Ingenue Book Review

Author: Jillian Larkin. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780385740364.

Check out my review for the first novel in this series, Vixen, if you haven't already read it!: http://bit.ly/Vixenbookreview

Annotation:  Gloria Carmody and Jerome Johnson have fled Chicago and are now struggling to make ends meet in 1920s New York City. Lorraine Dyer, Clara Knowles and Jerome’s sister, Vera, also find themselves in New York’s world of gangsters, speakeasies and jazz.

Personal thoughts:  I enjoyed the first novel in the series very much, but found myself liking Ingenue even more after the first few chapters. Where the first book had its moments of lag, the plot of Ingenue rolled forward like a freight train for most of the story. I liked the addition of Vera as one of the narrators, although it was, at times, a bit confusing since the novel was told from four different perspectives. Other than having to double-check who I was reading about from time to time, I found Ingenue to be a very satisfying second installment in a fun series! I’m looking forward to the release of Diva.    

Plot summary: Picking up right where the previous novel, Vixen, left off, eighteen-year-old Gloria Carmody finds herself struggling to make ends meet in New York City with the talented piano player, Jerome Johnson, she left Chicago to be with.  After being forced to kill one of the associates of Chicago mobster, Carlito Macharelli, in self-defense, Gloria and Jerome are being extra cautious to avoid the eventual retribution that they know is coming their way. In the meantime, Gloria’s best friend turned enemy, Lorraine Dyer, is also living in New York and is working for none other than Macharelli in one of his gin joints, the Opera House. Lorraine promised Carlito that she would help him locate Gloria and Jerome, getting her revenge for the humiliation that Gloria put her through back in Chicago. Gloria’s cousin, Clara Knowles, and her now boyfriend, Marcus Eastman, are also living in New York before Marcus begins college in the fall. Clara is trying desperately to convince Marcus that she has given up the flapper-lifestyle, but finds herself back in the world of liquor, jazz and parties when she lands a job as a reporter for an up-and-coming New York magazine. Vera Johnson, Jerome’s sister, and Evan, one of Jerome’s former Chicago bandmates, have also travelled to the Big Apple hoping to find Jerome and warn him that he and Gloria’s fears are not unfounded: a dangerous assassin has been hired to find the pair, and Vera doesn’t want to imagine what their fates will be when their lives in Chicago finally catch up with them.

Review:  Like the first novel in Larkin’s Flappers series, Ingenue is told in alternating voices, this time with Vera contributing to the story along with Vixen’s Gloria, Lorraine and Clara. Those who have not read the previous novel beware: the storyline of Ingenue is quite complex and would make little to no sense if the characters were not already firmly established in the first installment. Fans of Vixen, however, will find the four girls’ adventures in Ingenue to be as enjoyable, if not more so, than the previous novel.  Gloria, Lorraine and Clara have shed any of the “debutante” pretense that made up so much of the plot of Vixen, leaving three fearless flappers in their place. Vera also makes an interesting addition to the mix, giving Larkin the opportunity to explore even more of the social inequalities between blacks and whites in the early 20^th century. Gloria and Jerome’s trouble romance is, of course, the most stark example of society’s segregation in the 1920s, but other, more subtle parts of the novel will definitely resonate with readers who are attune to these struggles. Another major theme of the story is the role of women during the time period. Clara finds herself wanting to pursue a career in journalism, but discovers that she might be limited to petty gossip columns, the more serious stories being left to the men. The mobster/speakeasy/revenge parts of the novel are what move it along, but it is Larkin’s attention to the realities of the 1920s that really makes Ingenue shine as an exciting historical fiction read for young adults. The third novel, Diva, is set to be released in 2012.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Vixen by Jillian Larkin (first installment in series) and Bright Young Things series by Anna Godbersen.       

Themes:  1920s, flappers, speakeasies, gangsters, interracial relationships, revenge, racism, role of women.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from teenreads.com.  

Series Information: Second installment in The Flappers series. First novel, Vixen (2011), third novel, Diva, set to be released in 2012.  

Discussion questions: 

- What setting did you like better: Chicago in Vixen or New York City in Ingenue? Why?

- Did you like the addition of Vera as a narrator in the novel? Why or why not?

- How do you think the characters changed between Vixen and Ingenue? Who changed the most? The least?

-Why do you think race was such an issue in the early 20^th century? Do you think it still is?

- Do you think that Gloria and Jerome would be accepted in today’s society?

Wither Book Review

Author: Lauren DeStefano. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781442409064.

Annotation:  Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery’s world is ending: efforts to genetically engineer the perfect human race have created a virus that causes all of the children of the first generation of perfect humans to die, men at twenty-five years old, women at twenty. To avoid extinction, women are forced into polygamous relationships with wealthy men to conceive as many children as possible. Rhine is kidnapped from her home and forced to marry a man she has never met; but she won’t be held captive without a fight.  

Personal thoughts:  I absolutely loved this novel! I was sort of apathetic about picking it up, but once I read the first chapter I was hooked. What an excellent start to an original new series! I love to see what different authors do with the whole dystopian concept, and I think that DeStefano really proved her literary prowess with this novel. I cannot wait to pick up the second book as soon as it is released! This is a must-read!   

Plot summary: In sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery’s world, efforts to genetically engineer the perfect human race have created a terrible virus: all of the children of the first generation of the “master race” are destined to die early deaths; men at age twenty-five, women at age twenty. The virus has caused society to be pushed to the brink of anarchy. To avoid extinction, girls are forced into polygamous marriages to conceive as many children as possible. Teens as young as thirteen are rounded up by the dozens and sold to the highest bidder. Rhine has managed to survive on the streets of Manhattan with her twin brother, Rowan, but, unable to escape the fate of so many girls, finds herself kidnapped and living in the house of Vaughan Ashby and his son, twenty-year-old Linden. Along with two other girls, eighteen-year-old Jenna and thirteen-year-old Cecily, Rhine is abruptly married to Linden and living a glamorous life of captivity in the Ashby mansion. Determined to return to her brother, Rhine promises herself that she will find a way to escape the confines of her gilded prison.  But when the time comes, will Rhine be able to abandon the sister-wives she has come to love or the handsome servant, Gabriel, who she quickly finds herself falling for?

Review:  Debut author Lauren DeStefano’s first installment in her Chemical Garden trilogy proves within the first few pages to be a gripping, utterly original and thoroughly addicting masterpiece. DeStefano immediately immerses the reader in the horrors of Rhine’s world: society is on the brink of anarchy and girls are forced into lives of prostitution, kidnapping, and rape on a regular basis. The glitz and glamour of the mansion that Rhine finds herself living in creates an almost sickening juxtaposition with the reality of what is happening to Rhine and her sister-wives. The relationship between Linden Ashby’s three wives is arguably the crux of the story, although the romance between Rhine and her servant, Gabriel, and Rhine’s memories of her beloved twin-brother, Rowan, are also important plot elements. In creating such a vivid and complex story, DeStefano has really set the stage for a dystopian trilogy that will, in all likelihood, stay fresh through the following two novels. The sequel, Fever, is set to be released in February 2012. It will, no doubt, prove to be another wonderful installment in a very promising series equally enjoyable for teen and adult readers alike.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.      

Themes:  Dystopian, marriage, polygamy, sisters, kidnapping, murder, captivity, love.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews Booklist, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, Kirkus and School Library Journal.  

Series Information: First installment in Chemical Garden trilogy. Second novel, Fever, to be released in February 2012.

Discussion questions:

- Do you think that the future Rhine lives in could ever be possible? Why or why not?

- Who do you like better: Jenna or Cecily? Why?

- Do you think Linden is a bad person? Why or why not?

- What do you think Housemaster Vaughan was doing in the basement?

- If you were Rhine, would you try to escape? Why or why not?

- What would you like to see happen in the second novel, Fever?

Envy: An Empty Coffin Novel Book Review

Author: Gregg Olsen. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Splinter. ISBN: 9781402789571.

Annotation:  Fifteen-year-old Katelyn Berkley’s apparent suicide rocks the small town of Port Gamble, Washington, a close knit community where everyone knows each other. Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan, however, are not so sure that Katelyn’s death was a suicide.

Personal thoughts:  I was really interested to read this novel, especially since it is written by not only a man but a best-selling adult author, two traits that you don’t find as often in young adult literature. My one thought throughout the novel was how obvious these two traits were in the construction of the book: from the language to the plot. That said, I did actually enjoy the novel. True crime is generally confined to an adult audience, but I think that Olsen has found an interesting way to bring it to teens. I’m looking forward to seeing what else he comes up with.   

Plot summary: On Christmas night, fifteen-year-old Katelyn Berkley’s mother is horrified when she discovers her daughter’s lifeless body in the bathtub. Although her peculiar death (a mini-espresso machine’s plunge into the water lead to her fatal electrocution) is deemed an accident, the general consensus in the small town of Port Gamble, Washington is that Katelyn committed suicide. Unsatisfied with both explanations, twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan set out to determine what really happened to the girl they used to be close in years past. Hayley and Taylor aren’t ordinary teenagers, however. They share a gift: the ability to psychically connect with energies left from those who have passed on. Using their gifts they discover that Katelyn’s life was far from perfect. After not making the cheerleading squad lead to a falling out with her best friend, the uber-popular mean girl, Starla, Katelyn had turned to an online boyfriend to help deal with the trials and tribulations of high school. As Hayley and Taylor dig deeper into her life, they learn that Katelyn’s online boyfriend might not have been who he said he was, and his true identity may hold the key to learning what really happened to Katelyn.

Review:  This first installment in best-selling author Gregg Olsen’s new series for young adults proves to be a bit of a mixed bag.  Even without reading the jacket, it is clear that this is Olsen’s first venture into writing for teens. The writing style is very much adult mystery with teen references and lingo tossed in. At first this style is difficult to get used to, but eventually becomes less noticeable as the story progresses. The plot of the novel is interesting, but has its peculiarities. The manner of Katelyn’s death is, in a word, odd. Death by electrocution from a mini-espresso machine in the bathtub? There are also oddities interspersed throughout the novel, from graphic descriptions of Katelyn’s autopsy, to psychic Scrabble, some of the plot points come off as simply strange. The ending of the novel in particular is quite peculiar. Despite these shortcomings, Envy is somewhat enjoyable. The connection between the twins, Hayley and Taylor, is intriguing as are the references to real-life crime cases that the novel is loosely based on. The setting, the small town of Port Gamble, Washington, plays a major role in setting the somber tone of the novel, and Olsen does a good job of describing the world in which the plot takes place. The next novel in the series, Betrayal, is mentioned in the final pages of the book as being set for release in fall 2012. Hopefully Olsen can improve upon this first novel in the sequel; if he can he has the makings for an original and interesting series.

Genre: Mystery

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Lark by Tracey Porter.     

Themes:  Suicide, death, murder, loss, psychic abilities, cyberbullying, friendship, Washington.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from author Jordan Dane, written by New York Times bestselling author.

Series Information: First installment in Empty Coffin series. Second novel, Betrayal, to be released in Fall of 2012.

Discussion questions:

- When you first began reading the novel, did you believe that Katelyn’s death was an accident? Did your thoughts change as you read further? Why or why not?

- Do you think that it’s possible for people to have gifts like Hayley and Taylor?

- How do you think the setting of the story influenced the events of the novel?

- Did you like the ending of the novel? Would you have changed it? How?

- Research the real-life crime stories that the author mentions at the end of the book. What can they, and the plot of Envy, teach us about cyberbullying?

Carrier of the Mark Book Review

 Author: Leigh Fallon. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Harperteen. ISBN: 9780062027870.

Annotation:  Seventeen-year-old Megan Rosenberg has just moved with her dad to the small town of Kinsale, Ireland. Megan knows that life in Kinsale is going to be different from what she’s used to in the United States, but she has no idea how much it will change when she meets the handsome and mysterious Adam DeRís and learns of an ancient secret he is keeping, a secret that involves her.

Personal thoughts:  I hadn’t heard a great deal about this novel, but was intrigued when I read the description. I am thrilled that I picked it up, because I found it a very enjoyable, breezy read. Megan is a very likable character, as is her father and her new friends. At first I found Adam to be a bit moody, but eventually ended up liking him and his family as well. I really enjoyed the Irish setting and language that the author included. I’m looking forward to the second installment in this new series.  

Plot summary: Life hasn’t been easy for seventeen-year-old Megan Rosenberg: her mother was fatally injured in a car accident when Megan was six, and now Megan and her father are constantly moving from place-to-place, trying to find a life where they fit in. Their newest destination has taken them across the ocean to the small town of Kinsale, Ireland. Megan is hopeful when she begins school at Saint Basil, especially after she quickly befriends Caitlin and Jennifer. Almost immediately, however, Megan also meets Adam DeRís, a handsome and mysterious student from a family rumored to be involved in witchcraft. Adam seems to be drawn to Megan despite his general aloofness, leaving her intrigued but confused. Before long, Adam finally confesses what has him so smitten: Megan is a Carrier of the Mark, a descendent of the ancient goddess Danu, and one of four elements that take human form each generation. Adam himself is another of the elements, his twin sister Aíne and their older brother Rían represent the other two. Not since the ancient times have the four elements been so close in age and proximity, and the DeRíses guardian, Fionn, informs Megan that they must take part in an alignment ceremony to bring peace and harmony to the globe. Megan is overwhelmed but excited at the prospect of her power, especially as her relationship with Adam continues to blossom. But after a visit with the Order of Dublin, part of the governing group responsible for ensuring the safety of the elements, reveals a troubling piece of the puzzle, will Megan and Adam be forced to give up their love for their duties at Carriers of the Mark?

Review:  This well-crafted and enjoyable debut novel from Irish author, Leigh Fallon, begins an interesting and promising series for young adults. The story behind the publishing of this novel could be a book in its own right: Fallon initially posted her manuscript on Inkpop, a website for aspiring writers, and was positively received enough by readers to warrant attention from HarperTeen. The manuscript was quickly picked up the publisher, and Fallon is now on her way to becoming a successful young adult author. This success story adds to the charm of Carrier of the Mark: it is clear that Fallon, a former resident of Kinsale, Ireland herself, put definite heart and soul into her story. The characters are likable, well-thought out and complex. The “Carrier of the Mark” lore is interesting and unique, and the plot creative. Overall, this is a very easily enjoyed novel in an original setting. The second installment in this series is set to be released in early 2013.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, Soul Screamer series by Rachel Vincent.    

Themes:  Ireland, druidism, mythology, ancient prophecies, elements, relationships, death, loss.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Booklist, VOYA, and Publishers Weekly.    

Series Information: First installment in Carriers series.

Discussion questions: 

-  What do you know about druids? Research this group and compare the history to the plot of the novel. 

-  Do you think that Megan was being selfish for not wanting to evoke her element? Why or why not?

-  Do you think Adam will eventually be able to uncover the mystery of the Druid Scrolls?

- Who was your favorite character in the novel? Why?

-    If you could be any of the four elements, which would you choose? Why?

Fateful Book Review

Author: Claudia Gray. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Harperteen. ISBN: 9780062006202.

Annotation:  Eighteen-year-old Tess Davies wants to start her life over in the United States, so she is overjoyed when the family she works decides to travel to New York aboard the RMS Titanic. What she doesn’t expect is that her life will change forever before she even sets foot in America after she meets Alec, a handsome man with a dark secret.

Personal thoughts:  I was so excited when I heard about this novel and so disappointed that I didn’t really enjoy it. It’s unusual for me to simply not like a book, but I have to say that’s how I felt after reading Fateful. I found the plot to be over-the-top in terms of “hokey-ness.” The romance between Tess and Alec did nothing for me. I thought the sinking of the ship was incredibly rushed and should have played more of a part in how the story developed. I really wanted to love this novel and I wish I had, but I will continue to look forward to future books by Claudia Gray because I do think she is a talented author.

Plot summary: Eighteen-year-old Tess Davies is a ladies’ maid for Irene Lisle: the daughter of Viscount Lisle and his wife Lady Regina. Although Tess is fond of Irene, she wants nothing more than to be rid of the cruelties that have been inflicted upon her since she began working for the Lisles. Tess sees her chance to start over when the Lisles decide to travel to New York City on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Taking her meager life-savings and all of her possessions, Tess boards the ship full of hope at the possibility of turning her life around in America. Tess doesn’t expect her life to change forever on the Titanic, however, but it does when she meets Alec Marlowe, a handsome young man travelling first class with his steel-tycoon father. Tess is immediately attracted to Alec, even though she knows they could never be together, but soon realizes that there is more to him than meets the eye. Alec appears to be travelling in the company of Mikhail: a dark and cruel man who seems to want nothing more than to devour Tess in one way or another. When Tess learns the truth about Alec’s relationship with Mikhail, she is shocked: Alec was recently transformed into a werewolf while on a hunting trip, and Mikhail has been sent to force him into the Brotherhood, an ancient and powerful pack of vicious werewolves who live amongst humans. Will Tess be able to reconcile her fear of Alec’s violent nightly transformation with her growing feelings for him, or is their relationship doomed to suffer the same fate as the ship they are unknowingly travelling on?

Review:  Full of references to famous passengers and events, Fateful reads as a watered-down version of the Titanic film mixed with varying degrees of paranormal romance, class and gender inequities of the past, and bodice-ripping. The premise of the novel is quite promising: werewolves on the Titanic are, if anything, certain to be entertaining. Unfortunately,   the odd pacing of the story, attempts at tackling more serious subjects, and general unbelievability of the plot serve to “sink” the novel from almost the first chapters. One of the primary issues with Fateful is that it seems to suffer an identity crisis. The author seems unsure if the novel should be a look at the harsh realities of the lower classes in turn of the century society, a paranormal romance, or a retelling of the sinking of the Titanic. For the most part, the focus of the novel seems to be on the former: Tess is almost constantly berated by her employers and reminding herself of the impossibility of forming a relationship with handsome first-class passenger, Alec. The romance between Tess and Alec seems to develop in a matter of hours, which, among other things, was one of the most unbelievable plot points in the novel. The werewolf aspect of the story is also somewhat on the sidelines, and could have definitely been made far more interesting if it had been expanded further. Overall, Fateful is a readable novel, but not one that shines amongst Claudia Gray’s body of works.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Blood series by T. Lynne Tolles and Erin Potter, Silver Moon by Rebecca A. Rogers, Distant Waves: A Novel of the Titanic by Suzanne Weyn.   

Themes:  RMS Titanic, werewolves, romance, class warfare, murder.  

Awards/Reviews:  Written by bestselling author.   

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions:

- What do you think were Tess’ primary reasons for wanting to leave the service of the Lisles? Do you think the way she was treated was common at the turn of the century?

- Why do you think that what happened to Daisy was such a disgrace for Tess?

-  Do you think that Alec was truly dangerous as a wolf? Why or why not?

- Research some of the famous Titanic passengers mentioned in the novel. Who were they? What were their fates?

The Eleventh Plague Book Review

Author: Jeff Hirsch. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Scholastic Press. ISBN: 9780545290142.

Annotation:  Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are two of the few remaining survivors of P-11: a devastating plague that wiped out most of North America’s population. After Stephen’s father is gravely injured, Stephen must ensure that both of them stay alive in the unforgiving wilderness that is now America.  

Personal thoughts:  I wanted to like this novel more than I ended up enjoying it. I thought the teenage perspective on a post-apocalyptic future was interesting, but the pacing issues in the plot really hampered the story at times for me. I wish the author would have expanded more on what caused the plague and describing the post-apocalyptic environment. I think the author did a good idea of inspiring the reader to contemplate the “what-if’s” of Stephen’s future: what if the America of today experienced P-11. Although it is unclear if this novel is part of a series, I look forward to seeing more of what this author has to offer.

Plot summary: In the not too distant future, fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are scavengers living in the desolate wasteland that is now the United States. After a plague known as P-11 wipes out most of the population of North America, the survivors now live on the brink of starvation, constantly trying to evade capture by the Slavers: mercenaries who seek to sell their captives to the highest bidder. After the elder is gravely injured, Stephen and his father find themselves being taken to Settler’s Landing: a small town that managed to survive the plague and is now home to other survivors as well. After his father slips into a coma, Stephen lives with a local family to help care for him. Stephen is reluctant to partake in the seemingly normal life of Settler’s Landing, but eventually gets used to attending school and playing games, even though he is far from welcome by Will, the son of the town’s leader. When he meets Jenny, a fellow outcast, Stephen feels like spending his life in Settler’s Landing might be a possibility. But when Stephen discovers that a practical joke has lead the town to the brink of war with a neighboring village, will he be forced to leave his father in Settler’s Landing and return to his life in the harsh wilderness?

Review:  Despite its slow-pacing, The Eleventh Plague offers an interesting perspective on a very real possibility for the future of the United States. Stephen struggles with normal teenage issues while tackling the realities of his situation: coping with the loss of his mother, his grandfather’s recent death, and his father’s injury. By including Stephen’s grappling with things like crushes, bullies, and feeling like he doesn’t belong, Hirsch creates a believable character living in a very harsh future. The novel focuses almost exclusively on Stephen’s thoughts and feelings, leaving the supporting characters slightly underdeveloped. Jenny, Stephen’s love interest, has a small back-story to explain why she is also an outcast in Settler’s Landing, but story could have been improved by working to expand upon the people Stephen encounters. Overall, however, The Eleventh Plague is an enjoyable read for fans of dystopian novels, especially into a post-apocalyptic setting.  

Genre: Fiction

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick.  

Themes:  Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, survival, fitting in, friendship.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from best-selling author Suzanne Collins.  

Series Information: Unclear, but ending of novel points to possibility of sequels.

Discussion questions:

- Do you think the events of the novel could actually take place? Why or why not?

- Do you think Stephen’s father should have attacked the Slavers?

- If you were Stephen, would you have chosen to stay or leave Settler’s Landing? Why?

- Why do you think Will couldn’t forgive Stephen?

Damage Book Review

Author: Anya Parrish. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Flux. ISBN: 9780738727004.

Annotation:  No one believed Dani when she said that her imaginary friend, Rachel, pushed her off the top of the hospital when she was eight-years-old. She hasn’t seen Rachel in years, but now she’s fifteen, and Rachel is back.

Personal thoughts:  I loved the concept behind this novel when I read the description, and, after reading the book, I found that it surpassed my expectations! The idea of homicidal imaginary friends sounds funny, but I was genuinely creeped out by the descriptions of Rachel. As the plot unraveled, however, I began to lose the creepy-vibe and began to really get into the twists and turns of the story. I really hope that the author decides to make the novel into a series because I think it has a lot of potential!    

Plot summary: No one believed Dani when she said that her imaginary friend, Rachel, pushed her off the roof of the hospital when she was eight-years-old. Dani used to enjoy spending time with Rachel during the months she spent at St. Baptist’s getting treatment for her diabetes. One night, however, Rachel turned sinister and, when Dani survived the fall from the roof, made it her mission to kill Dani by any means possible. Psychiatrists, doctors and Dani’s parents spent years trying to convince Dani that Rachel wasn’t real, and eventually she stopped seeing the little girl with the piercing blue eyes and the bloody gash for a mouth. Now Dani is fifteen-years-old and living in fear that Rachel will return.  What she doesn’t know is that her worst fears will be realized: after a freak bus accident on a school field trip, Rachel returns stronger than ever and even more determined to kill Dani. Someone else survives the bus accident, however: Jesse, a quiet rebel who has always had his eye on Dani. Dani and Jesse escape the crash together and soon make a startling discovery: Jesse was plagued by his own invisible monster as a child as well, and that monster has also returned ready to kill.  

Review:  Creepy, exciting and romantic, this debut novel by author Anya Parrish makes for a mind-bending adventure full of twists and turns. Almost from the first pages, the author lets the reader know that they are in for something different. The basic concept behind the novel is something that seems promising even when taken at face value: homicidal imaginary friends. When Dani’s “friend” Rachel is introduced, the image created is quite horrifying: Rachel is a rambunctious little girl who keeps Dani from feeling lonely in the hospital. When Dani is finally able to see her friend’s face, however, she discovers that her mouth is a gaping line that oozes blood whenever she smiles. Rachel’s constant determination to murder Dani would be almost comical if the little eight-year-old in every reader wasn’t frightened by the idea of the imaginary friend gone bad. Parrish accomplishes a lot with her creation of the “Rachel” character, and this is the strongest element of the novel. Of course, like most young adult books, there is a romantic male lead in the form of bad boy Jesse. The novel is told in alternating voices between Jesse and Dani, and it is revealed early in the story that Jesse was also plagued by an evil imaginary monster when he was younger: a vicious dragon he simply referred to as “The Thing.” Not much more can be said about the plot without giving away too much of the story, but the novel dives into many different genres as it progresses, from horror to mystery to spy-thriller. The result is a very enjoyable book that can be enjoyed by both teens and adults equally.

Genre: Horror

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong.

Themes:  Imaginary friends, murder, death, illness, accidents, experimentation, romance.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from best-selling authors Jessica Verday and Caitlin Kittredge.  

Series Information: Unclear, but ending of novel points to possibility of sequels.

Discussion questions:

- Who did you find scarier: Rachel or the Thing? Why?

- Did you think that Dani and Jesse fell for each other quickly? Is this realistic? Why or why not?

- What were your initial impressions about the truth behind what was happening to Dani and Jesse? Did they change as the story went on?

- Were you surprised to learn the truth about Rachel and the Thing?

- What would you like to see happen next in Dani and Jesse’s story? Do you think there will be a sequel to this novel? If so, would you read it?