Blink

March 26, 2018
In this engaging mystery from Dawn (Splinter), 16-year-old Josh Michaels has a lot on his plate. As he cares for his four-year-old twin sisters while their mother works long hours, and watches his mom make bad decisions with her abusive ex-husband, Josh struggles to balance his home life with school and dreams of a football scholarship. When the beautiful, elusive Chatham Claiborne appears on a beach in his tiny Chicago suburb, Josh is immediately drawn to her and soon finds himself pulled into her story about a runaway sister, abusive foster parents, and a mysterious bag of cash. But after a child’s body is found, parts of Chatham’s tale start to ring false. Could she be connected to a girl who went missing years earlier? Although a plot link involving Josh’s mother’s ex strains credibility, Josh is a likable character whose drama-filled family is heartbreaking and otherwise realistic. The mystery surrounding Chatham provides intriguing and unexpected plot developments, and teen readers will find much to relate to and enjoy here. Ages 13–18. Agent: Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger.

February 1, 2018

Gr 10 Up-In this gritty and well-written romantic thriller, a high school football player with a troubled home life meets a mysterious girl on the beach. Josh falls hard for Chatham Claiborne. She is searching for something, but what? She claims to be looking for her runaway sister, but Josh suspects she's not telling him the whole truth. Could she somehow be linked to a little girl abducted years before from that very same beach, and never found? As Josh gets to know Chatham, he also struggles with his mother's abusive and violent ex-husband. Despite a restraining order, Damien won't stay away, and Josh's mother sometimes seems to welcome him back. Josh shoulders the responsibility of taking care of his young sisters, working hard for a football scholarship, and puzzling over his developing relationship with Chatham. After a somewhat slow start, tensions heighten and the second half of the novel is gripping, with unexpected twists and turns. The romance between Josh and Chatham is believable and sweet, and Josh, rough around the edges but with a heart of gold, is an appealing main character. Chatham is a bit less developed, however. VERDICT A solid purchase for older high school students who enjoy suspense, mystery, and romance.-Miranda Doyle, Lake Oswego School District, OR

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2018
Twelve years on, Rachel Bachton's abduction still haunts everyone in Sugar Creek--especially the new girl in town.While at the beach watching his 4-year-old twin sisters (who are the same age Rachel was when someone kidnapped her), Josh Michaels meets newcomer Chatham Claiborne. Besides the instant physical attraction, the teens, both presumably white, also connect because of their broken home lives. Chatham ran away from her foster parents in Georgia to this small town outside of Chicago, hoping to track down her foster sister, who thinks she remembers details of Rachel's disappearance. Josh tries to help Chatham but is often sidetracked by his single mother's manipulation and ex-stepfather's domestic abuse. As the two storylines converge, the thriller occasionally waxes (when the teens piece together their own clues) but often wanes (due to repetition as well as unbelievable and confusing details). The real strength of the book emerges through Josh's coming-of-age, as more attention is given to his growing independence, relationship with his mother, and sexual awakening. When Chatham begins to recall her own memories of Rachel's fateful final day, the thriller kicks into overdrive with a rushed, yet tidy, conclusion to the mystery.Though weaker as a thriller, Josh's narrative may appeal to readers trying to understand societal roles for men, especially in the context of domestic abuse. (Thriller. 14-18)

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April 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 This complex and layered mystery begins its twisty ride when a small Chicago suburb is rocked by the kidnapping of Rachel Bachton. The trail eventually goes cold, but 12 years later, 16-year-old Josh still feels a connection with the girl who reminds him of his younger twin sisters. And then a mysterious newcomer arrives: Chatham Claiborne, who's searching for her own missing sister, and despite the obvious secrets buried under her skin, Josh is nevertheless drawn to her. While the pace is speedy, Dawn (Oblivion, 2014) still manages to add plenty of emotional depth to the story, folding in Josh's relationship with his mother and her abusive ex-husband and the process of Chatham slowly dropping her elusive nature. While the well-plotted mystery is engrossing, Chatham's tightly held past and cagey nature might make it difficult for some readers to connect to the story. Still, the gritty realism and attention-grabbing opening will hook fans of suspenseful thrillers all the way to its satisfying conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)