Nightstruck

February 1, 2016
Black (the Replica trilogy) kicks off a creepy series with an imaginative and unsettling premise. When high school senior Becket Walker hears a baby’s cry while walking her dog one evening, she can’t walk away, but when she picks up the squirming bundle, it’s obvious that the green-eyed, sharp-toothed creature is no abandoned newborn. Unfortunately, Becket has opened a door that allows dark magic to seep into Philadelphia by night, causing panic and chaos as statues, caution tape, discarded trash, and other inanimate objects transform into lethal creatures. Packs of murderous people dubbed the Nightstruck roam the dark streets, and Becket’s best friend, Piper, has begun acting very strangely. Effectively blending grisly horror, teenage dilemmas, and a touch of romance, Black has built a genuinely scary city where the night literally has teeth. Becket is a smart and pragmatic young woman who rarely falters in the face of horrific events, making her vulnerability when it comes to those she loves more poignant. A cliffhanger ending ensures anticipation for the next book. Ages 12–up. Agent: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

February 15, 2016
The streets of Philadelphia are filled with terror once night falls. Becket and her father live together in Center City, Philadelphia, her mother having left a few months ago. They are making do as best they can, but her father's job as police commissioner keeps him away from home an awful lot, especially with what's going on now. People are disappearing, but there are also tales of strange sights and creepy creatures. Soon a citywide curfew keeps people locked inside at night while the nightmarish beings known as the Nightstruck wander the streets and wreak havoc. Becket is cooped up with her dreamy next-door neighbor while she worries about her father and best friend, who went off into the night and returned distressingly changed. Black neatly establishes a creepy sense of dread, but at times the scope is too claustrophobic. Becket and her father keep hearing about absurd, crazy things, but readers don't get to see them as much as they might like. Becket is a typical teen-lit gal (presumptively white, pretty without knowing it, smart, introverted), but the circumstances and her headstrong reactions to them bring readers in. Black pulls off some horrific set pieces, and there's a great hook for a larger mystery, but, as this is a series opener, the story's narrative and emotional arcs just plain stop. A solidly creepy start to a promising series, with a wildly frustrating cliffhanger. (Thriller. 14-17)

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April 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Becket thinks her life is already complicated enough with her parents' divorce, college decisions, and obsession with her neighbor who is her best friend's boyfriend. But in an attempt to aid what she believes is an abandoned baby one night, Becket unknowingly unleashes an evil upon Philadelphia. During the day, everything is fine, but at sundown, dark magic appears and wreaks havoc on the innocent. Bizarre sightings of inanimate objects alive and roaming the streets along with other murderous creatures become the norm. To protect its citizens, the city imposes a curfew, but later as the situation becomes more dire, Philadelphia is quarantined with the National Guard called in to restore order. While nothing will stop the wicked black magic, it seeks out Becket and entices her to join with it. Becket knows she is the only one with the power to turn the tide, but does she have the strength and fortitude to do what is right? Black weaves an original tale of heart-pounding terror full of suspense and intrigue. Becket is a likable protagonist-strong-minded and stubborn yet ultimately vulnerable and very human. She and the other well-defined characters drive the action-packed and mystifying plot, which keeps readers hooked to the very last page. VERDICT A captivating start to an up-and-coming series. Sure to be a hit with fans of the occult and supernatural.-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

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