mother is her, telling the daughter to act like a moron? People look down at her, didn't want to be friends with her, and even talking behind her. HOW SAD! Annie is always under her mother, Catherine's control. Catherine needed Annie to be a "spy", to get informations from their clients. By the way, Catherine is a clairvoyant, a fake one. She tells people the things they wanted to hear, but it isn't the truth, of course. Since a child, Annie follows her mother to many vill
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Jun 29, 2008
Amanda
rated it:
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Aug 14, 2011
Lori
rated it:
After getting into trouble in Carling, NY, Annie and her mother make a new home in Peach Hill. Initially Annie and her mother, Madame Caterina, Spiritual Advisor, operate like normal until the school truant officer finds Annie and she is forced to attend school. After a while Annie begins to like school and grows tired of being a part of her mother's deceptions. She begins to believe that she has a chance for an honest life, but it could mean exposing her mother.
Oct 30, 2007
Jess
rated it:
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars - it was a good little read but nothing I'll gush over. It has a lot of outward similarities to A Drowned Maiden's Hair (which I DID gush over) - historical setting, girl in the clutches of not-so-nice parent/guardian who uses her in seances, etc. to make money. But this is no copy-cat and stands well on its own. Annie is 15 and they've just moved to a new town. Her mother has set up shop reading palms, channeling the dead, all the usual. Annie must pretend to
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Aug 11, 2009
Lys
rated it:
The first line of the summary on the back: it is 1924.
While reading this book, I thought it was okay. What could have made it better is the author making the setting and time period more important, because while reading, it could have taken place almost at anytime really, except for all the references to the Great War.
I did enjoy the open ending. It redeemed the story a little.
While reading this book, I thought it was okay. What could have made it better is the author making the setting and time period more important, because while reading, it could have taken place almost at anytime really, except for all the references to the Great War.
I did enjoy the open ending. It redeemed the story a little.
Sep 08, 2008
Jessie
rated it:
Annie is just your average fifteen year-old—except that her mother is Madame Caterina, amazing clairvoyant, or at least that’s what they want the townspeople to think. When Annie and her mother move to Peach Hill after an unfortunate run-in with the law, Annie starts to think twice about her role. Rather than doing whatever is necessary to help her mother, she realizes that she might just want to be a normal teenager for once. Cute Sammy Sloane might have something to do with this... This is a w
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Apr 23, 2008
Adriana
rated it:
The story centers around Annie, who is 15 about to be 16, and her mom, "Madame Caterina". They travel around during the 1920's. Madame Caterina feigns being a psychic, and she uses Annie to snoop around town getting her valuable information on prospective clients. Soon Annie realizes that she wants to free herself of her mother's grip and just be a normal girl. When they end up in Peach Hill, things unfold for the both of them, and Annie finally comes into her own. It was a quick
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Aug 14, 2009
mbbnda
rated it:
How would you feel if your mother used you as her "Lurker", a plant to gather information? Annie supplied information which enabled her mother to become Madam Caterina, Spiritual Adviser. How more will fifteen year old Annie be willing to sacrifice for her mother's career?
Dec 17, 2009
Mimo
rated it:
15-year-old Annie's mom's job is getting old for Annie. Annie's mom aka Madame Caterina is a clairvoyant. Or at least that's what she leads people to believe. And Annie is an essential part of that con in each new town. In fact, when they first move to Peach Hill Annie must pretend to be "touched". Trouble is, like most girls her age Annie just wants to be normal and accepted. Can she find a way to fit in?
Overall I thought this was a pretty good book. However, I did not th More...
Overall I thought this was a pretty good book. However, I did not th More...
May 17, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
I hate it when I wait a few days to review something I've read. I did read and finish this. It is about a girl whose mother is a fake fortune teller. I just recall I wasn't "all in" so that is why the 2 stars.
Oct 20, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
The central conflict in Peach Hill is 15 year-old Annie's growing desire to distance herself from her mother's physcic scams. Annie longs to be herself and have her mother love her for herself. She resolves to separate herself from what her mother does, but gets drawn back in. Oddly, even though these emotional struggles were poignant, the characters are a touch flat. I thought the story would have been fine without a subplot involving an abused girl whose problem's mirror Annie's.
Dec 17, 2009
Marya
rated it:
This is such a fun little book that its depth is surprising. Sure, the romantic subplot seems overplayed, but the author's smart enough not to tidy it all up at the end. Just like the plot, beneath the veneer of the side show spiritualist act lies a powerful struggle between mother and child. It may play to the teen-new-found-identity angle, but it certainly makes you wonder about the effects of the balance of power in a parent/child relationship.
Apr 14, 2008
Cathy
rated it:
Annie's mother swindles people by reading their palms and reaching their loved ones on "the other side." Since the book is set during WWI, there are many women wanting to contact their lost husbands and sons. Annie's part is to gather information to assist her domineering mother. She does this by pretending to be an idiot. But Annie is 15 and wants to go to school and live a normal life, and she especially wants to meet Sammy Sloane.
Mar 15, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it:
This book centered around Annie's moral dilemma, which was really about a young girl learning to think for herself. It was also about a girl leading an unusual life who just wanted to be normal. Her emotional conflict was tangible. The setting, post-World War I central New York, interested me as well. This isn't my favorite of Jocelyn's books, but I enjoyed it.
May 31, 2011
Desiree
rated it:
Beautifully written young adult novel about a teenage girl finding her independence from an overbearing mother (who works as a clairvoyant). The characters are complex and intriguing, although there's not quite enough room in the short-ish story to do them all justice. (Would love to see a sequel about Helen, actually, a fairly minor, but fascinating, character).
Jul 29, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Annie's mother is a fortune teller and she is caught up in the act. The family business has led Annie from town to town, but as she is turning sixteen she wants nothing more than to settle down in the town of Peach Hill.
I thought the story was well written and I found it an enjoyable read. I don't think this story will have wide appeal however.
I thought the story was well written and I found it an enjoyable read. I don't think this story will have wide appeal however.
Jun 05, 2007
Kelaine
rated it:
Interesting historical fiction book about a girl and her mother who pretend to be psychics and talk to spirits of dead to pass on messages to the living. Girl is tired of living a lie...mom wants to keep getting the money...what should she do? Good discussion book for middle school/late elementary. Each chapter begins with an old wives tale saying.
Oct 27, 2008
Jean
rated it:
I didn't like the cover. I really liked the book. It is a great story about growing up. Deciding what is important and making hard decisions about going against how you have been raised for what is right. Interesting historical fiction about psychics in the early part of the last century.
Apr 22, 2008
Jayanne
rated it:
Teen. Annie's mom is a fake psychic, and in the latest twist has Annie pretending to act like an idiot in order to gather information on people. Annie wants to go to school and be normal. Takes place after the World War I. Nothing surprising, but enjoyable.
Jan 04, 2008
Trina
rated it:
I never really got into it. I think I mostly never connected with or really liked the main character. I would recommend "A Drowned Maiden's Hair" instead if you are looking for good historical fiction dealing with Spiritualism.
Dec 17, 2009
Deb
rated it:
Annie's mom is a "clairvoyant" (scam artist) and Annie has grown up helping her and moving from place to place as they get run out of town. But she likes and wants to stay in Peach Hill. How can she escape her mother's clutches?
Aug 04, 2007
Jennifer
rated it:
Good book but not amazing. I would have liked a more detailed ending, but an original and entertaining story line.
