Deceived

October 14, 2013
Since 17-year-old Elle's mother's death 10 years earlier, her father has been running from his grief, Elle believes, and dragging her all over the country. Being the new girl, now a senior, at Francine Frances Academy doesn't initially seem much different than other years; she hides behind her flamboyant roommate, Pixie; has a terrible recurring nightmare in which her family is in danger; and nurses a disturbing caffeine addiction. But Elle has an inkling she's being watched by a shadow, and when she finds a black ribbon in her locker and cigarette butts on her stoop, her paranoia grows. Rumors of a serial killer surface, and her protective crush, who communicates with her on an "unseen level," is not who he seems. Lindsey's (Reinventing Chloe) layered depiction of events through the haze of Elle's caffeine-addled, sleep-deprived mind creates a suspenseful and haunting atmosphere of uncertainty and the possibility of lurking madness. While Elle's psychological state is the primary source of tension throughout the novel, a dramatic finale draws together the plot's disparate elements. Ages 14âup. Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary Agency.

July 15, 2013
A 17-year-old girl tries to fit in at her new private school after a lifetime of moving around the country with her widowed father. Since the car crash that killed her mother, Elle and her father haven't stayed long in any one place, so she's looking forward to the stability of boarding school. Although she's shy about making friends, her artistic roommate, Pixie, helps her out. Handsome Brian starts coming to nearly all of her classes, but she can't tell if he's romantically interested in her or not. Meanwhile, she learns that a serial killer may be in the area. Odd events begin to occur. Someone puts a black ribbon, the kind her mother used to wear, in her locker. Brian keeps showing up everywhere she goes. Is someone stalking her or maybe Pixie? What does Elle's father have to do with it? Lindsey writes in a matter-of-fact style with nearly every sentence a declarative statement, lending the narrative a choppy, Dragnet-like feel. It seems appropriate to the plot, however, especially when events foreshadow a serious threat to Elle and her friends from someone who may be closer than she suspects. The author stretches plausibility far beyond the breaking point to set up the required confrontation scene at the end, however, dealing the novel a fatal blow. A decent crime story that's hamstrung by its ending. (Suspense. 12 & up)

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January 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-Gabriella Smith has spent most of her life moving around and has finally landed in an Ohio boarding school to finish her senior year while her dad travels for business. She lives on caffeine pills and exercise to avoid the dreaded night terrors that come with sleep. She spends most of her days in a paranoid state as unexplained events occur: cigarette butts outside her door, a ribbon from her murdered mother's past in her locker, and rumors of a serial killer on campus. Whenever she feels panicky, Brian Austin, who proves to be the most intriguing character in this mystery, shows up to help her. As the story unfolds to an unpredictable and compelling ending, there are many changes in Elle's world. While the premise of the book is interesting, the plot is confusing as it jumps around, and it is often hard to tell who is speaking. The first half of the book sets readers up for the ending, but there's too much to wade through, and many teens might not hang in to find out why Elle's life is not what is seems.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

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