Girl on the Verge

May 15, 2017
How far would you go to fit in?When Kan's physician mother brings home Shelly, a white girl in need, Kan, the American-born child of Thai immigrants, welcomes her into their small family even as her maternal grandmother, Khun Yai, acts apprehensive. And for a while, everything feels right. Shelly seems to understand Kan and her feelings of being an outsider all the time, and the two of them grow close, even sharing clothes. When Kan's crush turns out to like her back, her life feels almost complete. But then weird things start to happen that Kan can't explain, such as the sudden deletion of messages from her cellphone, and Shelly starts to feel more like a stranger. Who is this girl? And what does she really want? Dunn keeps the suspense level high and the risk factor great through taut plotlines and compelling characters. The narrative takes the important issue of diversity and effortlessly folds it into a suspenseful tale about betrayal, loneliness, abuse, and the extreme lengths one person will go to fit in. The book manages to forge a solid path in a crowded forest of thrillers while tackling the issue of bigotry with intelligence and empathy. A thrilling tale with a lot of heart. (Suspense. 14-18)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Kan (short for Kanchana) has tried her whole life to be a good Thai girl for her Khun Yai (grandmother) and her mother while also maintaining her identity as an aspiring fashion designer in rural, white Kansas, where she often feels different. When her mother brings home a young, troubled girl named Shelly to live with them for the remainder of the school year, Kan befriends her and does all she can to make her feel welcome. Soon, however, Shelly proves to be too friendly and interested in taking over Kan's life, including her new love interest, Ethan. When Kan eventually looks into Shelly's past, she is surprised by an unexpected connection. Readers will need to suspend disbelief a bit in the beginning. For example, Kan gives up nearly all her friends after only a week with Shelly, and the two undergo a blood sisters ritual that seems unlikely. Still, most teens will find themselves racing to the end to uncover the mystery of Shelly's past. With just a bit of romance, this book also addresses sexting, identity theft, kidnapping, and murder. VERDICT Recommended where April Henry's titles circulate well.-Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
Grades 10-1 Growing up in a Kansas town, Kanchana lives the story of millions of second-generation immigrants. In her case, she must balance aspirations to be a fashion designer with her duty to be a good Thai daughter and granddaughter. Enter Shelly, a girl brought into Kan's home after her own mother died. At first, Kan takes pity on the orphaned girl. Then strange things start to happen: texts disappear from Kan's phone, Kan's friends blame her for things she didn't do, and Shelly herself slowly adopts Kan's look and mannerisms. Kan looks deeper into Shelly's past and discovers that dark secrets entwine Shelly and Kan's family, threatening to destroy everything Kan loves. By pitting Kan and Shelly against each other, Dunn metaphorically bridges the alienation of straddling tradition and modernity and the anguish caused by childhood trauma. While these connections aren't always clear, Dunn overcomes bumps with a fast-moving plot that never stops once it gets going. Readers looking for a thriller starring an active, diverse protagonist will find this a satisfying page-turner.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)