Illyria

Illyria by Elizabeth Hand
Viking, 2010
135 pages
9780670012121

Maddy and her cousin Rogan have always been close. Real close. Closer than cousins should ever be. And now that they're older, their bond is, rightly so, seen by family members as unhealthy (if they only knew!). Maddy can sense that things are changing, slowly but surely, and in a last-ditch effort to keep the magic going, she suggests that they try out for their school's production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, as the twins. The future awaits them at the end of the production, but will they be able to stay together?

Why I picked it up: Forever Young Adult gave the book a favorable review. The kissing cousins element almost turned me against it, but it's a short book, and I decided to slog through. The beautiful cover, magical and mysterious, certainly helped.

Favorite Elements:

• First Love - Although most people don't fall for their cousins at any point in their lives, everyone remembers that first taste of romance and just how sweet it was. Had the two of them not been related, their overly fond feelings for each other would have reminded me of that feeling.

• High School Play - This book reminded me of the thrill one gets when acting on stage. Oh, to be in the high school musical again!

• Child-like magic - The description of the miniature theatre the two discover in the attic takes my breath away.
  

• Glamorous Aunt - Who wouldn't want to be Aunt Kate's favorite? Fancy clothes, influential friends, and regular tickets to see Broadway plays? Count me in!
  

Overall (out of 5): 2.5
The writing was beautiful, lyrical almost, and kept me reading, even when part of me started screaming, "Ick!" The fact that the two lovebirds are related could have been left out, keeping them as best friends instead of first cousins, which would have made the plot a little more easy to digest. While reading, I had the feeling that maybe Hand had not meant for this book to be YA, but the publishers took a glance at its length and the age of the characters and labeled it as such.

Recommendation: This book is not for the weak. I would even go so far as to only recommend it to open-minded friends or to teens who you are absolutely sure are equipped to see past the familial aspect and appreciate the fantasy world the two live in. The length and the cover add to the attraction, though.