Tattoo

Tattoo is a comedic fantasy centering around four friends who end up gaining powers and the responsibility to save the world through temporary tattoos. It is a fast-paced story with an intriguing mythology, but it is the friendship between Bailey, Zo, Annabelle, and Delia that drew me in the most. They each have their own distinct personalities and quirks to the point where they could clash, but they still stick together no matter what happens--be it a threat from an ancient evil or some snotty, size-two redhead. There is something relatable about each of them that makes this story tangibly real despite the fantasy elements. Tattoo sucks you in and doesn't let go until the very last page. Scratch that--I'm still sucked in, even though I have already finished it. I strongly recommend this book to any fantasy lovers.

TATTOO tells the story of four friends, Bailey, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo, who pick up temporary tattoos at the mall one afternoon. Despite the protests of tomboy Zo, the girls they put them on to show off at the big upcoming school dance, and from the moment the tattoos make contact with their skin, everything changes, and the girls are finding themselves with new and unexpected abilities: pirokinesis, transmogrification, mind control, and premonition. At first their powers seem like fun, especially to fashionista Delia, who loves the fact that she can now change the color of her nails on a whim, but it doesn't take long for the girls to realize that their newfound powers also come with new responsibilities, namely a great evil that essentially wants to destroy the world. It may seem a little cliché that at this point the girls of course realize that only they can save the day and restore the balance of the universe in time for the school dance, but it doesn't read that way. The girls are smart, sassy, and loveable, and each girl's personality is distinct and well-developed. The supernatural plotline is also done well, and the fairy world and ancient mythos is intertwined perfectly with the present day. Perhaps most impressively for a young adult novel, it's not totally predictable, and it's these fun surprises as well as the little details that Barnes writes so well that make this novel definitely worth a read.

I read TATTOO a few months ago and couldn't get the story out of my head. Barnes, a talented author, effortlessly weaves a fast-paced plot with memorable characters. I can't wait for her next book.

"Just another Friday afternoon trip to the mall. We totally should have known better." When fifteen-year-old Bailey and her three closest friends hit the mall every Friday, they expect the same old routine: Delia will swoon over new cosmetics and clothes, Zo will act as if shopping is torture, but gladly visit the food court, Zo's cousin Annabelle will quietly take everything in, and maybe, just maybe, Bailey will run into her longtime crush, Kane. On this particular Friday, everything seems normal until the girls meet a saleswoman at a booth. The mysterious woman finds the perfect accessory for three of them: a metal choker for Delia; a crystal on a chain for Zo; and a hair barrette for Annabelle. Bailey, she says, must select something for herself. As she looks through the accessories, she accidentally knocks open a drawer, spilling its contents. What looks like a piece of paper catches her eye. It turns out to be a packet of temporary tattoos, and, encouraged by Delia, that's what she buys. A short while later, while the girls are trying on clothes and discussing the big dance on Monday, they divvy up the tattoos. As soon as Bailey's tattoo makes contact with her skin, she feels a chill, then heat, as colors swirl and voices chant in her mind. She briefly passes out. At first, her friends seem to have no adverse reactions to the tattoos. However, it soon becomes apparent that each girl has obtained a supernatural gift which is somewhat related to her personality and the placement of her tattoo. Introspective Annabelle, with her tattoo on the back of her neck, now has the power of mind control. Emotional Bailey, marked on her lower back, can conjure and manipulate fire - also known as pyrokinesis. Sassy fashionista Delia, boldly displaying her tattoo on her midriff, can transmogrify objects, reshaping them and making them into other things. Tomboy Zo, her best (tattooed) foot forward, starts having visions of the future. The situation quickly becomes serious. The strange voices keep repeating foreboding words in Bailey's mind, speaking of the Blood of the Sidhe. That weekend, as the girls continue to experiment with their powers and research the Sidhe, Bailey's dreams turn to nightmares. The voices warn her that She is coming. But who is She, and what does She want? When an uninvited evil crashes the school dance on Monday night, the loyalty, intelligence, ingenuity, and strength of all four girls will be tested. The tattoos and powers may or may not be temporary, but it is their friendship that must last in order for them to survive. Worthy of a sequel, I recommend Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes to teens and adults who like contemporary supernatural thrillers that utilize ancient myths and give ordinary teens extraordinary powers.

Bailey, Zo, Annabelle, and Delia were at the mall for one of their routine shopping trips when Delia decided they needed a special accessory for the big dance. Stopping at a little booth in the middle of the mall seemed like the perfect place for each girl to find the perfect item. Delia, the shopping guru, chose a choker style necklace first. Annabelle found a pretty barrette, and Zo found a beautiful crystal that could be slid onto a chain for a nice necklace. Finally, Bailey started to look for something that would catch her eye. As soon as she opened a little drawer and saw a package of temporary tattoos, she knew they were meant for her. A voice inside her head seemed to tell her to pick them up. Not realizing that this moment would change her life forever, she purchased the tattoos and the girls went about their business of finding the perfect outfit for the dance. Once the girls started trying on outfits, Delia couldn't wait to break open the tattoos. Since there were four of them and four tattoos, she figured each of them should wear one to the dance to really drive the guys wild. Delia placed hers first; she chose a spot on her stomach that would show when she wore a top that revealed a little of her midriff. As soon as Delia put on her tattoo, the room started spinning for Bailey. She heard strange voices inside her head talking about danger that was on the way. She was still a little woozy when Delia decided Bailey needed to wear hers on her lower back, and placed it there for her. As soon as Bailey's tattoo was placed, she fainted from the force of the power that slammed into her body. When she woke up, she tried to warn Annabelle and Zo not to put theirs on, but it was too late. Annabelle had already placed hers on the back of her neck and Zo's was on the top of her foot. It doesn't take long for the girls to realize that along with these tattoos, they each received a power. Bailey is able to create fire with her mind, Annabelle can read people's thoughts, Zo gets visions of things that will happen in the future, and Delia has the power to transmogrify things (change the appearance of objects she touches just by thinking what she wants). Along with these powers comes a great responsibility. Through the voices that Bailey keeps hearing and the dreams she has every night, she learns about the evil that is coming to destroy the world. Only the four girls can restore the balance in the universe and save the day. I haven't met a greater group of friends since Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Second Summer of the Sisterhood / Girls in Pants (3 Book Set). Jennifer Lynn Barnes creates a wonderful fantasy based in a totally realistic setting. The drama is mixed with just the right amount of humor, which will cause readers to fall in love with all of the girls. TATTOO is a unique story that is sure to satisfy any reader -- fantasy lover or not. Reviewed by: Karin Perry