Deadly Little Games--A Touch Novel

July 1, 2011

Gr 8-11-Another elaborate setup, another love triangle, another intense but chaste teen relationship-this series desperately needs something to make it stand out in the crowd of paranormal romances, but this installment isn't it. After the events of Deadly Little Lies (Hyperion, 2009), Camelia is happily dating Ben, but her thoughts wander back to Adam despite their messy history. Then she begins channeling menacing messages such as "you deserve to die." Ben has a "psychometric" ability to sense thoughts through touch, and he knows that his girlfriend is hiding something-namely her increasing concern that Adam is the target of these messages. Camelia claims she just wants to protect Adam from an apparent stalker, who ramps things up by scrawling threats on his door and mailing clues to a malicious crossword puzzle. Meanwhile, Camelia's Aunt Alexia is in a mental institution, and the teen believes that what seems like mental illness may actually be a form of psychometry. Chapters alternate with transcripts of therapy sessions between a doctor and an anonymous patient, which builds some tension in the lead-up to the revelation of the stalker's identity. Though Stolarz briefly recaps the events of the first two books, the chain of events may confuse readers who are new to the series. Psychometry is a beguiling premise, but with its lack of real tension or emotional resonance, this novel is essentially Twi-Lite-right down to the supernatural hottie sneaking in through Camelia's bedroom window. Recommend Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver instead (Scholastic, 2009).-Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA

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