Hannah
Jayne
$9.99,
Paperback
Sourcebooks
Fire, 2013
978-1402281211
Genre:
Mystery
Age:
12+
Description:
Sawyer Dodd has everything a girl could ask for. She’s one of her
school’s star track athletes. She’s just been given the lead solo
in the upcoming choir competition. She’s an A+ student. But most
important is the fact that she is dating the all-star football
player, Kevin Anderson—a guy many girls would just die to date.
However, behind the happy exterior lies an evil secret. While Sawyer
has to walk down the halls each day and has everyone envious of her
perfect life and she has to put up with Kevin’s ex-girlfriend who
wants to make her life miserable, Sawyer has to hide the truth of her
relationship with Kevin—she is trapped in a controlling and abusive
relationship. One the night that she attempts to finally end it once
and for good with Kevin he is later found dead—his car crashing
while he was supposedly under the influence of alcohol. Sawyer acts
like the perfect girlfriend in mourning but can’t help to feel
relief as a huge weight is lifted off her shoulders. When she thinks
she can get on with her life she receives a mysterious letter in her
locker signed by an “admirer” which has two simple words on
it—“You’re welcome.”
Opinion:
I have to admit that I am torn on this one. It was a fast-paced read
and it certainly had some twists and turns. However, as a lover of
mysteries I didn’t find the twists and turns to be all that fresh.
First of all, the cover is pretty blah. I wish it was more
attractive. I find it not being a good eye catcher to attract teens.
I liked the character of Sawyer. She was well fleshed out and I would
want her as my friend. Even though she is portrayed as this perfect
girl she doesn’t let that go to her head—she knows she isn’t
perfect and wishes that people didn’t see her that way. I am glad
that she does have the courage to leave Kevin instead of sticking
around. She very easily could have been in that car with him the
night he died. She is also sympathetic in the harassment she goes
through at the hands of Kevin’s ex. It’s nice to see that she
does try to be nice to the underdogs. My favorite part most of all
was that her admirer doesn’t just stop at Kevin. For example, when
a teacher makes an inappropriate move toward her he ends up dead from
a peanut allergy. Her admirer is going around killing anyone who
happens to hurt Sawyer. However, the most disappointing part of the
story was who the admirer ended up being. The big reveal happened in
a clichéd R.L. Stine/Christopher Pike moment of suspense—Sawyer is
stuck in her house, she “knows” who her admirer is and fears he
is coming after her next, she calls the cops (but they don’t show),
and she lets the one person she shouldn’t trust into the house with
her upon which this character goes into the typical, “This is why I
did this for you!” speech before the cops finally show up and hull
them off to the loony bin. However, it was a good mystery story
overall and had some great scenes. I know teens I would recommend it
to who will enjoy it.
Thanks
to the people at Sourcebooks for the ARC for the YA Galley Group!
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