No Angel

Gr 8 Up—Sixteen-year-old Rafael Angelos arrives at the St. Mary's Boarding School for Girls and Boys, a former convent in modern-day England, only to discover that he is the sole male student. After a series of unfortunate mishaps, he finds himself with a halo and a pair of wings. It turns out that he is a guardian angel who has been summoned to help defeat a demon who is haunting St. Mary's. With the help of a couple of girls, Raf stumbles to figure out how to close the Hellgate that allowed the demon through. The unlikely hero finds himself confronting a problem much bigger than he could ever have imagined, one that will require a sacrifice he isn't sure he can make. Keeble provides readers with snarky characters; a quick-moving, entertaining plot; and a fascinating setting. The wit and humor add a lighter element to what could have been a dark story, making this novel a good choice for reluctant readers. There's a moderate amount of swearing and sexual innuendo. No Angel will find an audience among teens who enjoy stories about angels and demons and the fight between good and evil.—Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT