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The Huaca
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Cummings just wants to be a regular teenager, but after her mother’s mysterious murder, she isn’t sure if she’ll ever be normal again. Her mother’s death has left Ellie and her father worlds apart. And when her best friend abandons her, Ellie has no one else to turn to—except for the strange boy who says he can help.
Gabe de la Cruz seems to know way too much about everything,
and her instincts tell Ellie to stay far away. But when he claims that he can communicate with the dead through an ancient Incan artifact, Ellie can’t resist the temptation of seeing her mother again. In the hanan pacha—the Incan afterworld—Ellie’s mother sends a message to help Ellie understand what happened the night of the murder—a message that may be better kept a secret . . .
Gabe de la Cruz seems to know way too much about everything,
and her instincts tell Ellie to stay far away. But when he claims that he can communicate with the dead through an ancient Incan artifact, Ellie can’t resist the temptation of seeing her mother again. In the hanan pacha—the Incan afterworld—Ellie’s mother sends a message to help Ellie understand what happened the night of the murder—a message that may be better kept a secret . . .
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2013
1 person is currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Argueta Mickelson
7 books64 followersMarcia Mickelson was born in Guatemala and moved to the U.S. as an infant. She began writing her first novel her senior year of high school and finished it more than ten years later.
Marcia graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors Degree in American Studies. She is the author of YA novels The Huaca and Where I Belong.
She has also written 3 inspirational women's novels: Star Shining Brightly, Reasonable Doubt, and Pickup Games.
Marcia currently resides in Texas with her husband and three sons.
Marcia graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors Degree in American Studies. She is the author of YA novels The Huaca and Where I Belong.
She has also written 3 inspirational women's novels: Star Shining Brightly, Reasonable Doubt, and Pickup Games.
Marcia currently resides in Texas with her husband and three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 15, 2013
This is classic YA at its best.
To me, classic YA follows a formula: an older teenager, usually a female, has tragedy strike the family, usually a death of a close family member. Best friends turn out not to be best friends, and good-hearted oddballs become the new, reliable best friend. The stories are full of pathos. The drama is high drama. Everything is tragic at its utmost. The romances are true love. And the adults don't really 'get' any of what the teenager is going through.
The Huaca has all of this, and more.
Marcia Mickelson manages to meet all the YA expectations, but mixes in some mystery and fantasy as well. From the opening sentence ("The snow makes everything clean again.")to the hopeful ending, Mickelson grabs my attention and piques my interest on every page. I did not want to put this book down.
The story: Ellie Cummings' mother was murdered. The killer never caught. Ellie's best friend Sarah is no longer speaking to Ellie as Ellie ratted out Sarah's boyfriend. Ellie is now very alone, despite a kind-hearted father who dotes on her. Enter Gabe de la Cruz, the student picked on by Sarah's boyfriend, and who has apparently had a crush on Ellie for some time. Gabe happens to be a bit of an expert on the Inca civilization ... a topic that Ellie needs to do a report on. Gabe helps Ellie out in her homework, but has a special Incan device he shares with Ellie. The device allows Ellie to to visit her dead mother in a different plane of reality. From her dead mother, Ellie learns some secrets that maybe would have been best left secret. Then a race is on to uncover Ellie's mother's murderer before Ellie becomes the next victim.
The writing is crisp and easy, and Mickelson builds on her plot masterfully, keeping the reader interested.
All is not well, however. I do have a couple of small complaints about the book.
First, there is the title. The Huaca. Really? I would think that the publisher would have to do a pretty vigorous ad campaign to sell this book to its intended target...teenage girls. There is nothing in this title (or the currently available cover art) to suggest it is a book of tragedy, mystery and romance. And while the huaca does play a role in the book, one could just as easily call this book lasagna for the role the past a dish plays.
Secondly, there are subplots mentioned, or touched upon, that don't play much role in the book, other than as a springboard for action, but which leave us with un-answered questions. Still, it is a YA book, and once the teenage protagonist has moved on and forgotten about the events of the sub-plot, it is no longer important for us, the reader, to think about the events as well.
I enjoyed this YA book much much more than I was expecting, and certainly more than most other YA books I've read, including some that have won literary prizes. Don't be fooled by the title...this book will definitely keep you reading.
To me, classic YA follows a formula: an older teenager, usually a female, has tragedy strike the family, usually a death of a close family member. Best friends turn out not to be best friends, and good-hearted oddballs become the new, reliable best friend. The stories are full of pathos. The drama is high drama. Everything is tragic at its utmost. The romances are true love. And the adults don't really 'get' any of what the teenager is going through.
The Huaca has all of this, and more.
Marcia Mickelson manages to meet all the YA expectations, but mixes in some mystery and fantasy as well. From the opening sentence ("The snow makes everything clean again.")to the hopeful ending, Mickelson grabs my attention and piques my interest on every page. I did not want to put this book down.
The story: Ellie Cummings' mother was murdered. The killer never caught. Ellie's best friend Sarah is no longer speaking to Ellie as Ellie ratted out Sarah's boyfriend. Ellie is now very alone, despite a kind-hearted father who dotes on her. Enter Gabe de la Cruz, the student picked on by Sarah's boyfriend, and who has apparently had a crush on Ellie for some time. Gabe happens to be a bit of an expert on the Inca civilization ... a topic that Ellie needs to do a report on. Gabe helps Ellie out in her homework, but has a special Incan device he shares with Ellie. The device allows Ellie to to visit her dead mother in a different plane of reality. From her dead mother, Ellie learns some secrets that maybe would have been best left secret. Then a race is on to uncover Ellie's mother's murderer before Ellie becomes the next victim.
The writing is crisp and easy, and Mickelson builds on her plot masterfully, keeping the reader interested.
All is not well, however. I do have a couple of small complaints about the book.
First, there is the title. The Huaca. Really? I would think that the publisher would have to do a pretty vigorous ad campaign to sell this book to its intended target...teenage girls. There is nothing in this title (or the currently available cover art) to suggest it is a book of tragedy, mystery and romance. And while the huaca does play a role in the book, one could just as easily call this book lasagna for the role the past a dish plays.
Secondly, there are subplots mentioned, or touched upon, that don't play much role in the book, other than as a springboard for action, but which leave us with un-answered questions. Still, it is a YA book, and once the teenage protagonist has moved on and forgotten about the events of the sub-plot, it is no longer important for us, the reader, to think about the events as well.
I enjoyed this YA book much much more than I was expecting, and certainly more than most other YA books I've read, including some that have won literary prizes. Don't be fooled by the title...this book will definitely keep you reading.
April 5, 2016
The Huaca may be a story about a young adult, but its appeal goes far beyond the teen years. Ellie's story takes us into some of the darkest places we could ever experience. It takes us into complex, entangled lives where there are no simple and pat answers, but more questions and more layers of human experience to explore.
Her mother's unsolved murder may be at the heart of this story, but her relationships and the people in her life form a web so real that readers recognize threads that resemble their own. Never neat and tidy. Sometimes tenuous. Sometimes terrible. Sometimes filled with love and understanding.
The characters are all people we might know. Gabe's the odd and on-the-fringe boy who holds a key to the answers Ellie seeks. His mother, a brilliant artist plagued by life-long depression. Ellies' father--who is he and what is he? We don't know until the end and even then we only know he's all too human. Then there's Sarah, the once best friend whom Ellie must move beyond. Is she only a fashionista? Only a typical popular teen? Perhaps, but she also shows up when Ellie needs help. Never a best friend again, but a young person working through to adulthood.
The strength of this story is the complication Mickelson weaves into each character. It's also the building tension that lasts to the very end. We leave her story satisfied, but wondering what will happen to these people in the future.
Her mother's unsolved murder may be at the heart of this story, but her relationships and the people in her life form a web so real that readers recognize threads that resemble their own. Never neat and tidy. Sometimes tenuous. Sometimes terrible. Sometimes filled with love and understanding.
The characters are all people we might know. Gabe's the odd and on-the-fringe boy who holds a key to the answers Ellie seeks. His mother, a brilliant artist plagued by life-long depression. Ellies' father--who is he and what is he? We don't know until the end and even then we only know he's all too human. Then there's Sarah, the once best friend whom Ellie must move beyond. Is she only a fashionista? Only a typical popular teen? Perhaps, but she also shows up when Ellie needs help. Never a best friend again, but a young person working through to adulthood.
The strength of this story is the complication Mickelson weaves into each character. It's also the building tension that lasts to the very end. We leave her story satisfied, but wondering what will happen to these people in the future.
July 27, 2013
This young adult novel, though categorised as urban fantasy, is more like contemporary fiction in that the fantasy aspect is minimal and, rather than a story of magic and supernatural powers, it is primarily a study of a girl whose life has changed traumatically, and is still changing. And since the fantasy element is based on an Inca myth about the nature of life after death, the story can most correctly be described as metaphysical fiction.
Ellie's mother was murdered six months ago. Her father looks after her well, clearly loves her dearly, but won't talk about her mother. Her best friend has become distant. They've been growing apart for a while now, and the unravelling of their friendship as Ellie chooses to make her own decisions, rather than those that will satisfy her friend, makes up a large part of the first portion of the book. This dying friendship doesn't actually have anything to do with the main plot of the story, which is Ellie's feelings about the death of her mother and the question of who killed her and why.
The story makes a refreshing change from the usual YA fantasy offerings in both its focus on character and its unique fantasy element -- the use of an object and a ritual to take you to the land of the dead to see your departed loved ones.
The most interesting part, for me, was the realm of the dead, but I felt it could have been described with more atmosphere, and the prose could have been stronger in several places. The book would also have been stronger had the main thread come in earlier. Ellie could have at least been trying to work out who could have killed her mother, but that aspect was missing during the focus on her disintegrating relationship with her friend, so much so, that it was almost like two stories about the same person.
The end, though a little unrealistic in terms of how the art world works, was good in that it affirmed the truth of all those little things that people do for each other that shows their love, and it made it clear that people are not purely good or evil but that both can live within the same person.
Overall, this is a positive book that shows people handling difficult situations in healthy ways. It also shows a very realistic development of a relationship between two teens, something that is too often over dramatised in YA fiction. There's a lot more depth in this than in most young adult fantasy and I'm delighted to see it.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Ellie's mother was murdered six months ago. Her father looks after her well, clearly loves her dearly, but won't talk about her mother. Her best friend has become distant. They've been growing apart for a while now, and the unravelling of their friendship as Ellie chooses to make her own decisions, rather than those that will satisfy her friend, makes up a large part of the first portion of the book. This dying friendship doesn't actually have anything to do with the main plot of the story, which is Ellie's feelings about the death of her mother and the question of who killed her and why.
The story makes a refreshing change from the usual YA fantasy offerings in both its focus on character and its unique fantasy element -- the use of an object and a ritual to take you to the land of the dead to see your departed loved ones.
The most interesting part, for me, was the realm of the dead, but I felt it could have been described with more atmosphere, and the prose could have been stronger in several places. The book would also have been stronger had the main thread come in earlier. Ellie could have at least been trying to work out who could have killed her mother, but that aspect was missing during the focus on her disintegrating relationship with her friend, so much so, that it was almost like two stories about the same person.
The end, though a little unrealistic in terms of how the art world works, was good in that it affirmed the truth of all those little things that people do for each other that shows their love, and it made it clear that people are not purely good or evil but that both can live within the same person.
Overall, this is a positive book that shows people handling difficult situations in healthy ways. It also shows a very realistic development of a relationship between two teens, something that is too often over dramatised in YA fiction. There's a lot more depth in this than in most young adult fantasy and I'm delighted to see it.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 20, 2013
I received The Huaca in return for an honest review from Netgalley after talking to the author. Six months ago Ellie’s mother was brutal murder without a clue. Now she’s outcast herself from her best friend because she did the right thing, leaving her even more alone. Ellie isn't alone for long she finds a new friend in a fellow outcast Gabe who happens to have a secret that could change it all. Suddenly Gabe is offering Ellie the impossible a chance to see her mom.
Gabe explains how his Incan ancestors were able to communicate with the dead which he is able to do using an ancient device called a Huaca. At first Ellie enjoys her moments with her mom catching brief memories from the past but when her mother shares the startling memory of her murder it’s almost too much for Ellie to handle. Unfortunately the time she spends with her mom is limited by the Huaca’s magic it runs out of time before she can catch a glimpse of her mother’s killer. Her next chance will reveal more then she bargained for.
I admit I’m not a history fan but I found the little facts thrown into the story interesting. I'm almost temped to pick up a book on Incan history maybe the next time I hit the library that’s how curious I am. I loved Ellie she reminds me a lot of me after my mom passed suddenly, and I really love how she grew as a character through the book. Gabe isn't the typical hero but I think he fits the bill perfectly for Ellie plus I love the history geek aspect a perfect match for her. The story flows along smoothly from start to finish well written so that either teens as well as adults will enjoy. I found myself getting so into the story I had moments when I want to cheer Ellie on. I found the concept captivating plus with all the twists, surprises as the mystery unfolded. I could easily see myself picking up The Huaca again for a quick weekend read it’s a great story filled with engaging characters and enough mystery to keep you on your toes.
Gabe explains how his Incan ancestors were able to communicate with the dead which he is able to do using an ancient device called a Huaca. At first Ellie enjoys her moments with her mom catching brief memories from the past but when her mother shares the startling memory of her murder it’s almost too much for Ellie to handle. Unfortunately the time she spends with her mom is limited by the Huaca’s magic it runs out of time before she can catch a glimpse of her mother’s killer. Her next chance will reveal more then she bargained for.
I admit I’m not a history fan but I found the little facts thrown into the story interesting. I'm almost temped to pick up a book on Incan history maybe the next time I hit the library that’s how curious I am. I loved Ellie she reminds me a lot of me after my mom passed suddenly, and I really love how she grew as a character through the book. Gabe isn't the typical hero but I think he fits the bill perfectly for Ellie plus I love the history geek aspect a perfect match for her. The story flows along smoothly from start to finish well written so that either teens as well as adults will enjoy. I found myself getting so into the story I had moments when I want to cheer Ellie on. I found the concept captivating plus with all the twists, surprises as the mystery unfolded. I could easily see myself picking up The Huaca again for a quick weekend read it’s a great story filled with engaging characters and enough mystery to keep you on your toes.
February 26, 2013
I was very impressed by Marcia Mickelson's new book, The Huaca. When I first read its description, I thought that the paranormal elements would capture a large portion of the plot line. I was wrong. The main story is how one young girl changes and begins to grow into a young woman in the year after her mother's death.
When we first meet Ellie, she is worrying over the potential loss of her lifetime best friend. She was nearly hallowed out by her mother's murder and has just become used to the new pattern of her life. The threat of more loss and change weigh's her down after an argument with Sarah, her once inseparable childhood friend. With Sarah and her other friends shunning her out of fear of damage to their own social standing, Ellie finds herself untethered, alone, and longing for a life that once was.
Enter Gabe De La Cruz, the school outcast and town weirdo. Gabe has a secret and he also has a longing of his own. After Ellie's dispatch from the popular crowd, Gabe is quick to befriend her. So quick in fact, that sometimes Ellie worries he has bewitched her. However, Gabe's friendship comes with more than the gift of companionship, it also comes with the promise of dreams fulfilled. But it is not long before Ellie has to wonder about the price those gifts may cost her in the long run.
Mickelson crafts a wonderful tale full of betrayal, loss, mystery, and love.
When we first meet Ellie, she is worrying over the potential loss of her lifetime best friend. She was nearly hallowed out by her mother's murder and has just become used to the new pattern of her life. The threat of more loss and change weigh's her down after an argument with Sarah, her once inseparable childhood friend. With Sarah and her other friends shunning her out of fear of damage to their own social standing, Ellie finds herself untethered, alone, and longing for a life that once was.
Enter Gabe De La Cruz, the school outcast and town weirdo. Gabe has a secret and he also has a longing of his own. After Ellie's dispatch from the popular crowd, Gabe is quick to befriend her. So quick in fact, that sometimes Ellie worries he has bewitched her. However, Gabe's friendship comes with more than the gift of companionship, it also comes with the promise of dreams fulfilled. But it is not long before Ellie has to wonder about the price those gifts may cost her in the long run.
Mickelson crafts a wonderful tale full of betrayal, loss, mystery, and love.
April 6, 2013
4 STARS
This is the first book that I have read from Marcia Mickelson. I liked it. Though I was surprised where the story ended up going. I have to admit to shedding some tears while reading the book. It is a clean read. I really like Ellie and Gabe. They were both likeable, smart, with their own strengths and flaws. Some of the other characters were not so likeable or at least the things they did.
Ellie is in her junior year at school. She is sitting by herself at lunch because her best friend Sarah was mad at the thing that Ellie did. It was all Ellie's fault. She had the nerve to take information Sarah told her about her possible boyfriend committing a crime and report it to the police. So a lot of the teens were shunning her.
Gabe comes up to Ellie at lunch and tell her thank you for helping him. Gabe is shy and different. The rumors around him that he cuts himself, that he lives in a haunted house by himself. Ellie had not really known much about him before, Now all of a sudden he is sitting by her and talking to her.
Ellie's friend Sarah has always told her what to wear and talking her into buying the expensive brand name stuff. So they would fit in. Now Ellie is not ready to fall back into that place. Ellie's mom was murder this past year her killer was never found. Now its just her and her dad. Ellie is good in school except for history she has a hard time understanding the different civilizations like Inca, and Mayan. She has to do a oral report on the Inca and it was worth a quarter of her grade.
Gabe is a loner. He is part of the track team and good. That is why on prank night the seniors broke into his house took their couch outside and set it on fire. Gabe works at a grocery store. No one ever sees his mom or talks to her. His father's family came from Peru and was part Inca. He is willing to share about the Inca to Ellie. He can communicate with the dead. He wants to share with Ellie but scares her.
I was enjoying the relationships with all the different characters and how they were changing as their experiences, wants take them to different places in their lives.
Their is lots of drama, some of it is typical and some is not. It shows a little about the Inca. Talks about depression and how some cope with it. How some grieve and how different it is for different people.
I had a hard time putting the book down till I had finished it. I would like to read other books by Marcia in the future.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when I was done by Netgalley.
publication: May 14th 2013 by Cedar Fort, Inc. Sweetwater 256 pages ISBN:9781462111909
Description below is taken off of Goodreads.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Cummings just wants to be a regular teenager, but after her mother’s mysterious murder, she isn’t sure if she’ll ever be normal again. Her mother’s death has left Ellie and her father worlds apart. And when her best friend abandons her, Ellie has no one else to turn to—except for the strange boy who says he can help.
Gabe de la Cruz seems to know way too much about everything,
and her instincts tell Ellie to stay far away. But when he claims that he can communicate with the dead through an ancient Incan artifact, Ellie can’t resist the temptation of seeing her mother again. In the hanan pacha—the Incan afterworld—Ellie’s mother sends a message to help Ellie understand what happened the night of the murder—a message that may be better kept a secret . . .
May 23, 2013
4.5 stars: I really wanted to talk to someone about this when I finished it!! I think it's a great discussion book. It was very different from what I was expecting and I liked it! There was a lot of set up at the beginning which made a lot more sense to me when I got to the end.
Ellie is someone who will do the right thing no matter what it costs her personally. We learn at the beginning that her mother was murdered and she's estranged from her best friend, Sarah, because she wasn't willing to just go along and keep quiet about something the guy Sarah likes did. She basically becomes a social pariah after that and doesn't want to be friends with Gabe, the weird guy. However, he keeps talking to her and she realizes that she could use his help with her Incan report since she knows nothing about it and he knows lots (and was disappointed he didn't get it to report on) since his greatgrandfather is full-blooded Inca. He shows her the huaca, a sacred Incan artifact, and she's surprised and happy to learn that she can communicate with her mother again. She really misses her mom and her dad won't talk about her.
The way it works is quite interesting and there are a few rules while they're in Hanan Pacha, or the upper world. She can only visit for 5 minutes and then gets slammed back into the basement pretty forcefully and her mom can't see or hear her so there's no way to communicate. The visit brings her comfort and Gabe makes her promise not to tell anyone about it, not even her dad. Later, she is able to see her mom's memories (I'm not remembering the details on how that's able to happen) and she sees part of what happened to her mom the night she died and becomes determined to find out the entire truth so she can help the police find the man who murdered her mother.
Ellie and Sarah do try to work through their conflict throughout the book since they were so close for so long but have been drifting away and she learns that sometimes you're better off just moving on. I loved her and Gabe's relationship, full of friendship and new, young love. She's not always sure of Gabe's motives, though. Her dad is supportive of her decisions and she just wishes he would start the mourning process so he can talk about her mom with her. I also enjoyed the Incan history that was shared throughout the book, but actually thought there would be more based on the book cover (but didn't necessarily feel that there needed to be more).
Ellie is strong and makes the right decisions even when it could drastically change her life. She's not one to just go along with the crowd. I remember how fragile I felt when I lost my mom and I was in my 30's so I can't imagine how she felt having lost her mother at a young age and in such a tragic way, not having any other siblings and a father that refuses to talk about her. She has to make an even tougher decision at the end of the book and I felt myself going back and forth with her as she debated about who she could trust and what she should believe. A great book that I highly recommend!!
Mel's Shelves
Ellie is someone who will do the right thing no matter what it costs her personally. We learn at the beginning that her mother was murdered and she's estranged from her best friend, Sarah, because she wasn't willing to just go along and keep quiet about something the guy Sarah likes did. She basically becomes a social pariah after that and doesn't want to be friends with Gabe, the weird guy. However, he keeps talking to her and she realizes that she could use his help with her Incan report since she knows nothing about it and he knows lots (and was disappointed he didn't get it to report on) since his greatgrandfather is full-blooded Inca. He shows her the huaca, a sacred Incan artifact, and she's surprised and happy to learn that she can communicate with her mother again. She really misses her mom and her dad won't talk about her.
The way it works is quite interesting and there are a few rules while they're in Hanan Pacha, or the upper world. She can only visit for 5 minutes and then gets slammed back into the basement pretty forcefully and her mom can't see or hear her so there's no way to communicate. The visit brings her comfort and Gabe makes her promise not to tell anyone about it, not even her dad. Later, she is able to see her mom's memories (I'm not remembering the details on how that's able to happen) and she sees part of what happened to her mom the night she died and becomes determined to find out the entire truth so she can help the police find the man who murdered her mother.
Ellie and Sarah do try to work through their conflict throughout the book since they were so close for so long but have been drifting away and she learns that sometimes you're better off just moving on. I loved her and Gabe's relationship, full of friendship and new, young love. She's not always sure of Gabe's motives, though. Her dad is supportive of her decisions and she just wishes he would start the mourning process so he can talk about her mom with her. I also enjoyed the Incan history that was shared throughout the book, but actually thought there would be more based on the book cover (but didn't necessarily feel that there needed to be more).
Ellie is strong and makes the right decisions even when it could drastically change her life. She's not one to just go along with the crowd. I remember how fragile I felt when I lost my mom and I was in my 30's so I can't imagine how she felt having lost her mother at a young age and in such a tragic way, not having any other siblings and a father that refuses to talk about her. She has to make an even tougher decision at the end of the book and I felt myself going back and forth with her as she debated about who she could trust and what she should believe. A great book that I highly recommend!!
Mel's Shelves
June 19, 2013
This is an excellent read. An incredibly realistic portrayal of teen angst on multiple subjects with smooth flowing prose allowing for an easy read.
Ellie's life is in upheaval and her life is changing. She's on the cusp of going to college and her friendship with her best friend has abruptly ended. There is so much in her life that seems to be in suspension. Most importantly and above all else is the loss of her mother to a violent crime inside her own house. This, as expected, changes Ellie the most, making her mature emotionally faster than others her age.
Dealing with this trauma influences how Ellie sees her surroundings in may different ways. Most of these ways are positive, she thinks, and she's fully open to the changes, even welcoming them. She finds the loss/end of her best friend relationship freeing, as if she can finally be her own person, and not peer-pressured into following the latest trends in pursuance of popularity in her school. Finally, she is courageous enough to stand up to her BFF and tell her, "ENOUGH!" Either accept her the way she is or end the friendship that they've been for the past 10+ years.
The unpopular outcast, Gabe, finds an opportunity to approach Ellie and they become friends. It is through Gabe's deepest secret that she finds solace about her mom whom she misses so terribly. Gabe's "Huaca", the magical ancient box that's been in his family for generations helps to mend her heart.
Not only does she find solace with Gabe and his Huaca, but she finds Gabe unlike any other boy in school. He's much more mature and doesn't worry about what others think of him. He goes about doing his own things, in a good way, and it is his actions (loyalty to his mom and now to her, Ellie, his new friend) and his independent nature that appeal to Ellie so much so that she finds herself falling in love with him.
The unsolved mystery of her mother's death also comes to light via Gabe and his Huaca, the magical Incan box that is his family's heirloom. Although she doubted in its magical powers at first, Gabe's trust in her wins her trust in him and therefore the box.
Ellie's discovery of who had committed the heinous, horrible, unimaginable act of murdering her beloved mother throws Ellie for a loop as all that she had known as her reality, all that was comfortable and solid, is evaporated in that moment, shattering her heart. She retreats into herself.
But Gabe, once again, comes to the rescue, and extends his hand reaching for her. Ellie, again, decides to trust him and his words and reaches through the confusing darkness she has retreated into to grasp his hand. The two, with the support of Gabe's ill mother, goes about finding the clues, then weaving them together to present to the police, who had already given up on the mom's case, leaving it as "open if further developments." In the end, they confront the killer and assist the police in the killer's capture. There's a happy ending for all, including Gabe and his mom, that is sure to please the reader.
Ellie's life is in upheaval and her life is changing. She's on the cusp of going to college and her friendship with her best friend has abruptly ended. There is so much in her life that seems to be in suspension. Most importantly and above all else is the loss of her mother to a violent crime inside her own house. This, as expected, changes Ellie the most, making her mature emotionally faster than others her age.
Dealing with this trauma influences how Ellie sees her surroundings in may different ways. Most of these ways are positive, she thinks, and she's fully open to the changes, even welcoming them. She finds the loss/end of her best friend relationship freeing, as if she can finally be her own person, and not peer-pressured into following the latest trends in pursuance of popularity in her school. Finally, she is courageous enough to stand up to her BFF and tell her, "ENOUGH!" Either accept her the way she is or end the friendship that they've been for the past 10+ years.
The unpopular outcast, Gabe, finds an opportunity to approach Ellie and they become friends. It is through Gabe's deepest secret that she finds solace about her mom whom she misses so terribly. Gabe's "Huaca", the magical ancient box that's been in his family for generations helps to mend her heart.
Not only does she find solace with Gabe and his Huaca, but she finds Gabe unlike any other boy in school. He's much more mature and doesn't worry about what others think of him. He goes about doing his own things, in a good way, and it is his actions (loyalty to his mom and now to her, Ellie, his new friend) and his independent nature that appeal to Ellie so much so that she finds herself falling in love with him.
The unsolved mystery of her mother's death also comes to light via Gabe and his Huaca, the magical Incan box that is his family's heirloom. Although she doubted in its magical powers at first, Gabe's trust in her wins her trust in him and therefore the box.
Ellie's discovery of who had committed the heinous, horrible, unimaginable act of murdering her beloved mother throws Ellie for a loop as all that she had known as her reality, all that was comfortable and solid, is evaporated in that moment, shattering her heart. She retreats into herself.
But Gabe, once again, comes to the rescue, and extends his hand reaching for her. Ellie, again, decides to trust him and his words and reaches through the confusing darkness she has retreated into to grasp his hand. The two, with the support of Gabe's ill mother, goes about finding the clues, then weaving them together to present to the police, who had already given up on the mom's case, leaving it as "open if further developments." In the end, they confront the killer and assist the police in the killer's capture. There's a happy ending for all, including Gabe and his mom, that is sure to please the reader.
April 27, 2013
17 year old Ellie has had a bad year. Her mother was murdered in a home invasion when both she and her father were out, with no potential suspects. Her best friend tells her a secret about her love interest, where he was involved in a prank gone destructive, so Ellie does the right thing and tells the police, causing her to be scorned from her group of friends. She feels as if her life has unraveled, and everything that use to matter like clothes and hair are just trivial. She ends up befriending the victim of the prank, Gabe, who is considered odd at her school. Gabe has his own secret, which he wants Ellie to experience with him. He has an ancient Mayan artifact passed down through his ancestors that allows a person so see their loved ones again. Gabe shows Ellie her dead mom, who has a story to tell Ellie about her life.
Wow! This book completely caught me off guard. It was absolutely nothing like what I expected. The first half of the book was about a girl experiencing teen angst about life choices, friendship, uncertainties about a boy, missing her mom and determining who she really wants to be. A typical coming of age story it appeared. And then it becomes paranormal, with a separate plane and ghosts, and memories and secrets. And then all of a sudden the book becomes a compelling murder mystery. It seems like 3 different stories thrown together but it really worked. I was hooked.
Ellie was a strong character, I enjoyed her self discovery and growth, where she realized she wanted more from life than what her friends expected. There was a few times in the story where she seemed so immature that I wanted to shake her, but I guess that is to be expected. By the end though, she had a level head and made good choices. I absolutely loved Gabe. He was the perfect man, not boy. He was so mature and responsible, taking on the task of caring for his mom and uncaring of the criticism that his peers gave. He was so understanding of everything Ellie threw at him. For sure a keeper.
The book ended with a fairly solid hope filled conclusion, but there is certainly enough going on to make a second book. I am not completely sure of the villain, I think his motivation was murky and could really go either way. Overall a really interesting unexpected story.
I received this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
Wow! This book completely caught me off guard. It was absolutely nothing like what I expected. The first half of the book was about a girl experiencing teen angst about life choices, friendship, uncertainties about a boy, missing her mom and determining who she really wants to be. A typical coming of age story it appeared. And then it becomes paranormal, with a separate plane and ghosts, and memories and secrets. And then all of a sudden the book becomes a compelling murder mystery. It seems like 3 different stories thrown together but it really worked. I was hooked.
Ellie was a strong character, I enjoyed her self discovery and growth, where she realized she wanted more from life than what her friends expected. There was a few times in the story where she seemed so immature that I wanted to shake her, but I guess that is to be expected. By the end though, she had a level head and made good choices. I absolutely loved Gabe. He was the perfect man, not boy. He was so mature and responsible, taking on the task of caring for his mom and uncaring of the criticism that his peers gave. He was so understanding of everything Ellie threw at him. For sure a keeper.
The book ended with a fairly solid hope filled conclusion, but there is certainly enough going on to make a second book. I am not completely sure of the villain, I think his motivation was murky and could really go either way. Overall a really interesting unexpected story.
I received this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
June 2, 2013
The Huaca starts as many YA contemporary books showing the life of a teenage girl. Ellie is a junior in high school trying to fit in and not always doing a great job of it. Ellie is on the outs with her best friend of 10 years, Sarah. Ellie does something that gets Sarah's prospective boyfriend in big trouble. Also, Ellie's mother was murdered so her life was turned upside down. Ellie meets the "strange" kid (Gabe) at school and they become friends. Through him Ellie learns some new details about her mother's murder.
Without giving too much away, Gabe, whose grandfather was an Incan from Peru has a Huaca at his disposal. Author Marcia Mickelson spoke of what the Huaca is and how it is used in her story...
"A huaca (pronounced waca) is an object that represents
something revered. Huaca is a word from the Quechua
language, a native American language of South America.
In my story, the huaca is an Incan artifact .(The picture of the Huaca is found on the front cover of the book.)
Gabe De La Cruz has the huaca, and it has been passed
down to him from his ancestors. Ellie Cummings wants to
know who killed her mother. She turns to Gabe who claims he can communicate with her dead mother. Ellie takes a chance and discovers that the truth may be better kept a secret."
The book turns from a high school drama/love story, into a full blown mystery uncovering who killed her mother. There is a supernatural feel to the Huaca or some may see it as sacred. That is what it felt more like to me. Gabe and Ellie grow close very quickly, but it is through their experiences together using the Huaca. It all feels OK though because of their backgrounds and hardships they both have gone through. Ellie and Gabe both grow stronger to face their trials in their lives. I liked how Marcia wrote the relationship between the two characters. It showed true loyalty between friends as they are dealing with grief and sorrow.
The story flows along so well that you can't quit reading. You want answers to the mystery right along with Ellie. I have to say I was surprised when those answers came. Even though this is written for teens, I can tell you that adults will also be pulled into the stories of Ellie and Gabe. This captivating tale with a flavor of Incan history will be sure to draw you in until the last page is read.
Without giving too much away, Gabe, whose grandfather was an Incan from Peru has a Huaca at his disposal. Author Marcia Mickelson spoke of what the Huaca is and how it is used in her story...
"A huaca (pronounced waca) is an object that represents
something revered. Huaca is a word from the Quechua
language, a native American language of South America.
In my story, the huaca is an Incan artifact .(The picture of the Huaca is found on the front cover of the book.)
Gabe De La Cruz has the huaca, and it has been passed
down to him from his ancestors. Ellie Cummings wants to
know who killed her mother. She turns to Gabe who claims he can communicate with her dead mother. Ellie takes a chance and discovers that the truth may be better kept a secret."
The book turns from a high school drama/love story, into a full blown mystery uncovering who killed her mother. There is a supernatural feel to the Huaca or some may see it as sacred. That is what it felt more like to me. Gabe and Ellie grow close very quickly, but it is through their experiences together using the Huaca. It all feels OK though because of their backgrounds and hardships they both have gone through. Ellie and Gabe both grow stronger to face their trials in their lives. I liked how Marcia wrote the relationship between the two characters. It showed true loyalty between friends as they are dealing with grief and sorrow.
The story flows along so well that you can't quit reading. You want answers to the mystery right along with Ellie. I have to say I was surprised when those answers came. Even though this is written for teens, I can tell you that adults will also be pulled into the stories of Ellie and Gabe. This captivating tale with a flavor of Incan history will be sure to draw you in until the last page is read.
May 16, 2013
The Story:
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Cummings has had a rough time. First, her mother was murdered by intruders. Now, her best friend is turning her back on Ellie for a boy. In school, Ellie feels shunned. In fact, the only person to take an interest in her is Gabe De La Cruz, the school reject.
Ellie tries to stay away from Gabe, but he draws her in with his knowledge about the Inca's, and Ellie, who has a history project to finish, needs his help. But, things get weird when Ellie finds out the Gabe has a way to contact the dead. Ellie risks it all to see her mother again, and to figure out the truth behind her mom's murder.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoy books that bring in history and culture. The Huaca is filled with cool information about the Ancient Incan civilization. The Huaca is actually a ceremonial box used by Incans. Even though there is a picture of the box on the cover image, I totally didn't catch the meaning. I think many people will be confused by the title. I'm glad the author has a good explanation of a huaca later in the book.
Our main character Ellie is well developed. You are by her side as she faces the abandonment of her best friend. Though I enjoyed getting to know Ellie, the first 40 pages of the book are all character development with little action.
Then there is Gabe. The guy totally creeped me out in the beginning. He is a loner with cuts all over his arms. He almost feels like a stalker, but you know he is integral to the book, because he is part Incan. The scene where we finally get to know Gabe and the huaca is a bit unusual. I can't say I liked the blood letting, even though it explained the many cuts on his arms.
The story continues on as Ellie tries to find her mother's killer, and it's a tense ride. I have to say that overall this book will interest YA readers, but I did have some small issues as noted above.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Cummings has had a rough time. First, her mother was murdered by intruders. Now, her best friend is turning her back on Ellie for a boy. In school, Ellie feels shunned. In fact, the only person to take an interest in her is Gabe De La Cruz, the school reject.
Ellie tries to stay away from Gabe, but he draws her in with his knowledge about the Inca's, and Ellie, who has a history project to finish, needs his help. But, things get weird when Ellie finds out the Gabe has a way to contact the dead. Ellie risks it all to see her mother again, and to figure out the truth behind her mom's murder.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoy books that bring in history and culture. The Huaca is filled with cool information about the Ancient Incan civilization. The Huaca is actually a ceremonial box used by Incans. Even though there is a picture of the box on the cover image, I totally didn't catch the meaning. I think many people will be confused by the title. I'm glad the author has a good explanation of a huaca later in the book.
Our main character Ellie is well developed. You are by her side as she faces the abandonment of her best friend. Though I enjoyed getting to know Ellie, the first 40 pages of the book are all character development with little action.
Then there is Gabe. The guy totally creeped me out in the beginning. He is a loner with cuts all over his arms. He almost feels like a stalker, but you know he is integral to the book, because he is part Incan. The scene where we finally get to know Gabe and the huaca is a bit unusual. I can't say I liked the blood letting, even though it explained the many cuts on his arms.
The story continues on as Ellie tries to find her mother's killer, and it's a tense ride. I have to say that overall this book will interest YA readers, but I did have some small issues as noted above.
June 5, 2013
First line:
"The snow makes everything clean again."
Fun adventure! Ellie's mom was murdered and no suspect was found. Ellie's best friend is made at her because Ellie got a boy in trouble that the said friend wants to go out with and now this creepy Gabe is stalking/being nice to her.
It's easy to relate to Ellie as she works through her trials with her BFF. And it was easy to dislike the BFF. Marcia writes her well and the reader can't help but roll eyes at her shallowness.
Gabe has scars on his arms and the kids at school think he's a cutter. He's a mystery. At first, Ellie is scared him but soon discovers that he might have the answers to her mom's death.
Gabe's grandfather is Incan. There is some interesting facts throughout the book about their mythology and spiritualism. I enjoy reading about other cultures and times.
The plot was interesting and the writing moved the story along.
I was surprised at some of the basic elements of writing that were not followed. For instance, when two people are having a conversation, I don't need the names in every dialogue or tag. This book still needs some editing.
This is a good, clean book that many teens will enjoy, especially if they like mystic stories.
Rating: PG
V: Flashback of a murder
L: No
S: No
Liked:
The BFF! I thought she was written well
The mystery
Disliked:
I skimmed through much of the descriptions/dialogue
"The snow makes everything clean again."
Fun adventure! Ellie's mom was murdered and no suspect was found. Ellie's best friend is made at her because Ellie got a boy in trouble that the said friend wants to go out with and now this creepy Gabe is stalking/being nice to her.
It's easy to relate to Ellie as she works through her trials with her BFF. And it was easy to dislike the BFF. Marcia writes her well and the reader can't help but roll eyes at her shallowness.
Gabe has scars on his arms and the kids at school think he's a cutter. He's a mystery. At first, Ellie is scared him but soon discovers that he might have the answers to her mom's death.
Gabe's grandfather is Incan. There is some interesting facts throughout the book about their mythology and spiritualism. I enjoy reading about other cultures and times.
The plot was interesting and the writing moved the story along.
I was surprised at some of the basic elements of writing that were not followed. For instance, when two people are having a conversation, I don't need the names in every dialogue or tag. This book still needs some editing.
This is a good, clean book that many teens will enjoy, especially if they like mystic stories.
Rating: PG
V: Flashback of a murder
L: No
S: No
Liked:
The BFF! I thought she was written well
The mystery
Disliked:
I skimmed through much of the descriptions/dialogue
June 4, 2013
Empathetic characters, check. Believable, intense plot, check. Fabulous writing, check. This is the kind of book that I especially enjoy reading. Mostly because I really like the main character and care about what happens to them. Ellie makes a great main character, she's smart, brave, and wants to be herself, even though she's not completely sure she knows who that is. Unlike her so-called friends, she's willing to give someone else a chance, like Gabe. Gabe, as a character, has depth. Unlike a lot of high school kids, Gabe has responded to the tragedies in his life with more maturity than most teenagers and that provides Ellie with the support she needs when she makes a horrific discovery.
There is much here about life, about friendship and how it changes over time, life without those we love, and discovering that those Ellie thinks she knows best, she may not know at all. I think what I like best about stories like this is that despite the supernatural aspects and the murder mystery, the story feels real. Ellie struggles with real issues, the loss of her mother, changing friendships, and then the curveball that Gabe throws at her, but she never gives up and that feels very real. I can highly recommend this one.
There is much here about life, about friendship and how it changes over time, life without those we love, and discovering that those Ellie thinks she knows best, she may not know at all. I think what I like best about stories like this is that despite the supernatural aspects and the murder mystery, the story feels real. Ellie struggles with real issues, the loss of her mother, changing friendships, and then the curveball that Gabe throws at her, but she never gives up and that feels very real. I can highly recommend this one.
October 29, 2023
I was able to finish the book in 3 days, but are you kidding me?
Don’t spoil your entire plot on the back and expect me not knowing what will happen in the book.
Cliche and not very good.
It was exciting and wanted to know what will happen but no twist
Don’t spoil your entire plot on the back and expect me not knowing what will happen in the book.
Cliche and not very good.
It was exciting and wanted to know what will happen but no twist
April 5, 2019
better than I thought it would be.
May 16, 2013
Once again, my apologies to the publisher, I’m a bit late with the review due to some exam hell I was stuck in.
I usually launch the review with a summary of the book, but this time I’m going to launch straight into a bit of a rant. Sorry. The title is misleading as anything, it suggests a supernatural vibe (as does the synopsis) and whilst thats there, this is not a supernatural book, its a book about dealing with loss - of a murdered mother, of friendships and of life as it was. That doesn’t make it a bad book, but I wanted to clarify that what you think your getting, your not, well not really.
The formula for the book is the tried an tested - teen girl suffers a great loss before the start of the book (in this case a murdered mother), life changes for her, but everyone else goes on the same, so how does she cope? By falling for the wrong boy (who’s really the right boy), the boy that everyone else ignores and bullies, who’s a friend to her.... yes, its all been done before, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
There were shades of ‘Speechless’ by Hannah Harrington here, Ellie’s best friend Sarah is ignoring her at the opening of the book, because Ellie did the ‘right thing’ by reporting Sarah’s boyfriend to the police for a crime against the hero of the book (but at this point he’s a non-hero) Gabe. Just like speechless Ellie’s thrown down the social ladder, and left to survive alone, only Gabe is bothering with her, but she doesn’t want to know - he’s strange and has a very strange manner about him, he lives in a haunted house, there are rumors that he self harms and he starts talking to her about contacting the dead....
Mickelson’s writing is very melodic, its a sing-song type book that captures your imagination and brings you into a heart felt story that deals with loss in a gentle, yet refreshing way. Although I’ve compared it to Speechless and said the plot isn’t overly original, that doesn’t matter, as the writing takes the book to new places, does more with the story than others have before. It really is a book that I wasn’t expecting, its a great book for those that want to read about real life, with a bit of magic thrown in. So why 3 stars? Firstly the title and misleading synopsis, the book isn’t going to attract the right audience, its attracting syfy geeks and mystery lovers. Secondly it was a gentle story, and a little predictable (although it does go further than I’d thought - which is good), everyone is normal, there are good in bad in everyone, which is very true to life, but for a book you need a villain or a bitch or someone to bring a bit more fire, it was there but not in full force.
Overall a good read, perhaps for the slightly younger teen, particularly those who’ve lost someone, it’ll be a good story for those trying to cope still.
EGally kindly provided by Netgally and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 1, 2015
A Huaca (wak-a) is a sacred Inca object. In this case, it’s a box that is used for a ritual that allows Ellie and Gabe to visit Ellie’s dead mother. At first, it’s a pleasant experience – the chance for Ellie to be in the presence of the mother she missed so much after her mother was brutally murdered. But when Ellie begins to see the murder through her mother’s eyes, things get really complicated and frightening.
At first I was really put off by the many brand name references. It felt like brand placement gone wild. Once the storyline picked up, and more of Ellie’s backstory was revealed, the reason for so many mentions of Louis Vuitton, UGGs, and Chuck Taylors became obvious and logical. There are really three stories here – Ellie’s ruined friendship with Sarah (the shop-a-holic bent on popularity), Ellie’s relationship with Gabe, and the mystery of Ellie’s mother’s murder. All three are interesting and move along at a reasonable pace. Sophisticated readers may find the mystery predictable, but it kept my interest even after I had figured it all out. There is a twist at the end that may surprise some. Not the best thing I’ve read this year, but worth a look.
At first I was really put off by the many brand name references. It felt like brand placement gone wild. Once the storyline picked up, and more of Ellie’s backstory was revealed, the reason for so many mentions of Louis Vuitton, UGGs, and Chuck Taylors became obvious and logical. There are really three stories here – Ellie’s ruined friendship with Sarah (the shop-a-holic bent on popularity), Ellie’s relationship with Gabe, and the mystery of Ellie’s mother’s murder. All three are interesting and move along at a reasonable pace. Sophisticated readers may find the mystery predictable, but it kept my interest even after I had figured it all out. There is a twist at the end that may surprise some. Not the best thing I’ve read this year, but worth a look.
January 23, 2014
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It is such an interesting story filled with intrigue and mystery, but I feel like the story was executed poorly. There are so many conversations that I felt were just repeating themselves over and over. It got really tedious.
El is an okay character. I can't fathom a person's reaction to what she went through but I do feel that she treated Gabe unfairly at times - this is probably to be expected, but his reaction? Not believable. He is always understanding and caring. He doesn't ever really fight her back and it just didn't feel right to me. Yes, they are 17 years old and should be maturing, but can you see a 17 year old guy acting like that? And how obsessed he was with her? I just found it all....kinda creepy (yes, yes he is wonderful after you get to know him but still!)
The big secret (which I'm not giving away) I had guessed from the beginning. So really, I was just reading to see when they would figure it all out and how it would end.
Full review can be found on my blog.
El is an okay character. I can't fathom a person's reaction to what she went through but I do feel that she treated Gabe unfairly at times - this is probably to be expected, but his reaction? Not believable. He is always understanding and caring. He doesn't ever really fight her back and it just didn't feel right to me. Yes, they are 17 years old and should be maturing, but can you see a 17 year old guy acting like that? And how obsessed he was with her? I just found it all....kinda creepy (yes, yes he is wonderful after you get to know him but still!)
The big secret (which I'm not giving away) I had guessed from the beginning. So really, I was just reading to see when they would figure it all out and how it would end.
Full review can be found on my blog.
July 1, 2016
2 and a half stars.
I read this for a challenge because it was supposed to have Incan Mythology in it. Except for the Huaca there is really very little. In fact I would not be surprised if in the real mythology Huaca had a different meaning all together.
This book is more of a murder mystery with a little bit of paranormal elements in it. As such it's not bad.
What was annoying were all the typical teenage cliches. There are books that are really ageless and are labelled YA just because the main characters happen to be young adults. This is not one of those books.
I read this for a challenge because it was supposed to have Incan Mythology in it. Except for the Huaca there is really very little. In fact I would not be surprised if in the real mythology Huaca had a different meaning all together.
This book is more of a murder mystery with a little bit of paranormal elements in it. As such it's not bad.
What was annoying were all the typical teenage cliches. There are books that are really ageless and are labelled YA just because the main characters happen to be young adults. This is not one of those books.
July 3, 2019
Couldn't connect with characters. It felt as if the story was beind told to me instead of pulling me into the world. Considering Ellie's age and all that's happened to her, I think I expected the narrative style to be more advanced. It feels as though the writing was meant for a younger audience.
Did not finish.
Did not finish.
March 14, 2013
A review is coming soon to davinajamison.tumblr.com. The plot is intriguing, and it moves at a brisk pace. But there were a few flaws that marred an interesting premise.
August 1, 2016
This was an interesting book to read. The ending had quite the twist.
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