Hit

April 27, 2015
Patsy Klein is a teenage hit woman assigned to kill 10 unfortunate souls who can't pay their debts to Valor Savings Bank, a corporation that has just bought the United States by paying off its debts, and has drafted legislation allowing debtors to be "legally killed in recompense." Patsy is in this situation because of her mother's own debts, and she accepts her horrific mission with a combination of bravery and self-loathing. She begins picking off the people on her list until a handsome companion shows up to accompany her on these dark endeavors, complicating matters (she killed his father). Dawson's (Servants of the Storm) social commentary on corporate finance and its intimate ties to the government is sharp and shot through with irony. She takes this intermingling to the extreme, without losing a playful touch, even as Patsy's story becomes more disturbing. The wit is biting, and the banter between Wyatt and Patsy entertains in a dark, violent story that would pair well with the financial dystopia of Alex London's Proxy and Guardian. Ages 14âup. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.

January 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-For teens who have been lectured on the importance of saving money, this book will serve as a sober reminder. Buried in debt, the U.S. government has been purchased by Valor National Bank. But the new creditor-nation wants payback right away. Customers are given two choices: pay back the debt by becoming bounty hunters who gun down other debtors, or be killed on the spot. Seventeen-year-old Patsy becomes one of those bounty hunters in order to cover her mother's debt. Armed with a state-issued handgun, a postal service truck with GPS, a basket of fake flowers to lure her 12 unsuspecting victims to open the door, and a uniform with built-in camera, Patsy sets about on her grim assignment. After Wyatt, (the son of the second victim, whose younger brother is also on the list) tracks her down and demands answers for what is happening, he becomes Patsy's partner and backup. Each "job" becomes increasingly complicated as Patsy discovers that they all have a personal connection to her past life, including her missing father. But why? And is there an underground movement to overthrow Valor National? The plot moves along quickly with chapters ending in cliff-hangers. The author slows the plot down long enough, however, to allow the relationship between Patsy and Wyatt to develop at a believable pace. Dawson offers little background on the government takeover and ends the story with more questions than answers, thus setting readers up for a sequel. The book's subtle commentary on the country's credit industry and buying habits, in addition to its violent theme (reminiscent of the popular "Hunger Games" trilogy), make it most suitable for mature teens.-Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH

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