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Leveen, Tom
5 Reviews
(3)
YA
Sixteen-year-old Abby and friends want to learn what happened to their missing parents. The group explores an allegedly haunted Arizona cave and inadvertently unleashes ancient monsters on the world. The teen characters reel with the horror, violence, and gore that follow. Chapters alternate between "Then" and "Now," effectively building tension and mystery surrounding the apocalypse's origins.
Reviewer: Lauren Chambers
(3)
YA
Pelly has struggled with mood swings and anxiety since her best friend was kidnapped six years ago. After Pelly thinks she spots Tara at the coffee shop where she works, few people take Pelly seriously, and even fewer offer to help her find her friend. This tense thriller offers readers a sympathetic portrayal of coping with--and in many ways, transcending--mental illness.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(4)
YA
The night before she stands trial in a cyberbullying case, Tori receives a phone call from a suicidal stranger. Unflappable jock Tori suspects a prank, but latent guilt over her past bullying keeps Tori on the line for a stressful overnight conversation. Tori's struggle with moral accountability is complex and authentic in this tense psychological thriller, but a frantic, moralistic ending is disappointing.
Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald
(3)
YA
"Here's the thing": after high school graduation, Amanda (nicknamed Zero) is at loose ends, struggling with her art, relationships, and low self-esteem. Enter Mike, a musician attracted to her sardonic wit and passion for her work. Can Mike help Zero get out of her own way and follow her dreams? Authentic-sounding characters keep this self-actualization story from feeling stale.
Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer
(3)
YA
Eleven teenagers attending an end-of-school party, each with his or her own reasons and motivations to go, relate their stories. The narrative style is effective in showing that what is on the surface isn't always the whole story. The characters are strongly written, and teens will relate to many of the issues that they face.
Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear
5 reviews
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