From School Library Journal
Gr 8 UpβCallie's friend tells her that their mutual friend Katherine is missing from the party and suggests that Callie check behind the ball field. Callie arrives on the scene only to find Katherine's body lying in a pool of blood. She leans down and picks up the knife, realizing that she is now covered in blood, too. Just then, all of the kids from the party pour onto the scene and begin snapping cell phone photos of Callie holding the knife, standing over the corpse. Her brother has had his own brush with the law and is currently in prison so Callie runs and masterfully employs amazing disguises and subterfuge to outwit local law enforcement. The balance of the novel is spent jumping back and forth in time as Callie uncovers the events and motives that could possibly reveal the real culprit. The jumps in sequence are at times confusing, and the end is a little unsatisfying. It relies on a thinly developed lesbian subplot to create character motive: weak at best. Nonetheless, author recognition, the teen love of mystery, and a stellar cover will no doubt make this a well-circulating title.βLeah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
From
Callie has a history of violence in her home, a volatile and public feud with queen-bee Katherine Reminigton-Day, and a bloody knife in her hand. On the first page, Katherine lies dead at Callie's feet. What follows is a Fugitive-like mystery with plenty of disguises, double crosses, and red herrings; a race against time; and enough love triangles to do a daytime soap proud. Callie knows she didnβt kill Katherine and is determined to find out who did before the authorities find her. Although Katherine was much loved and much reviled, who could have hated her enough to kill her? And who hated Callie enough to frame her for it? Assisted in her getaway and hiding by Slade, the steadfast boyfriend Katherine forced Callie to dump while he was away at basic training, Callie works all the leads she can find. Although the final resolution may feel like a bit of a βgotcha,β this is a rare teen thriller with an actual mystery that is as quickly paced as it is heart wrenching. Grades 8-11. --Heather Booth