Radiance by Alyson Noel

Publisher: Square Fish
Age Group: Middle Grade
Rating: 4.5/5
Source: Bought

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .


I loved Alyson Noel's IMMORTAL series and Riley was my favorite character. When I found out that Noel was writing a spin off series about Riley, I was jumping in joy. I just couldn't wait to read it and when it came out, I ran to Barnes and Noble and bought it.

I was fun going back to Riley's world, only this time, it was different. Riley is now living in the Here and Now. She also becomes friends with Bodhi, which I thought was so adorable. I loved Bodhi. He seemed to me like a cute nerd with glasses whom you just love.

After reading this book, I gave it to my little sister and she loved it as well. She now too is a fan of Alyson Noel. I believe that no matter what genre Noel writes, she writes books that stay in our hearts. Radiance is a middle grade novel, but I loved it. It was full of adventure and it brings you into a new world, but with the same ingredient Noel uses to lure you in and fall in love with a book.