Review: Priscilla the Great - Sybil Nelson

Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson, published by WorldMaker Media in 2010

Goodreads synopsis:
Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.

Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!

Review:
Priscilla the great is an understatement!  Priscilla the amazing; Priscilla the awesome; Priscilla the fantastic is more accurate!

The book is about a young girl who discovers that she has some extraordinary talents.  She can create fire with her fingertips and she also has superhuman strength and hearing.  In addition to that, she has a sinister organisation on her case who are intent on hunting her down and experimenting on her and if that wasn't bad enough, she also has boy troubles (and hasn't even had her first kiss yet).  She's dealing with all the usual problems facing most young girls: an unrequited crush, a love-hate relationship with the boy-next-door and issues with her best friend, but she also has to face several life and death situations. 

This was a really fun and enjoyable read.  A breath of fresh air!  Priscilla is a great character and I absolutely loved her fantastical story.  Her and her family reminded me a little bit of The Incredibles.  They're certainly not your average all-American family.  I liked the way they were each individualised and their personalities developed - overprotective Dad, troublesome twins, secretive (and often absent mother) and Christina Aguilera music loving brother.  I thought the way their secrets all started to unravel throughout the book kept the suspense and intrigue high. 

It was interesting finding out about how Priscilla ended up with superpowers and during the second-half of the story the pace really picked up and got very exciting.  I ended up taking this to bed with me to finish because I just couldn't wait until the morning to find out the conclusion of the story.  It ended on such a cliffhanger though!!  I didn't realise that this was going to be a series but there are a further four books planned so I'm thrilled that I'll get to read more of Priscilla's story. 

Find out more about the book and series at the website of  Priscilla the Great or check out Priscilla's blog.

Thank you to the author, Sybil Nelson, for sending me a copy of her book for review.