Amazon Prime Free Trial
FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button and confirm your Prime free trial.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited FREE Prime delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
-13% $15.59$15.59
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Prime Goods Outlet
$5.76$5.76
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Cozy App Products
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Problem with Prophecies (1) (The Celia Cleary Series) Hardcover – May 24, 2022
Purchase options and add-ons
A young seer’s first prophetic vision upends her life and sets her off on a desperate quest to change fate in this contemporary fantasy middle grade novel with “heart, humor, and a plot that keeps those pages flying” (Carlos Hernandez, award-winning author of the Sal and Gabi series).
Most people inherit eye colors or heirlooms, but for Celia Cleary, the gift of prophecy has been passed down in her family for generations. And on the 4,444th day of her life, Celia will have her first vision. But nothing could have prepared her for what she sees—the quiet boy down the street, Jeffrey Johnson, is about to die.
Determined to save him despite her grandmother’s warnings against it, Celia alters events to stop her vision from playing out. But for each prophecy she avoids, another one takes its place, putting Jeffrey in constant danger. Fate has made its choice, and it’s not giving up the hunt.
Focusing on homework or friends isn’t easy when you’re going head-to-head with death—and keeping Jeffrey Johnson alive is throwing Celia’s seventh grade year into chaos. It doesn’t help that she’s getting to know Jeffrey more and more with each new rescue attempt. It really doesn’t help when she realizes she kind of likes him.
Will Celia’s gifts be enough to thwart fate? Or are some things in life inevitable?
- Reading age10 - 14 years
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level5 - 9
- Lexile measureHL600L
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.2 x 8.25 inches
- PublisherAladdin
- Publication dateMay 24, 2022
- ISBN-101665903570
- ISBN-13978-1665903578
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
Review
"I've never read a book that so deftly combines an exploration of Tough Stuff—like the finality of death—with stepping into an understanding of one's own agency. Reintgen has painted a sweet, yet deeply moving portrait of the highs and lows involved in finding one's place in a wildly unpredictable world." -- Nic Stone ― New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin
"The Problem with Prophecies has it all: a great protagonist; a magical system to ignite the imagination; heart, humor, and a plot that keeps those pages flying. This book is the best reminder imaginable of why we all should read more."
-- Carlos Hernandez ― award-winning author of the Sal and Gabi series
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Most people expect seers to live somewhere weird. A creepy house on the corner with roses that never bloom. Some lonely farm with a hunched roof. Anything mysterious.
Which is why people are always surprised by Grammy’s very suburban townhome. It’s just so plain. I like watching her customers park on the side of the road. They always check their phones to make sure they’ve got the right address. Could that really be it? It’s not painted midnight black. No cobwebs on the front porch. What kind of seer lives in a house like that? And how could they be any good?
Eventually the customers climb out of their cars. They’ll look up and down the sidewalk before crossing our well-manicured lawn, starting up our well-swept steps, and knocking with a handle that’s disappointingly not in the shape of a gargoyle.
Grammy takes great pleasure in making her first appearance. She’s in her seventies now, but walks every single day and has an eye for what’s fashionable. Most of her customers take a look at her and their doubts double in size. No crystal ball? No pointed hat? No cats slinking in the background?
“Expectations are their own kind of magic,” Grammy always tells me.
So the customer enters. Grammy allows the disappointment to grow. She sits them on a normal-looking couch, gives them a normal cup of coffee, and doesn’t ask them to pay in vials of blood or anything weird. A credit card will work just fine, thank you. And at the exact moment that the customer’s doubt has reached a peak, Grammy invites them into the world of magic.
I like watching them leave as much as I like watching them arrive. Some walk out with a haunted expression. Others leave with a face-splitting grin. It’s a miracle any of them can drive away without crashing straight into the bushes, because every single one of them leaves with a little slice of the future in their pocket.
For better or for worse.
But today there are no customers scheduled.
I sit by my window upstairs and watch as the other neighborhood kids head for the bus stop. Jordan Lyles comes up one side of the street. He’s wearing his chrome headphones and carefully avoiding puddles and fallen leaves so his new sneakers remain in pristine condition. The Kapowski sisters have to chase their little rat terrier—Chutney—down the steps of their house on the corner. It takes them a minute to usher him back inside before they head out the door themselves. Next to arrive is quiet Jeffrey Johnson. He’s carrying his soccer bag up the hill like it’s full of bricks.
The last person to join the crowded corner is Avery. A knot forms in my stomach. It’s been almost eight months since we last talked. Way back at the very start of the school year. We were standing in the park near the bus stop. I can still remember how bright red her cheeks had gotten, how loud our voices echoed. All I was trying to do was help, and she blamed me for everything.
A part of me is still mad at her. A bigger part misses her. On today of all days, it would be nice to have my best friend at my side. Instead, I watch as the bus arrives to pick them up. Everyone is out there except for me. The doors rattle closed and the engine rumbles and they vanish around a corner.
I’m not going to school today because it’s the 4,444th day of my life.
Mom called the front office and told them I was sick. Grammy has been humming excitedly to herself all week. It’s not like I woke up with horns or anything like that. But this day has always been very important in the Cleary family, stretching back through the generations. It is the day that I will see my first prophecy. It is the day that every alternating generation of Clearys sees their very first vision.
Taking a deep breath, I head downstairs. Mom’s voice echoes from the front office area. She’s working from home for my big day. I reach the bottom step and glance back through the hallway. I’m surprised to see she’s fully dressed, even wearing her nice shoes. It’s just like Mom to want to look the part, even if she’s not going into the office.
Mom isn’t magical, at least not in the way that I will be. Our prophetic gifts always skip a generation. Which means no magic, no prophecies, nothing at all. I’m pretty sure reality suits her, though. She’s one of the best attorneys in town. Last year one of her cases was even made into a documentary. Everyone knows her name in our area. I pause in the hallway to listen for a second.
“Look,” she’s saying. “Allen hasn’t even done his due diligence… No, I don’t think…”
I can’t help grinning as I imagine whoever is on the other end of the line. Even without magic, Mom is a force of nature. Always getting the job done. I continue into the kitchen.
Grammy stands with her back to me in front of the stovetop. She’s got a huge mixing bowl planted on one hip, and her hair is up in a messy bun. She thrusts the mixing spoon into the air without looking back, accidentally splashing a little egg yolk.
“I predict someone is here for omelets!”
I take a seat at the kitchen table. “And I predict… that something is burning.”
Grammy curses as she slams the bowl down and darts over to the toaster. She juggles the dead toast onto the nearest plate and examines it.
“We have the technology. We can rebuild him!”
I laugh as she starts using a knife to scrape away the burnt sections. Sliding out of my chair, I cross over to the kitchen counter. Before she’s in too deep, I unravel the bread tie and hand her two more slices.
“I predict these will do better.”
With a nod of concession, Grammy clears the plate and starts fresh. “So. Are you excited about your big day, Celia? Skipping school, burnt toast! It’s already off to a promising start.”
I’m not sure how to feel. My hands have been shaking a little all morning. Grammy is always saying that a first prophecy is kind of like a first birthday. Almost like starting a whole new life. I’ve been waiting for this day since I was three years old. I’ve always wanted to be just like Grammy.
Until the fight with Avery.
It just so happens that the argument that ended our friendship was about my family’s magic. I can still hear words like fake and freak. I’ve tried to tell myself that she was just mad when she said what she said—that she didn’t mean it—but she hasn’t spoken to me since.
The Cleary family has possessed the gift of prophecy for centuries. My ancestors have been navigators and military strategists and talk show hosts. Some used their ability to see the future to do good—like Grammy—and quietly blended into the real world. Others ended up being notorious outlaws or hermits.
When I was little, I used to ask Grammy about cauldrons and broomsticks. Like a lot of people, I thought being a seer would look like what I saw in cartoons. She patiently explained that families like ours inspired the modern idea of a witch, but that once the concept was in Hollywood’s hands, there was no chance of accuracy.
Actual seers have the future and a few minor spells at their disposal. We were not, she insisted, running around with wands casting bolts of lightning at each other. At the time, I was pretty disappointed. Lightning bolts sounded fun.
Grammy never denied that there could be other magical users out there in the world, but she suspected the most powerful branches had faded centuries ago.
“Even seers,” she told me, “are a dying breed. There are very few families like us. Most didn’t treat this gift as something worth preserving at all costs. Instead, they stamped out their strangeness. It’s easier to fit in with everyone else than it is to shine in your own way.”
After the fight with Avery, I could understand someone wanting to hide their abilities to fit in. But I’ve waited for this day my entire life. I’m nervous, honestly, because a part of me knows this could be my chance to prove Avery wrong and to use my powers for good. Maybe it’s my chance to win her back too.
“I’m excited,” I finally answer. “Tell me about your first prophecy again.”
It’s one of my favorite stories. Grammy empties her bowl into the skillet, spins it back onto the counter, and turns to me. She’s always thrilled to tell this story, because it’s her favorite too.
“Well, I was living in Asheville. Our family was a little bigger back then. Take your five wild cousins and multiply by five. Our house was always full of people. I kind of felt like I was floating. Talking with everyone, but not really hearing what they said. And then there was this moment where I felt cold. That crisp feeling you get when you go up into the mountains. And without warning, the entire room vanished.
“All I could see was this gorgeous red rose. A single thorn. Lovely petals. It was so beautiful. Some of my cousins had already had their first visions. And of course I’d spent months listening to them retell their stories. Some of them could walk around their vision and examine every angle. Others could change the details! Not me. All I could see was that perfect image of a red, red rose. It was another ten years before I saw it again.”
“Grandpa,” I say with a smile. “The day you met Grandpa.”
“He was plenty handsome,” she says. “But when he held out that rose, I almost fainted. It was exactly the way I remembered it. Now, keep in mind that not everyone sees through a romantic lens. There are plenty of branches of magic. My cousin Tessa is a genius with weather. My grandma was a Doomspeak. So don’t go assuming you’re supposed to go off and get hitched to some stranger.”
I roll my eyes. “No worries there, Grammy.”
She’s about to offer another piece of advice, but Mom’s arrival in the kitchen cuts her off. Business heels click along the hardwoods. Mom pours a cup of coffee, carefully mixing in a healthy dose of creamer. I frown when I realize it’s a travel mug. Grammy notices too. Mom turns around and she’s already wearing an apologetic smile.
“I’m so sorry, Celia. Someone has royally screwed up something at work. I’m afraid if I don’t go in, we’re going to be dealing with the fallout for weeks.”
I nod back, a little too quickly. “Yeah. No problem.”
She doubles down by throwing out a bottom lip. “I know it’s your big day, honey. Really. I’m so sorry. But I’ll try to leave work early. We’ll watch a good movie tonight to celebrate. Sip some hot chocolate. You can tell me all about your vision, okay?”
I nod again. “That’s perfect. Seriously.”
She kisses my forehead and sweeps back out of the room. I can feel Grammy watching me as we both listen to the noises of leaving. The light jingle of house keys. Doors groaning open and closed. The car firing up in the garage. I don’t realize, at first, that I’m tearing off little strips from a napkin on the table. I set the pieces aside and look up. Grammy is still watching.
“I’ve never told you this,” she says. “But my mother missed my first vision. She didn’t need a disaster at work to slip away either. They found her picking scuppernongs out in one of our back fields. Try not to blame your mother too much. It’s a hard day for someone who will never taste magic.”
It makes all the sense in the world, but I have to look back down at the napkin and tear off more strips to keep myself from crying. Grammy seems on the verge of saying more when a loud beep sounds. Two slices of absurdly burnt toast appear. The sight of them breaks the gloomy spell. Grammy and I exchange a look before bursting into belly laughter.
“Come one, come all,” she thunders between laughs. “Witness the seer who can burn toast!”
Product details
- Publisher : Aladdin (May 24, 2022)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1665903570
- ISBN-13 : 978-1665903578
- Reading age : 10 - 14 years
- Lexile measure : HL600L
- Grade level : 5 - 9
- Item Weight : 15.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,497,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #379 in Children's Babysitting Books
- #1,223 in Children's Paranormal Fantasy
- #3,398 in Children's Multigenerational Family Life
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Scott Reintgen is the NYT bestselling author of A Door in the Dark. He also wrote the Nyxia series, The Problem with Prophecies, and the Ashlords duology. He's a former public school teacher from North Carolina. When he's not writing, he uses his imagination to entertain his wife, Katie, and their three children.
Website: https://itspronouncedrankin.com
Twitter: @Scott_Thought
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reintgen/
Customer reviews
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star5 star87%13%0%0%0%87%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star4 star87%13%0%0%0%13%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star3 star87%13%0%0%0%0%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star2 star87%13%0%0%0%0%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star87%13%0%0%0%0%
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2022I am a huge Scott Reintgen fan -- I still push his NYXIA series on anyone who likes space stories, YA, and "to the bitter end" competitions like HUNGER GAMES. This book, PROBLEM WITH PROPHECIES, is one of his rare forays into middle-grade, and he proves just as adept with the genre as he is YA.
I LOVED THIS BOOK -- even as a grown-arse adult. It's funny; the characters are all distinct and well-drawn. The plot is fascinating as hell -- a lesser author may have really bungled it with a middle-grade audience. Instead, Scott turns a looming fatal prophecy into a quest filled with friendship, overcoming obstacles, and coming of age.... So many themes. Such creative world-building and beautiful writing. The story is a solid tale with a beginning and end -- yet opens the door to other installments in this wonderful world, with its strong, clever, and motivated hero Celia. I really can't recommend this enough -- it's just delightful.
The thing that has always impressed me most about the author is that he never, ever talks down to his readers. There's no eye wink to adults--Scott has faith in his readers, and believes in giving them their own perfect reading experience.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2022I've been a big fan of all of Scott Reintgen's books. My high school students love his Nyxia and Ashlord series, and my middle-grade kids at home love his Tailspinner's Series. The Problem with Prophesies continues the trend. Reintgen has the unique ability to craft a story that is accessible to young readers, while still being morally complex. Read this book with your kids and be prepared to have some rich discussions about fate and the repercussions of the decisions we make in life. Celia Cleary is a strong female protagonist and she has a great cast of characters around her. This book is a great set-up for future installments. Go buy a copy for anyone you know with kids in middle school or upper elementary, male or female. They will love it!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2022I bought The Problem with Prophecies this week and gave it to my 15yo son. He read it in less than 24 hours, came downstairs, waved the book in my face, and said, "This is a SPECTACULAR book! I just finished it, and I love it. It's brilliant. Can we get the next one?" I had to tell him that I didn't think the next one was out yet, but we will definitely be picking it up as soon as it is! :)
- Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2022What worked:
Celia comes from a lineage of seers and her first prophecy shows her the death of a classmate. She decides to save him but her grandmother says trying to stop fate is futile. Death will happen, and fate will always find a way to make it happen. This rule of prophecies establishes the book’s main conflict. Every time Celia saves Jeffrey, fate will present her with new visions of scenarios for his death. Is she prepared to become a lifelong guardian for a boy she barely knows?
The story explores the prophecy’s effect on Celia’s life, going beyond the magical implications. She doesn’t want it to seem like she’s stalking Jeffrey so she’s forced to find ways of saving him without his knowledge. That’s tricky, especially when she’s trying to keep her efforts secret from her mother and classmates. Celia’s obsession to save Jeffrey demands her full attention so other areas of her life suffer. In addition, her former best friend won’t speak to her since she blames Celia’s grandmother’s magic for her parents’ separation. Celia doesn’t know how to deal with the girl but there are moments of wistfulness from past memories.
The resolution of the problem will evoke different emotions from readers. There’s no apparent way to stop fate from taking Jeffrey’s life so Celia’s efforts seem futile. Jeffrey’s a really nice boy which makes his impending death even harder to accept. Celia discovers a page is missing from her seer handbook and she’s frustrated that it may provide clues about what she can do. She becomes better at understanding her abilities but there’s always an air of uncertainty with her visions. Several strange events later in the plot create new questions, and the emotional climax is a surprise if readers don’t recognize clues along the way.
What didn’t work as well:
The early plot has a similar feel to the movie “Groundhog Day” where the same events continually happen over and over. While Celia’s rescues differ in details, she saves Jeffrey’s life several times in a short span of time. Later, the rescues are less frequent and require more planning, so the story becomes more engaging and satisfying.
The Final Verdict:
The first rule is fate cannot be defeated. The early pages feel a little redundant due to frequent rescues, but the story quickly becomes faster-paced and interesting as Celia learns to use her powers. Her determination to save Jeffrey is the backdrop for a sweet story of friendship, and the surprising conclusion will conjure many emotions. I recommend readers give this book a shot.