Stolen by Lucy Christopher

The Blurb On The Back:

It happened like this.

I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him. This is my story.

A story from nowhere.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

A stunning psychological thriller that avoids easy answers, this is a page-turning must-read.

Rebel by R. J. Anderson

The Blurb On The Back:

No ordinary fairytale ...

Linden’s cage glowed with fiery heat, burning her fingers when she tried to cling to the bars. She fluttered helplessly in mid-air, wing muscles aching with the effort, knowing that she couldn’t hover much longer before her strength gave out – and that the moment it did, she would die ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Given how good Knife was, it was perhaps inevitable that REBEL would fail to meet expectations. The slightly uneven tone and a main character I found difficult to sympathise with prevented me from fully engaging. That said, the political complexities and a promise of darker and troubled times to come is one I look forward to with relish.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Blurb On The Back:

You can’t stop the future.
You can’t rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret ... is to press play.

Clay Jensen returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker – his classmate and first love – who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

Hannah’s voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.

All through the night, Clay keeps listening – and what he discovers changes his life ...

Forever.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This is a powerful novel that takes an unflinching look at teenage suicide. It’s a difficult, but ultimately rewarding read and one that continues to resonate with you long after you’ve finished.