Smart, punchy teen dialogue; a strong African American protagonist; and non-stop twists and turns make this mystery pop.
Conspiracy theorists and thriller fans alike will be guessing right up to the end of this exciting debut.
12/16/2013
This engrossing thriller blends gritty crime storytelling with solid, realistic family drama. "Nick" and his family are in the Witness Protection Program, due to his father's past association with a dangerous crime boss. However, they are continually forced to move and switch identities because of Nick's father's continued criminal ventures. Nick worries that another move will destroy the renewed sense of possibility that he's found through his job on the school paper, his friend Eli, and Eli's attractive sister, Reya. That's before he finds Eli's body and begins to suspect that Eli's death isn't the suicide it's made out to be. Nick's attempts to investigate lead to revelations about the town, his friends, and his family. Giles ably handles multiple themes, not shying away from the racial tension that exists in the small southern town (Nick is African-American, and Eli and Reya are Latino), while avoiding making it a primary focus. This mature crime story expands beyond high school walls to address the challenges of maintaining meaningful relationships and the cost of loyalty. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Jan.)
Fast action, judicious plot twists, and sufficiently evil teens and adults should keep thrill-seeking readers awake long into the night. ” — Kirkus Reviews
“[An] engrossing thriller.” — Publishers Weekly
“Conspiracy theorists and thriller fans alike will be guessing right up to the end of this exciting debut.” — Booklist
“Smart, punchy teen dialogue; a strong African American protagonist; and non-stop twists and turns make this mystery pop.” — The Horn Book
03/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Nick Pearson's real name is Tony Bordeaux. A high schooler in Witness Protection, this is the fourth new identity and home for Nick in the last few years. It's all because his father keeps falling into his old criminal habits. Despite this, Nick is trying his best to fit into his new life and school in Stepton, Georgia. He befriends his student guide, an eccentric aspiring journalist named Eli Cruz. As Eli attempts to persuade him to join the school paper, the reporter alludes to shady dealings and sinister happenings going on in Stepton, including something called "Whispertown." Unexpectedly, Nick finds Eli dead one morning. The police rule his death a suicide, but Nick and Eli's sister Reya suspect that he may have uncovered something that he shouldn't have. As evidence mounts, the protagonist begins to connect all the disparate events, culminating in deadly consequences. Giles's action-packed debut will have teens on the edge of their seats as they follow Nick's journey to discover the secrets of Whispertown and his attempt to uncover why his friend was killed. Teen readers will especially relate to the likable everyman and African American main character. His burgeoning relationship with Reya, despite being grounded in tragedy, is one of the more charming aspects of the plot. A twist reveal at the novel's climax will shock many and will leave fans of mystery and suspense books extremely satisfied.—Ryan P. Donovan, New York Public Library
2013-10-20
It's not easy being a teen. But what if that fake ID in your pocket isn't just a convenient way to score beer; it's your key to survival in a witness protection program? Nick has a true identity crisis: His father's past as bookkeeper to a mob figure has placed the family in WitSec. Now, Dad's reluctance to stay firmly on the side of the law is again an issue, Mom is running out of patience, and Nick (aka Steven/Logan/Tyler/Tony) is once again struggling to fit in without standing out. When new friend Eli, editor and lead investigator for the school newspaper, mentions "Whispertown," he's soon dead. Suicide? Not according to Eli's superhot cheerleader sister, who goads Nick to action. A mysterious car accident and explosion; a solo, scary ride with the mayor; bullying; local criminals, sketchy adult figures galore--all find a place in this mystery/thriller. Nick is an engaging protagonist caught among parents, cliques, and worlds both legal and not so much. Quick-witted and just street-wise enough, he is a survivor and as narrator, offers readers believable teen conversation and interactions, including the contemporary world of text messaging. Fast action, judicious plot twists, and sufficiently evil teens and adults should keep thrill-seeking readers awake long into the night. (Thriller. 13-18)
