Unraveling

"<i>Unraveling</i> was an action-packed joyride of a book. Elizabeth Norris said in an interview that she wrote the book she wanted to read. I think a big chunk of the young adult audience will concur — this is a novel they want to read. Although I don’t think such a thing exists, I would say that <i>Unraveling</i> reads like a good science-fiction, FBI thriller, time-bending, heart-pounding, high-stakes teen movie peppered with family drama and romance. If that makes it sound like way too much is going on, I apologize, because Norris manages to pull it off.<br/><br/>It all starts with an unassuming teen girl hit by a pickup on the side of the road. She knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that she died that day, and that a guy from her high school she’s never paid much attention to somehow brought her to life. But no one will listen to her. Who would? It’s such a crazy notion she’s sometimes not sure she believes it herself. But then other very strange things keep happening around her. Her father, an FBI agent, is stressed about a case that (upon further snooping) may somehow be related to her revival. And then there’s the clock — counting down until what could very well be the end of Janelle’s world.<br/><br/>I found the story to be really engrossing. Norris’ writing is engaging and keeps you turning the pages to see what can possibly happen next. The characters are great. I love the heroine, Janelle, and her relationships with the people around her are believable and relatable. The depth of her friendship with Alex is inspiring and you warm up to the romance with Ben even if you’re initially not so sure about the prospect. The action keeps your heart pounding and the mystery keeps you guessing until the end. The mind-blowing sci-fi twist leaves open many possibilities for the sequel.<br/><br/>Science fiction and thriller fans should definitely pick this up. I look forward to seeing where Norris takes us with <i>Unbreakable</i> in April!"