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The 13th Sign

Kristin O'Donnell Tubb (Goodreads Author)

3.48 · Rating details · 555 ratings · 158 reviews

What if there was a 13th zodiac sign?

You’re no longer Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus, the healer, the 13th sign.

Your personality has changed. So has your mom’s and your best friend’s.

What about the rest of the world?

What if you were the one who accidentally unlocked the 13th sign, causing this world-altering change—and infuriating the other 12 signs?

Jalen did it, and now ...more

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Hardcover, 272 pages

Published January 8th 2013 by Feiwel & Friends

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Average rating 3.48 ·

Rating details

· 555 ratings · 158 reviews

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Sep 04, 2016 Ashley Daviau rated it really liked it

I was originally drawn to this book because of the spectacular cover and wasn't sure what to expect from the story. I'm really glad my eye was drawn to it because I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. The whole concept of the zodiac signs shifting and everyone's personalities changing was really intriguing and I haven't read anything quite like it. And all the battles throughout were amazing and it was interesting to see how Jalen dealt with each of them. All in all, I really adored the concept tha ...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Megs rated it liked it

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 11, 2013 Katy rated it liked it

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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Jun 27, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed-by-kristina, earc

Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

THE 13TH SIGN has a creative and fresh idea involving zodiac signs, but unfortunately it fell flat in its execution. I loved the idea of Zodiac signs being real creatures and that a shift in ones sign means a shift in your personality. Although, considering most horoscopes are pretty general in their traits and could be attributed to many people, the extreme and sudden shifts in personalities and actions were too extreme to believe for me.

I enjoyed fo ...more

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Jan 05, 2015 Annette (booknerderie) rated it really liked it

This gets a solid 3.5/5 stars for me. A solid read with an exciting cast and background. The zodiac has always been a fun pastime, so this novel peaked my interest big time.

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Jan 04, 2013 Ashley Chen rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs, must-review, mg

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 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?

...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Jenni Arndt rated it liked it

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 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.
...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Kai rated it liked it

Shelves: teens, for-review, 2013, 2013-tbr-pile

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

That hype and virtual mayhem that Ophiucus created was enough to make me interested in this book. It started of with 14 year old Jalen getting a reading for her birthday. It was a tradition started by Nina, her once bright and adventurous grandmother who's now fighting to live on. Jalen just wants everything to be okay. Maybe being a Sagittaruis wasn't helping her at all. And so she found a mysterious book about the zodiac, and in her persistence to unlock it, she Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

That hype and virtual mayhem that Ophiucus created was enough to make me interested in this book. It started of with 14 year old Jalen getting a reading for her birthday. It was a tradition started by Nina, her once bright and adventurous grandmother who's now fighting to live on. Jalen just wants everything to be okay. Maybe being a Sagittaruis wasn't helping her at all. And so she found a mysterious book about the zodiac, and in her persistence to unlock it, she has also unlocked the 13th sign, Ophiuchus. Now Jalen's on a hunt to send back all the other 12 zodiacs to the heavens amidst all the personality shifts and zodiacs determined to stop her. Because of Jalen unlocks Ophiuchus' power, she will be able to save her Nina, and maybe reunite with her long lost father. All of this Jalen needs to do in 24 hours, or everything is permanent.

The concept behind the 13th sign is really interesting. It's one of the first YA attempts to write a story for teens about Ophiucus. While I don't like Jalen's doormat, easily influenced personality, the shift when she unlocked Ophiucus made her a little more likable. Better to have spunk and fierceness than be timid. It will take a while for the personality shift problem to convince readers that it is a real conflict in the book, but what's fun in this is the introduction and incorporation of all the 12 zodiacs, their different earthly forms, personalities and how they tested Jalen and her resolve to conquer Ophiucus. The trials Jalen faced were enough to give readers some tension. Though I didn't care much for Brennan's character whose personality felt like it shifted more than once with his erratic and inconsistent behavior, Ellie, though irritating at times, provided enough spark in the story with her support to Jalen. Also, Gemini, the playful zodiac who might or might not be a friend or a foe, lend the story enough mischievousness for it to be quite an engaging read.

Overall, it's a good reading experience. Even though I had difficulty connecting with some of the characters and the inclusion of the zodiacs in particular scenes created some moments of confusion in the story, it's still quite an enjoyable read. I definitely enjoyed Jalen's quest to defeat all 12 zodiacs. The author was able to stitch together the connection between Jalen's father and her involvement with the 12 zodiacs quite neatly, and her dedication to her Nina is the part that I loved the most in the 13th sign. My only complain for this is book is that Ophiucus' presence didn't give the story quite the impact I was expecting it to despite being the central source of conflict. I wish it was made more believable, that the story gave more of a sense of foreboding and impending danger than it does instead of it coming from the police hunting the characters and the zodiacs all throughout the story. It felt a little bit contained within Jalen's circle. I'm quite unconvinced with how unlocking Ophiucus can destroy the world, as there was not enough in the story to show that it really was happening. More chaos, more destruction, instead of everything just being a product of Jalen and her friends imagination. Also, a little romance wouldn't hurt, as this book has very little to almost none. If there was anything between Jalen and Brennan, it wasn't shown clearly. The concept behind the book was creative, I wish it was just utilized a little bit more.

Despite the difficulties I had, the 13th sign is still a good read. Though this might appeal to a more younger audience, it's not a bad start for Kristin O'Donnell Tubb. I would want to see more of her works in the future. ...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Rabiah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-event

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 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! ▪ ▪ ▪ ...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Lauren rated it really liked it

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 Zodia 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.

...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Lizzy Lessard rated it did not like it

Shelves: reviewed, fantasy, mg

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 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. ...more

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Sep 27, 2013 Brooks Benjamin rated it it was amazing

4.5 / 5

I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin at the 2013 Midsouth SCBWI conference. I was even luckier to get my copy of The 13th Sign signed by her.

So why do I like this book so much?

Tons of reasons!

1) The hook. The 13th Sign is a totally unique concept. Sure there are books out there dealing with the Zodiac, but this is the first one I've ever read about someone unlocking a thirteenth sign that throws the entire world out of zodiacal whack. I mean, come on! How cool is that? Answer: very cool ...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Valia Lind rated it liked it

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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Sep 16, 2012 Tj Shay rated it it was amazing

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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Jan 20, 2013 Joyce Lansky rated it it was amazing

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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Oct 04, 2012 Jeff Raymond rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-middle-grade, books-i-own, arcs-manuscripts

Of the attempted YA trends, I didn't think the Zodiac would be one, but hey, why not, right?

The idea behind this one is deceptively simple: of the 12 Zodiac signs, there's a mysterious 13th one locked away that is accidentally unleashed. When that happens, it throws everything out of whack and it must be defeated to right everything again.

It's a very light, fluffy action title for teens and it gets the job basically done. It's not a long book, and it gets right to the point. Can't fault that at ...more

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Jul 14, 2015 Stephanie Faris rated it it was amazing

I don't know anything about the signs of the zodiac, so this book was a much-needed lesson into how all of that works. The story revolves around a young girl named Jalen, who discovers a 13th sign of the zodiac. When she unwittingly frees the 13th sign, she changes the personality of everyone on Earth. She must then go on a quest to restore order. If you love action/adventure, this is the book for you! Plus you'll learn more than you ever thought you could about the signs of the zodiac. I loved ...more

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May 07, 2014 Alisha Klapheke rated it it was amazing

I always loved checking my horoscope as a kid. This book taps right into the mystery and desire to categorize oneself during early teen years. Hot air balloon rides, New Orleans streets, and magic—who could ask for more? I loved it.

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Sep 12, 2015 Jen Malone rated it it was amazing

So clever and full of awesome action- passing this right on to my twin boys who are huge Percy Jackson fans!

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Nov 23, 2015 Lizzie Marshall rated it really liked it

This was a super great book. I read this with a group of friends in fifth grade, and ended up skyping with the author. Loved it!

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Dec 07, 2017 Jo rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, a-cold-cup-of-tea

2.5 Stars

"Believing doesn't mean having all the answers -- just the opposite. Believing is having none of the answers and going forward anyway."

Overview:
The 13th Sign is a story about a thirteen-year-old girl named Jalen from New Orleans who (along with her best friend Ellie) accidentally unleashes the thirteenth sign of the zodiac. Jalen then has to defeat each zodiac sign to prove that she is worthy of the amazing healing powers that the thirteenth sign possesses. Oh yeah, and because there is ...more

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Mar 01, 2019 McKenna F rated it it was ok

My book is The 13th sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb. Jalen, (main character) and her Nina always go to Madame Beausoleil to get their horoscopes read. This time however Nina was in the hospital so she couldn’t go but Jalen still went. She got her horoscope read and after that she found a book called The Keypers of The Zodiac. When they got home Jalen opened the book and she didn’t know but she changed all the people in the worlds zodiac signs so everyone had a personality change basically. She ha ...more

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Jun 16, 2018 Shelly Hammond rated it really liked it · review of another edition

'The 13th Sign' is a fun, action packed, unique story that has memorable characters and otherworldly adventures.
In this book, a girl (Jalen) intentionally but also unintentionally opens a book that brings about some very significant changes in the world. She brings Ophiuchus, the 13th sign, into play and everything changes. Bringing in this sign changes the birth signs of most people thus causing them to completely change their attitudes and thoughts. The change is immediate once that book is op ...more

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Dec 03, 2018 Marsha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, supernatural, romance, horror, owned-books, literature-fiction

I once stated that adventure stories usually start when someone breaks the rules. At bottom, this novel is a very basic type within this trope. Someone has unwittingly unleashed a terrible evil/danger/monster/fate and it’s up to our hero/ine to fix the mess that results. A team of stalwart companions is formed and they undertake a quest to mend matters BEFORE THE WORLD IS DOOMED.

Yes, this is the storyline we have here. But this novel takes a very unique turn. Astrology, that study followed by th ...more

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Nov 26, 2018 Peyton Robinson rated it did not like it

I did not like this book, as my rating suggests. The characters were flat and dull, the action boring and the urgency was nonexistent. The battles happened too quick with little detail. At some point in the book, I couldn't continue. I felt like I was reading on of my own fanfictions from the third grade, only with better grammar.

There was no buildup, the beginning felt unrealistic and cliche, and the lack of danger was frustrating.

Jalen, the protagonist, didn't have much emotion. The author p ...more

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Feb 27, 2017 Michelle Beer rated it really liked it

Shelves: worth-your-money

Ever feel like your zodiac sign just doesn't seem to match with your real personality? Maybe that's because you have the wrong one. The 13th sign is a clever dive into just what the world might be like if an extra sign was thrown into the mix and how it would affect everyone. Granted it is a seriously exaggerated take on such a thing but, still, it's interesting nevertheless. Let's take a look, shall we?

The story is of a young girl New Orleans named Jalen Jones who is dealing with the stresses o Ever feel like your zodiac sign just doesn't seem to match with your real personality? Maybe that's because you have the wrong one. The 13th sign is a clever dive into just what the world might be like if an extra sign was thrown into the mix and how it would affect everyone. Granted it is a seriously exaggerated take on such a thing but, still, it's interesting nevertheless. Let's take a look, shall we?

The story is of a young girl New Orleans named Jalen Jones who is dealing with the stresses of her Nina (grandmother) being very sick. When she discovers a mysterious book entitled The Keypers of the Zodiack (their spelling, not mine) she accidentally unlocks the 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus the healer. All of a sudden, everybody's personalities have changed. People are picking up habits they didn't have before, things they could do before are now impossible, and they possess phobias for things that never used to bother them. On top of all this, the twelve zodiac signs have come to earth and are now trying to attack Jalen for disrupting the order. Jalen must now defeat the zodiac signs and return them to the heavens before the personality shift becomes permanent.

Like I said, this concept is pretty interesting and done very creatively. While being a very simple, quest-like story, each challenge is unique and clever. While some of the signs just try to attack Jalen, most of them come in the forms of tricks and puzzles. For instance, Gemini the twin makes a carbon copy of Jalen's best friend and she has to figure out which is her real friend and which is Gemini. Little touches like that keep the story interesting and the challenges are spaced out carefully so the story doesn't feel too rushed, even if the whole adventure takes place in the space of a single day.

I was worried, at first, if this would be a bumpy ride when it came to the characters. Jalen, at first, is very whiny and a bit self-centered. Thankfully, after the personality shift, she becomes much more driven and determined and someone I'm a little more willing to follow into this story. The whining doesn't always go away though, but then again she is dwelling on the fact that her grandmother is on death's door and dealing with her father's disappearance, so I can't really fault her for that. Her friends, a brother and sister pair named Brennan and Ellie, also become better after the personality swap and become useful characters who are nice to have around.

There are times when the story practically comes to a full stop while the characters read from The Keypers of the Zodiack in order to figure out how to defeat each sign. These pauses can come in the middle of tense situations and can kind of take away from the moment and be a bit distracting. There are also some villain-type characters that kind of come out of nowhere and don't really contribute anything except getting in the way and frankly I think the story could do without them. While the ending comes with a satisfying and honestly refreshing turn of events, it does kind of hang open, as if there's a possibility for a sequel. I kind of wish they hadn't done that as it's just fine as a stand-alone and doesn't need to carry the story any further. That and a few inconsistencies with the mythology behind the zodiac kind of annoyed me, but the story didn't focus on them so I didn't either. ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 Andrea rated it really liked it

I must admit, I had my doubt prior to getting this book. But, i did ended up buying it and definitely not regretting reading it. As a Saggitarian, I totally felt for the protagonist. Her indecisiveness, her pursuit to knowing why things are the way they are and her lack of self esteem. When I first heard of the 13th sign years ago, I was also desvastated of finding out I was supposed to be Ophiuchus. But reading this made me feel that it wont be that bad after all. Nevertheless whether you belie ...more

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Dec 06, 2020 Miss Ratatootee rated it it was amazing

This book made me believe that there is really a 13th Zodiac sign and then this sign is somewhat the reason why 2020 is like this.

I bought this book last year on Big Bad Wolf event and just read it last January. It scares me also because when pandemic started, I saw some posts in social media that there would be an official 13th sign and then I suddenly remembered this story and thought that what if one of the reasons why 2020 is like this because someone opened the forbidden book again.

But then ...more

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Aug 04, 2017 xxx rated it liked it

I bought this book with around 5 or 6 others. I picked this for last because I didn't think I would enjoy it as much. I wont say I fell head over heels in love with it, but I rather enjoyed the book. the concept was good and the book was a nice one. I read it really fast but it wasn't always really good. there were some slow parts and you could completely forget that they are trying to get to the hospital. I liked the outcome of the book but I overall enjoyed it. ...more

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Oct 31, 2018 Eileen Winfrey rated it really liked it

Shelves: older-children, fantasy

I would give this about 3.5 -4 stars, but there isn’t an option. A girl must battle incarnations of zodiac signs after unwittingly unlocking a book bought in a voodoo shop. Because of the theme, I was thinking this book might freak parents out, but it actually reminded me of Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians in degree of violence (not bad) and think it would be just fine for 4th and 5th graders.

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About Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

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“Whoever said that loss gets easier with time was a liar. Here's what really happens: The spaces between the times you miss them grow longer. Then, when you do remember to miss them again, it's still with a stabbing pain to the heart. And you have guilt. Guilt because it's been too long since you missed them last.” — 590 likes

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