Ella Diablo Agujero – She-Devil of the Hole. It’s a legend in West Hook, but not to Evan, who hears her shriek. One time, his brother Emmett got creeped out by the way he put his fingers in his ears and shouted that he heard The She shrieking, that he beat Evan so hard he bruised. Evan’s mom, captain of a ship and scornful of sailor superstitions, told him he should be glad Emmett had beaten him, because if she’d got her hands on him…Evan had buried this next memory deeply. Very deeply, but it came back. Almost eight years later, it was like it was happening all over again. He remembers the night clearly:I was playing with my army and navy guys on the floor. Mom called Emmett on the ship-to-shore radio.“Where are they?” I asked.“About 80 miles southeast.” I return to my game, where the navy always wins. But tonight, I talked to my navy guys. “Go to sleep.” I never talk to them like that. It feels weird. The curtain is blowing from the open window, like a storm will start. And all of a sudden, I hear her. I try to put my fingers to my ears, but my arms are too heavy. I know the She and this time it sounds different. It’s definitely her. But she’s shut up in a box or a tomb. The sound is buried. She’s…behind me.I spin. It’s darker back there but I have to go there, and the closer I get to Dad’s office, the louder She gets.“Coast Guard, this is the vessel Goliath. We are caught in a heavy current…are being sucked…Mayday. Mayday, Coast Guard….”I grab the handset and push the button down “Mom? Mom? What’s wrong? Over”The shrieking mixes with her voice while she’s talking to me, to Dad, it’s all mixed together. “Oh crap, we got the baby, Wade! Evan! Tell Emmett to…Wade! What the hell is that? Over the port stern! Look with your eyes! Mother of God!”It’s the last time Evan heard from his mom and dad. It’s the last time he was in West Hook long enough to hear The She.
I've read The Body of Christopher Creed and What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci, and I have to say I liked this one about the same. Plum-Ucci has a way of mixing teen problems with almost-supernatural mysteries. I've long ceased expecting any definite conclusions to come from her work. While there was A LOT of talking in this book, I give props to the characters. The characters in this book, particularly Grey, and complex and endearing. The plot was a little slow, and I wasn't at the edge of my seat, but by the end of the book I was certainly absored. And I still have oh so many questions. If you liked other books by the author, than you will like this one.
What do You think about The She (2005)?
I thought this book was really good. The book is mainly about a boy named Evan, and his parents died in a boating accident. So his principal asked him to go to the mental institution to visit a girl named Gray. The principal wanted him to visit her because she's been through the same thing he has. The saddest part about the book was when his parents were in the boating accident. The funniest part about the book was when he brought his rabbit to the institution and Evan showed Gray how the rabbit does tricks. I would recommend this book to read.
—Shae
This is a book it's hard to form an opinion about. On the one hand, I really liked it, on the other I wanted to throw it at something. If you're prepared to have your feet knocked out from under you time and again, you'll be just fine.It's funny, because the storyis about a teenager trying to come to grips with some haunts of his past, and adolescence alone will surely do that to you, let alone the ambiguity surrounding his parents' death. So in that respect, the style is really right on. And I suppose a good thriller will keep you on your toes, have you sure you've got it just to yank it away again.My favorite Plum-Ucci book is still What Happened to Lani Garver, but The She was definitely and interesting and fairly exciting read. If you're into local myths and legends (The She hails from New Jersey, here), then this book may well be right up your alley. Same if you like the author or a good mind-twist. But if you want a nice, simple, easy and calm read...this is not the book you want to get your hands on.
—Jaemi
This book is about a boy named Evan, he experienced the loss of hisparents over a ship-to-shore radio supposedly by The She. I takesplace 8 years in the future when Evan learns the truth about hisparents. Him and his friend travel to the canyon that his parent diedand they experience The She. The She is a mythological creature offthe coast of New Jersey, she kills anyone in a jealous rage if couplestravel together on the water. The setting of the book is essential tothe story because if they had a different setting the story would notmake sense, the setting in this story keeps it sane. This book waspretty good, but mostly I like how each puzzle piece falls into placeat the end of the book, I would recommend this book to people who lovemystery, and a little bit of romance and action.-MP
—Brewer Community School
