Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsGood Story But Anti-Conservative???
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2018
I came close to giving “Spirit Legacy” 4 to 4 ½ Stars because I really got involved in the characters and the story. It was a well written book and I thought Jess was a great main character. She was strong in the face of adversity and was not afraid to fight for what she thought was right. She also had a good sense of humor - a little snarky and sarcastic but enjoyably so. So why only 3 Stars?
For one thing, in all but one instance this was a totally non-political book. But then suddenly, right out the blue and for no discernable reason, on page 17 the author wrote:
“Karen always listened to talk radio, a nod to her political vigilance. I couldn’t really tolerate the rightwing sentiments, but I let the sanctimonious voice of the host drone on, harmonizing with the smooth hum of the car’s engine.”
This statement was the one and only political message I found in the entire story. I just don’t understand why the author felt the need to insert a dig at conservatives in an otherwise enjoyable and non-political story.
Why would the author throw in something overtly political when there was no compelling reason to do so? It didn’t add anything to the story, but it did appear to show an anti-conservative bias in the author and pulled me out of the story.
I continued reading, in part because I was enjoying the story, but also to search the text for a like slam at the left. After all, fair is fair, and the left has people that are just as radical and just as violent as does the right. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful. As I mentioned, that was the one and only political statement I found.
I am by no means a far-right fanatic but it just seemed out of place for the author to single out the political ‘right’ while totally ignoring the just as fanatical ‘left’. Perhaps she was simply trying to be relevant to teen and young adult readers, but if that’s the case she needs to remember that conservative young people also buy and read books.
Sorry for the sermon but that message just seemed out of place, plus the author is openly slamming 50% of her possible audience. It just doesn’t make sense unless her political beliefs are so strong that she felt the need to push them into our faces.
**Caution: Minor Spoiler** Other than that I enjoyed the story and the mystery up until we started getting to the explanations for Jess’s powers, along with her ability to see and communicate with ghosts. I had a little trouble buying into the ultra-powerful secret organization and the whole ‘gateway’ for ghosts thing, but I’ll admit it was well done. Maybe I’m just tired of having all-powerful secret organization being a staple in stories? **End Spoiler**
Do I recommend this story? Sorry, but not with an out of place anti-conservative political message like that. If the author would delete that two-sentence slam then I’d shift my rating up to 4 or 4 ½ Stars, plus I’d give it a strong recommendation. As it stands, I’m just too tired of being continually slammed for believing in our constitutional rights.
