Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

      Thirteenth Child is a book involving frontier magic. Eff and her twin brother Lan live in Helvan Shores, where Eff is mocked, treated like dirt. Why? Eff is a thirteenth child, as the title suggests. Being a thirteenth child is said to bring misfortune and overall doom to herself and others around her. Lan, on the other hand, is the sevneth son of a father who is also a seventh son, meaning that he is supposed to possess extreme abilities and talents. Helvan Shores is not an ideal place for Eff in any way, that's for certain. However, that problem is quickly resolved when they move to Mill City. However, Mill City is right next to the Great Barrier, a magical wall that protects the cities from wildlife - mammoths, dragons, and other common mythical creatures. As Eff and Lan grow up, they both are tested up until a showdown that decides the fate of a city.
      Maybe this sounds dramatic, maybe not. I sure didn't think so, and the book... Well, it definitely could have been better. First off, you probably don't understand the setting of the story; neither did I. Knowing at least WHEN the story took place and what state or country, area, wherever, would have been helpful. The book starts when Eff was five years old, and as the story progresses, so does her age. It's a clever idea, I'll give it that. However, it created some very boring spots. They were balanced with the occasional excitement, but not enough to keep me wanting to read. I really did have trouble reading this because of its dullness. This book definitely has potential, but that potential was executed very poorly.
      The theme, I thought, was that though it may start badly, something small and frowned upon can become something greater, something to be looked up upon. This is definitely true in real life, too. It may not happen often, but it certainly can. This book as a whole, I'd have to give a B- at the very BEST. If you're looking for a book, try Thirteenth Child, but you may not find it the best. Believe me - I thought it'd be a great book when I got it. Heh. I was wrong. Don't hold your hopes too high.