Touched

July 15, 2012
Every thought, every action has a consequence, and one unscripted moment can change everything. For a record three months, 17-year-old Nick Cross has carefully listened to the unrelenting voices in his head as they lead him toward a future he desperately wants. But when Nick ultimately chooses to ignore the "You Wills" that tell him to save the life of a beautiful stranger, the result is devastating. Nick's ability to see the future is "a living nightmare," and Balog brings his torment to life for readers by allowing the voices in Nick's head to constantly interrupt his narration with flashes from the future. Unfortunately, this clever technique largely falls by the wayside in the second half of the novel, and what is left is disappointingly ordinary. In addition, while the action is high in the beginning and readers will likely find Nick and his struggles compelling, the latter part of the story packs less of a punch. Perhaps most importantly, the romance between Nick and Taryn, a girl with more than a few of her own secrets, never quite seems to ignite, making what could have been a riveting race to change the future considerably less compelling. In the end, it is a frustratingly ho-hum read that could have been much, much more. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 7-10-Nick Cross hears a voice in the back of his mind that tells him his future. That's how he knows he's going to save little Emma Reese from drowning, just as soon as he gets back to the lifeguard stand. Running behind, he impulsively stops to save another teen from getting hit by a truck, and that one decision changes the course on which he thought he was headed. Now his future is thrown out of sync. As Nick tries to pull everything back on track by alternating between following "the script" and veering off it, nothing happens the way he wants. The only thing that he's sure about is that he needs to stay away from Taryn, the girl whose life he saved. Teens will enjoy the fantasy element of Nick's gift/curse while struggling with him to learn the origins of it. Nick narrates his story, so readers are pulled in with what he's told to do (the voice appears in italics) and what he really does. As he learns more about his past and his ability, readers go along for the ride. A few twists and turns help keep the plot moving, along with Nick and Taryn's friendship.-Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL

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