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    The Magnolia League
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    The Magnolia League
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    The Magnolia League
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Magnolia League

    Written by Katie Crouch

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    When her free-spirited mother dies in a tragic accident, sixteen-year-old Alexandria Lee is forced to leave her West Coast home and move in with a wealthy grandmother she's never known in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful if unwilling member of the Magnolia League-Savannah's long-standing debutante society. But white gloves and silk gowns are a far cry from the vintage t-shirts and torn jeans shorts she's used to.

    Alex is the first in decades to question the Magnolia League's intentions, yet even she becomes entangled in their seductive world. The members enjoy youth, beauty and power...but at what cost? As Alex discovers a pact between the Magnolias and the Buzzards, a legendary hoodoo family, she discovers secrets-some deadly-hidden beneath the glossy Southern veneer.
    New York Times bestselling author Katie Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this enchanting and mysterious story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateMay 3, 2011
    ISBN9781455814923
    Unavailable
    The Magnolia League
    Author

    Katie Crouch

    Katie Crouch was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and now lives in San Francisco. Having finished her MFA at Columbia in 2005, Katie has written for the the New York Observer, Teen, and Self. She is the author of the bestselling novel Girls in Trucks.

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    Reviews for The Magnolia League

    3.5/5

    107 ratings28 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Alex Lee grew up on a commune in northern California. After her mother dies in an accident, she must go live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. There she finds that her grandmother leads a women's society, and she is expected to become a debutante. She also learns that the Magnolias, as the society's members are known, have made a pact with local hoodoo practitioners to keep their beauty, wealth and power. Alex finds herself changing in ways she never expected into something she never wanted to be.
    • 4/5
      Reading the other reviews, I have to say that this book is much better than the previous reviewers rated it. Alex was very likeable. Everyone has flaws. And for once, the protagonist had them. It was refreshing. Crouch maintained a solid story throughout and I was always eager to discover what would happen next. What kept me from giving this book the fifth star was that Alex doesn't really uncover what I imagine the plot of the series to be until 30 pages from the ending. I enjoyed the makeovers and Alex's fish out of water tale, but there was no external conflict until the end. Still, this was an engaging story and I am excited to learn what happens in the next book.I would not hesitate to recommend this to YA paranormal fans.
    • 4/5
      After losing her mother in a car accident, Alex is sent to live with her grandmother in Savannah. She goes from a communal farm in California to the privileged life of a Southern debutante. This is quite an adjustment for Alex. She isn't interested in her new lifestyle. She also learns that there is something strange and magical about the Magnolia League that her grandmother is insisting she join.
    • 2/5
      Alex has lived her entire life at the RC, a hippie commune in California, helping her mother grow medicinal herbs. Sure, the RC grows a little marijuana, but Alex's mother's medicines are what really make the RC famous.Then everything changes after Alex's mother dies in a car crash. The rich grandmother she didn't even know she had sends a lawyer to pick her up and take her back to Georgia, ripping her away from her new boyfriend and the only life she's ever known. Suddenly she's supposed to be part of something called the "Magnolia League," a sort of club for Southern debutantes. Except that Alex has dreadlocks, is chubby, and has no intention of trading in her t-shirts for designer dresses. However, she might not have much of a choice. Once you become a Magnolia Girl, you're one for life.This is one of my very old ARCs that I picked up at a past conference and never got around to reading. Better late than never, I guess.Unfortunately, it didn't appeal to me at all. Yes, Alex's grandmother was snobby, and Madison wasn't much better (I kind of liked Hayes, though - she made an effort to be friendly and seemed genuinely nice). But Alex wasn't all that great either. Almost every opportunity she got, she lectured the people around her about their gas guzzling cars, the unhealthiness of the food they ate, etc. If Hayes and Madison hadn't basically been required to spend time with her, I doubt they'd have stuck around. I don't know that I'd have blamed them. Even though I didn't disagree with Alex, her lecturing and moralizing was off-putting.Deep down, Alex thought she was better than her fellow Magnolia Girls - not really one of them, more down to earth and "natural." Thaddeus, Alex's eventual love interest, had the usual "not like other girls" moment where he admired Alex for being so different. However, she was shallow too - it just presented differently. She started wearing her hair in dreadlocks when Reggie, the guy she liked back in California, commented on how hot a white girl with dreadlocks he'd seen was. Then when Alex started to think that Thaddeus didn't like her dreadlocks, well, off with the dreads. And hey, I forgot to mention the pot, which she also started smoking because of Reggie - pretty the only thing she didn't do that she knew Reggie wanted was have sex, supposedly because she knew her mom wouldn't have approved (never mind that her mom wouldn't have approved of the pot).There was some interesting magical politics going on - the rich white Magnolia Leaguers and their dependency upon the Buzzards, a black family filled with long-time hoodoo practitioners - but in this book, Alex only got to nibble at the edges of it. The next book probably delves into that more deeply, but I disliked most of the characters too much to want to continue on. And considering the way this book ended, several of the characters would probably give me even more reasons to dislike them before eventually making up and (I assume) finally figuring out how to break up the Magnolia League and the hold it has on them. No thank you, I'm done.(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
    • 1/5
      The cover of this says "Magic changes everything". Apparently, magic isn't enough to turn this into a good book. It's a lesson in what not to do in YA. I expected better from the author, and am extremely disappointed.
    • 4/5
      While I am not an avid reader of YA, I was drawn in by the idea of debutante secret society in Savannah (one of my favorite cities) with a side of magic. It was a bit young for my taste, which I expected, going into it. The premise is good and entertaining enough that I am interested in reading the sequel. I hover between 3 and 4 stars but, leaving out my feelings (which I know aren't the popular opinion) for YA, I give this title four stars. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to my teenage daughters.
    • 3/5
      Take a few debutantes, some magic and add a bit of mystery and you’ve got yourself The Magnolia League.

      Katie Crouch pens the story of three girls - Alex, Hayes and Madison - who are the newest debutantes and who seem to have all the luck in their corner. Alex grew up with her mother in a communal farm in California, where she helped her take care of the herb gardens. After a car accident left her parent-less (she doesn’t know who or where her father is) she is forced to live with her Grandmother - a young-looking and powerful woman - in Savannah. Upon arriving, she discovers that things are a bit different in Savannah and the Magnolia Leaguers seem to be harboring strange secrets and her mother’s death seems to be more than just an accident.

      The idea itself has a lot of potential. Alex grows up in a completely different environment than Hayes and Madison and she is different than them in many ways - she’s doesn’t want to be a part of the Magnolia League, she’s chubby and has dreadlocks while they are slender with glamorous hair, she cares about the environment and the economy, while they live in a bubble of wealth. When she arrives to Savannah, she’s headstrong and has a mind of her own.

      The way it fell short of its potential was Alex’s ultimate behavioral transformation. In the beginning, she’s different, and she loved her difference and always tried to stay true to herself. However, the moment being pretty and rich was dangled in front of her, Alex’s character changed. Hayes and Madison were more consistent characters, and it disappointed me the way Alex turned out to be shallow.

      Then there is strange and sudden romance between her and Haye’s brother - Thaddeus. He claims that he liked Alex because she’s different, but only makes the confession when she starts confirming to the Magnolia League and looking pretty. He didn’t care much about the chubby girl with dreads; there was a point in the book (no spoilers) where he was talking to her but checking out skinny women. There wasn’t much of a development in their relationship, it just sorta happened and felt very shallow.

      I don’t think the book sends a good message; Alex only becomes the true heroine and only gets the guy when she slims down and becomes a beauty. It was a pity that she decided to confirm instead of being different. I think that might have made the story a bit more interesting!

      Overall, while somewhat shallow (characters and plot) The Magnolia League is a relatively quick and fluffy read with a bit of mystery on the side and I’m sure it will make a good light and entertaining summer read.
    • 5/5
      [Saturday, December 10, 2011] After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Lee is forced to move from Northern California to Savannah, Georgia, to live with her wealthy grandmother, who expects Alex to join a long-standing debutante society, which, Alex learns, has made a pact with a legendary Hoodoo family.

      [Tuesday, August 21, 2012] I'm in LOVE with this book! If I didn't have a huge pile of "to-read" books I would finish it... But I must warn you all, I think the spells in this book are actually real!

      [Friday, April 5, 2013] I added it as "currently-reading" but I still didn't read it, I promised myself to try to finish the books I couldn't finish this year! I can't wait to see what will happen to bohemian Alex and the town of Skeleton-key [Have you watched the movie?! It's a mix between it and Good Christian Belles].
    • 2/5
      Plot: I found the Magnolia League world very interesting and exciting. The fact that the girls could do and become basically anything they wanted due to the hoodoo was fascinating. I particularly liked how every few chapters there would be one that had information about hoodoo or about how the League was created. The facts about the League were evenly spread out throughout the story, not all clumped up in one very long chapter. This kept me interested and wanting to know more. Unfortunately, this was my favorite part about the whole book. The plot was not as exciting as it could have been. Characters: The characters in this book are very unrealistic and that took away from my overall impression of the book. The characters just seemed bleak and hollow. Everything they did and said was like one big contradiction because it never made sense with what they had said and done previously. At the beginning of the book, Alex, the main character, is a pot smoking hippie. At first, she seemed unique and interesting, but then she randomly changes into a completely different person. This would have been fine, had it not happened after about 1 chapter and had it been the only time her personality or thoughts changed, but it seemed to happen often. Instead of growing and becoming wiser, Alex just got shallower and less interesting.Cover: I think the cover is super cute. It almost has an Alice in Wonderland feel to it, or at least that’s what it reminded me of. I think it represents the mystery and enchantment of the Magnolia League well and that girl is a great Alex. Overall Impression: Despite being seriously flawed, I still think people will enjoy it.
    • 4/5
      I added this to my bookshelf in preparation for #YALLFest where author Katie Crouch would be a speaker. Having just finished it I am quite glad I stuck with it. I wasn't going to write a review but then I saw all the negative reviews and felt it important to add another opinion.

      This book was a slow starter for me. The main character Alex is not a very strong personality, she seems completely dependent on those around her for affirmation. Additionally her being the "fat" girl is a constant in the first half of the book. Later in the story she loses twenty pounds or so and is skinny so her denotion of fat in the beginning seems even less realistic. However getting past all that there is a unique setting and concept here something new in the field of the paranormal YA category.

      Alexandria Lee is returning to Savannah to live with her grandmother after her mother's tragic death in a car crash. Her mother raised her in california on a communal farm surrounded by free loving hippies and the occasional pot smoking. So moving to the old south to live in a mansion with her very formal seemingly traditionalist grandmother is quite the shock. Add to that the new membership in The Magnolia League a debutante society which has something very odd about its members. Alex is a member by virtue of her birth and stands to be the next head of the magnolias but there is something too perfect about all these girls. They are too pretty, too skinny, too rich and Alex knows something is up...
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie talesQuick & Dirty: A great paranormal twist to the life of Southern Belles and the Savannah Magnolias. Opening Sentence: You know what I hate? Sweet tea. The Review: In Savannah, Georgia, the women are polite, the young ladies are presented to society, and they all have afternoon tea. What you don’t know is that under the perfect and pristine, lies a little hoodoo. It shouldn’t matter what you do to put your best foot forward, does it, as long as you do it with the southern charm. For Alex Lee, that wasn’t the case. Alex Lee had her version of the perfect life living with her mother in a California commune. Her mother was the only family that she’s ever known. They both extended their family on the commune, all working together to create a life unique enough for them. Alex’s perfect version of life came to a halt when her mother died. Through a lawyer, she soon found out that she had a grandmother, eager to join her life on the other side of the country. And what a life it is. Being a Magnolia is not for the weak or faint of heart. There are sacrifices that only a Magnolia has experienced, and soon enough, Alex will as well. There are benefits to becoming a Magnolia. As a Magnolia, you are envied in every way imaginable. As a Magnolia, you can do whatever you want, look like perfection, and enjoy the spoils and riches that life has to offer, but at a price. Could she be a part of this society that her mother was a part of but worked hard to keep Alex out of? Will Alex continue fighting her grandmother to keep her individuality, her unique sense of style and personality? Or will Alex slowly succumb to becoming a perfect Magnolia of the south? Crouch introduces the YA genre to traditional hoodoo magic derived from the south. What I like about this story is how it touches on the old tales of that region. The south is one of the oldest parts of this country, and I enjoyed how Crouch brought me to a part of the fabulous society similar to a Georgia Peach. It was interesting how she mixed that aspect with the taboo of the same society. What I enjoyed about Alex is how she represents everything that society today does to a young girl. Through the pressures from Alex’s grandmother and the other Magnolias, Alex not only discovers herself, but her mother and past as well. I could not put this book down. I loved this story! The characters are so enthralling. The back story, the plot…everything is amazing. I haven’t read a story I was this engrossed in a long time. There’s something about how Crouch’s story developed through the pages, being so different, but the style of writing was familiar. I definitely recommend this book to anyone. You will soon fall in love with Alex and her quirky dreads. And who knows, you might have a little room in your heart for her grandmother as well. I simply cannot wait for the next book, and if you pick this up, I’m sure you will too. Notable Scene: “Miss Lee, what they see is what they get.” My grandmother narrows her eyes. When she does that, they look black. It’s a very frightening effect, as if the pupils have taken over. “All right,” she says. “If that’s how you’d like to play this.” “Play what?” “Oh you’ll see eventually, Alexandria. I’ll call you when they’re here.” Her footsteps click down the hall and, as if by magic, suddenly disappear.FTC Advisory: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers provided me with a copy of The Magnolia League. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 2/5
      I always thought I would very much enjoy living in the Deep South but Katie Crouch’s The Magnolia League pretty much changed my mind. This young adult novel opens on a communal farm in California where we find sixteen-year-old Alexandria Lee happily living the hippie life. As far as Alexandria is concerned life is perfect and she has everything she needs including an adoring mother, a working knowledge of herbs and organic vegetables, and an awesome collection of vintage t-shirts. Fate of course has other ideas and turns Alexandria’s world upside down beginning with the untimely death of her mother.In the weeks and months that follow Alexandria tries desperately to cope with the loss of her mother but this is made more difficult when she is uprooted from the only family she knows and moved to Savannah, Georgia to the home (ahem, mansion) of her maternal grandmother, Miss Lee. Needless to say the dreadlock-wearing Alexandria has more than a few problems fitting in among the Savannah society circle, known as the Magnolia League that revolves around her grandmother. It takes about a nanosecond for Miss Lee to inform her wayward granddaughter that she will become a member of the Magnolia League and by December she will be ready to come out to society at the debutante ball. Aiding Alexandria in her transition from hippie chick to trend setter are fellow junior Magnolia Leaguer’s Hayes and Madison.Hayes and Madison are two of the highlights of this novel and Crouch spends an incredible amount of time developing their characters. On Miss Lee’s order’s, Hayes and Madison are tasked with transforming Alexandria into an acceptable Savannah socialite. Hayes is a perfect example of the ideal Magnolia League member: she is beautiful to the point of perfection, skinny, smart, and wealthy – in short, the envy of nearly every other girl in Savannah. Madison on the other hand is beautiful to the point of perfection, skinny, smart, and wealthy but she also has a sharp wit that is frequently on display. Unlike Hayes who is delighted to be a Magnolia League girl, Madison has resigned herself to the hand fate has dealt her. Hayes and Madison have their work cut out for them as Alexandria is, at first, completely opposed to the idea of transformation. Alexandria soon realizes that her opposition is completely pointless for Miss Lee, Hayes, and Madison are women who will not be denied.Alexandria also soon discovers that the Magnolia League has a very dirty little secret that they are willing to go to any lengths to protect. All the beauty, all the wealth, and all the perfection that each and every member of the Magnolia League has is bought and paid for with blood and magic. Until the arrival of Alexandria this arrangement had worked almost flawlessly for generations and for a time, Alexandria falls in line and allows herself to be sucked into the superficial world of the Magnolia’s. That is until the night of the debutante ball when Alexandria finds out the ugly truth about her mother’s death and her family’s even uglier history. It is at this point that Alexandria understands how truly twisted the Magnolia League is and that she must find a way to destroy the very thing that has defined her family and Savannah society for generations. The novel ends on a rather unpleasant note: Alexandria finds that her mother’s ghost has been trapped within the family mansion, her super-hot boyfriend believes she is a liar and a cheat, and her only ally in what she now calls the White Glove War is one of the magic workers sworn to aid the Magnolia League.The bottom line: The writing style is fine, the plot is easy to follow with very few surprises, and the characters are all at least moderately interesting. But that’s just it, everything about this novel is only OK. I didn’t find anything truly new or terribly exciting about this novel but I didn’t dislike it either. I would call The Magnolia League a solid read but not something you need to jump on right away.
    • 3/5
      "The Magnolia League" by Katie Crouch received this three-star rating from me for being a fairly fast-paced, somewhat thrilling book, that makes for some good and mindless entertainment. Also, because I felt like the author had done a pretty good job of researching "hoodoo" practices, and representing them well in her novel.That being said, I also found the novel to be slightly superficial, rife with stereotypes, and incredibly hedonistic. In what world is it okay for underage children to be drinking, and driving, and indulging in frivolous sexual acts? And why is the consumption (and growing!) of marijuana handled with such nonchalance in this storyline? The only consolation that the author provides is that the main character refrains from it all, therefore, it must be okay. I find that quite perturbing. And the lifestyle of the South, with its ritualistic practices of hoodoo, and the heathen and indulgent lifestyle of Californians are both extremely stereotypical. I suppose for the purposes of this story, these stereotypes may have turned out to be convenient, however, they also made the character and her history predictable and boring. Also, the constant need for the Magnolias to be ostentatious at all times, was extremely superficial. It seems largely unbelievable that a group of women who never want for money, are always keen to flaunt it and shove it in everyone's face, especially when they are trying to be discreet about where their wealth comes from.I feel like I have bad-mouthed this novel, although it has provided me entertainment. I read it pretty quickly, but it was mainly because I was not very invested in the characters, and never stopped to really ponder anything. This novel does not have very meaty characters, but if you're looking for an exciting novel that moves fast, and has a bunch of twists and turns - this might be the novel for you. Also, I absolutely loved the ending of the novel - the timing, the abruptness, and the wonderful twist were all remarkable, so there's that. All in all, a pretty good read.
    • 1/5
      There are no words to describe the horribleness of this book fully. It tries to do something interesting and fails on all counts. For almost the entire book we get to listen to the protagonist whine about her new life and how much she misses her sleazeball boyfriend Reggie. By the end of the book it's strikingly clear that Alex has no brain to speak of and I will be advising ALL of my friends to steer clear of this mess of paper and ink that dares to classify itself as a book. Ugh...
    • 3/5
      I liked this book, even though sometimes I felt that Alex's choices were ridiculously out of character, even within the context of the book. I wish that more had been done with her friendship Sam. And as much as I admire the risk she takes at the end, I'm actually kind of pissed with this book. I was really enjoying it and then I finished and realized it's part of a series. So while this book was actually a 4 star for me, I can't give it four because I don't want to have to wait for the next books to find out what happens. I'm sorry, but this book would've been so much better if the author wasn't setting it up to be a series. Sometimes there doesn't need to be a long drawn out series to make a book good. I'll probably read the next one, but ugh. I put a lot into the books I read and it's just such a disappointment when you nothing gets resolved at the end.
    • 4/5
      The Magnolia League by Katie CrouchReviewed by Moirae the fates book reviewsAfter the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city. (Synopsis provided by goodreads.)When I first heard about this book, I was immediately interested in it. I finished it fairly fast. Over all, I liked the book, but my biggest issue with the book is the pacing. It wasn't until over half way through the book (Past page 200) that we learned how and why the Magnolia League was formed. We know from the synopsis that there is a pact, I just wish we would have learned about the pact earlier in the book then we did. After we learn about the pact, the book flies by.Once the dots start to be connected, I enjoyed the book more. I liked the transformation Alex undergoes in the book and the reason it happens.I felt that the characters were real and their interactions with one another felt real, the dialogue was strong as well.With a sudden ending after a huge bombshell is dropped, I look forward to the next book.* Hardcover: 368 pages* Publisher: Poppy (May 3, 2011)* Author Katie Crouch* Overall rating ***1/2 3 1/2 out of 5 stars* Cover art Stunning* Obtained My personal book shelf
    • 3/5
      I adore books that take place in the South, so when I read the blurb for this one, I knew I needed to read it. If Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia’s Beautiful Creatures had a love child with Mean Girls (the film), this would be it. A fish out of water story with a dash of Southern gothic romance, witchcraft and gool ol’ fashioned Southern elitism. It was a pretty quick read, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. I found Alex Lee to be a bit lacking in the character department. At times I found her to be whiney, and hypocritical. I also hated that we were constantly reminded of how plain, and chubby she was. She was so bent on being different, and really driving that point home but she sure didn’t put up much of a fight when the girls waved their magic hoodoo wand, making her just as beautiful and well-dressed as the rest of them. Alex and Thaddeus’ relationship was a little shallow to say the least. He didn’t really seem to be too interested in her company or even really like her all that much, and the only reason Alex seemed to like Thaddeus was because he was super hot and loaded. And then, after Thaddeus asks Alex to promise never to use a love spell on him, at the first bump in their relationship Alex runs out and gets a love spell. Seriously?! Gaaaah. Come on, Alex. Hayes and Madison were actually my favorite part of the book, and I found myself looking forward to their interactions between one another and Alex because they seemed to bring out the best in her as a character. They hated her hair and clothes in the beginning and did their best to transform her, but when push came to shove, they had Alex’s back and really seemed to care for her. Not the deepest book in the world, but definitely fluffy and exciting. The cliffhanger had me on the edge of my seat, and I’m actually really excited for the second installment, The White Glove War.
    • 3/5
      Alex Lee grew up on a commune in northern California. After her mother dies in an accident, she must go live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. There she finds that her grandmother leads a women's society, and she is expected to become a debutante. She also learns that the Magnolias, as the society's members are known, have made a pact with local hoodoo practitioners to keep their beauty, wealth and power. Alex finds herself changing in ways she never expected into something she never wanted to be.
    • 3/5
      Summary: Alex was raised by her mother on a communal marijuana farm. When Alex’s mother suddenly dies in a car crash, she is forced to go live with her wealthy grandmother in Georgia. Alex is not eager to leave her old lifestyle behind, especially when her grandmother says she’s part of an elite debutante society—The Magnolia League. But the Magnolias seem to be hiding a secret…they practice hoodoo, an African black magic.My thoughts: The Magnolia League instantly drew me in with its promise of hoodoo magic. I’d never read a book about that subject before! Katie Crouch does a fantastic job of making sense of hoodoo (and explaining that it is not at all voodoo), and I felt like its incorporation into the storyline was well done. (Though every time I read the words “hoodoo” or “voodoo”, this song popped into my head.)The Magnolia League starts out strong, but towards the middle and end it becomes a bit jumbled. I found some inconsistencies with the main character, Alex, and the story went from being mysterious to almost uninteresting. The ending leaves many plot threads untied, which was a bit frustrating.The thing that bothered me the most about Alex was that despite her stubbornness earlier in the novel, as soon as she finds out about the Magnolias’ hoodoo, she’s eager to change herself. For someone so adamant about being different and staying true to herself, she was too easily tempted.The Magnolia League wasn’t my favorite, but I’m sure it will be enjoyed by others. The writing style was solid, the hoodoo aspect was interesting, and the protagonist’s background on a communal farm was hilarious.
    • 4/5
      What really got me about this book was the plot. I fell into with ease and enjoyed the trickery that The Magonlia League does. I have to admit that the plot twist is amazing! I would have never thought it be what it be, but I like it a lot.The main character Alex is like no other. She doesn't fit into the crowd and doesn't do what everyone else does. She follows her own beat. When she first came to Savannah, Georgia, she completely changed their world. I loved that she was so unique and different. It made for a great storyline.The characters on the other hands were rough and out there. The things the girls did, where, WOAH! I was shocked by some of the things they did and how they did it. I like that the plot had a great twist with the characters. At first you thought since they were minor characters they don't play a big role, but boy did they ever! I knew something was up. The hoodoo, magic stuff was cool. I like the whole idea of it. I am glad to read something that is new in a book.The ending with the cliffhanger was awesome! I absolutely adored the way is all turn out in the in! I can only wish to know what happens next. This is a really fun book to read that will leave you hanging by all the plot twist!
    • 4/5
      I expected this book to take a completely different turn. I expected there to be a lot more magic and fantasy. However, I am not disappointed with how this book turned out. It's just unexpected. I feel that this book is definitely unlike any other fantasy books out there. I really liked it!
    • 5/5
      I have always been fascinated with debutantes: the culture, the traditions. Debs who do more than just dabble in the Dark Arts? Now that's my kind of book! Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, 16-year-old Alexandria is sent to live with her estranged and very wealthy grandmother. Her grandmother is beautiful and almost freakishly youthful, as are all her friends - almost as though they had made a deal with the Devil... Alex resists her grandmother's and her peers' attempts to get her to debut, but there are higher forces at work. "The Magnolia League" is cynical, creepy fun, and the only good thing about the book ending was finding out there will be more. I can't wait for the rest of this amazing series!
    • 5/5
      I have been long awaiting this book, so as you can imagine, I was ecstatic when I could finally hold it in my hands. However, I was many times more ecstatic when I read this novel and found out how absolutely incredible it was. It even secured a spot on my favorite books list (a most coveted achievement). Alex had a different upbringing that most kids. She lived on a communal farm (which secretly grew pot) with her mother. Never once attending school and never worrying about money or the future. That all changes when her mother dies tragically in a car crash and she is forced to move from California to Savannah, Georgia. Living in her grandmother's mansion, so finds out two things. One, her grandmother is at the head of a elite debutante society, and two, as her heir, Alex is expected to join the society and stay in Savannah forever. Oh wait, there is also the part about strange magic, her mother's soul, and her life being in danger... Did I forget to mention that?I loved so many things about this book! I loved Alex's personality. She is different physically, with her slightly chunky physique, long dreads, and old vintage tees. She is also extremely witty, outspoken, independent and brave. She doesn't fit the mold for the archetypal YA heroine, but that may just be why she is so darn likable!Apart from Alex, all of the supporting, as well as very unimportant, characters had great personalities. Ranging from southern belles to hoodoo witches to comic book nerds, they all were entertaining. This is one of those books when even the more eviler, in a sense, are likable. Also, the setting is absolutely perfect. This book has a feel like the author wrote the story around the setting itself. It is something that just fit so well that I don't really have the words to describe it.I am not going to say much for out of fear of giving away the plot... But I will say this: this book has witty characters, humor, suspense, dark magic, action and lots and lots of sweet tea. So what are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor, and pick this one up. I loved it! And you know you really love a book when you read a bad review (by a crazy person!) and feel like your heart has just been ripped out of your chest. This is the first in a series, I'm not sure how many books it will be, but this is definitely a series you don't want to miss. After the ending of this one, I cannot wait for the next.
    • 4/5
      I haven't read too many books set in the South, but after reading The Magnolia League, I know I want to read more! The ambiance that Crouch conveys through that setting is phenomenal. I could almost feel the humid heat during the sweltering Georgia summer and reading the book made me want to speak with a Georgia drawl. At the beginning of the book, I really liked Alex. She seemed like such a strong character with these unwavering beliefs that made her seem crazy to the new people in her life. When the Magnolia girls start to get to her, I was a little disappointed at how quickly her started to cave to their beliefs and leave behind little parts of herself. As soon as she lost her dreadlocks, it was like little pieces of her personality just flaked off here and there. That was a tad annoying to me, but the story itself kept me involved enough that I didn't put the book down at that point.Things really do turn around though and at the end I was really gunning for Alex. She seems to start to find her roots and realize what's really important...and the only way to get that back. It doesn't end at all the way you think it's going to. A last minute twist in the plot definitely leaves you hanging and begging for more. I know I'm definitely planning on picking up book two in 2012!
    • 3/5
      The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch has most everything I could ask for in a paranormal YA novel. It has a terrific Southern gothic plot, an equally intriguing setting, and all the hoodoo, gris-gris and magic a paranormal fan could want. The fish out of water premise of seemingly stereotypical hippie chic Alex moving from a California commune to live in Savannah, Georgia with Miss Lee (her grandmother) acts as a vehicle to introduce the reader to the awesomely creepy world that the members of the Magnolia League inhabit. Because of the hippie commune setting at the beginning of the book I found the time period a little vague. However, my confusion as to what year the book takes place in was soon put to rest by a couple of well-placed current day pop culture references. Once that was cleared up, I enjoyed the rest of the book. I read it in two sittings and was surprised by the cliff hanger ending. I’m looking forward to the next book in this new series.
    • 4/5
      This was a quick, quirky read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Alex starts out an overweight, snarky teen who has just lost her mother. However, once her grandmother gets her hooks into her, she uses hoodoo to lose the weight and is transformed into a vapid, shallow, mean-spirited girl. This shows that messing with the dark arts can cause you to lose the very light in your soul.Throughout the story, we see a power struggle between good and evil. Which side will Alex eventually chose? You will just have to read and find out.The way the story ends leads up to there being another story. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long!This book is being released on May 3rd. Make sure to pick up a copy.In conjunction with the Wakela’s World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.
    • 4/5
      The Magnolia League is Savannah’s long-standing debutante society, and Alexandria (Alex) Lee is an unwilling member. After her mother’s death, Alex is moved from California to Savannah to live with her grandmother Dorothy, who also happens to be the president of the Magnolia League. Alex’s mother, a one-time member of the league, left Savannah to live on a commune. When Alex arrives she is totally out of place. She’s pudgy, has dreadlocks and likes to smoke pot. She is everything the Magnolia League is not.Her grandmother enlists the help of Hayes and Madison, two girls Alex’s age and future members of the League, to turn her granddaughter into the debutante she is meant to be. The League goes against everything Alex believes in, and she questions everything about them, but soon she finds herself being sucked in to their seductive world of beauty, wealth and status.Alex discovers a link between the Magnolia’s and the Buzzard family – a family that practices hoodoo magic, and soon she finds herself choosing between her freedom or the Magnolia League. Once you’re in, you’re in for life.I was completely sucked into this novel. I read it in a day. The writing is fresh, light and clips along nicely. The novel never seemed to drag, and it seemed that with every chapter a new piece of information was revealed. The ending definitely leaves the reader wanting more, and it’s obvious there will be future books focusing on the Magnolia League. Katie Crouch gives us a book that is part “Mean Girls” and part “The Craft” (both movies that I love) with equal parts comedy, coming of age, magic and mystery. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment.
    • 3/5
      I have read all of Katie Crouch's adult-themed novels and was quite surprised to see that she was venturing off into the YA genre. I knew right away that I just had to read The Magnolia League - not to mention the synopsis mentioned magic, debutantes and the South... well you know that that makes for good reading.After her mother's death, Alex leaves her humble, hippie lifestyle to live with her rich grandmother in Georgia. As if that's not a culture shock on it's own, her grandmother is the head of the elite Magnolia League. Alex quickly learns that the debutantes of the Magnolia League are blessed with good looks, handsome men and wealth. But she soon realizes that there is more than just luck when it comes to the members of this elite group. As with all of Ms. Crouch's books, she depicts the South so vividly. You can hear the southern drawl in her characters' voices and she depicts Savannah, GA, its scenery and residents expertly. I loved the feel of it and I couldn't help but find myself instantly captivated by its southern charm. I also really enjoyed the magical elements of the story... the Hoodoo. I loved to read about the spells and magic charms - it was all very detailed and it seemed natural and realistic.What I had a problem with was the romance. I think the relationship between Alex and Thaddeus felt forced. I also had a few problems with Alex herself - she was mean to her new friends, constantly criticizing and belittling them. She had her good moments, but she also had her bad moments.All in all, I still found The Magnolia League to be a very interesting and consuming read. It was fast-paced and full of wonderful comedic moments (as I've come to expect from Ms. Crouch). I do recommend it for older readers though as there is lot of pot-smoking (remember Alex was raised on a hippie commune), partying, booze and the like. I also want to forewarn that there is a cliff-hanger ending so y'all will have to wait for the next installment, The White Glove War, releasing some time next year. I, for one, will definitely be looking out for it.