Broken

December 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-Because of a bad heart that could fail at any moment, 15-year-old Scarlet has been homeschooled all her life. Determined to attend real high school before she dies, she gets permission to try it for one week. On her first day, with "Phil," a defibrillator in a pack on wheels, in tow, she's targeted by bullying jocks but also makes three new friends through a volunteer peer mentoring program. Scarlet enjoys school, despite the taunting, the circulation of an embarrassing phone video filmed in the girls' locker room, and her stepmother-domineering school nurse Killian-who publicly embarrasses her, forces vitamin pills on her, and reinforces the nickname "Freak" among her classmates. Her father offers little comfort since he travels a lot for his job, but is sympathetic and kind when he is around. While working on a life-sciences project with Tony, a potential first boyfriend, Scarlet begins to investigate her health history. She stops taking the "vitamins" her stepmother gives her because she feels better and very much alive. Gradually, Scarlet and Tony realize that Mom/Nurse Killian is not what she appears to be, but the teens have to prove her true intentions. Scarlet is a likable character, smart and savvy, sheltered and innocent. Her friends and enemies are well drawn and the tension feels real once belief is suspended regarding several coincidences. Readers who enjoy surprise revelations as in Matt de la Pena's I Will Save You (Delacorte, 2010) will appreciate the twist here too, unless they figure out the clues early on.-Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, CO

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