So many of my students were hooked on Stolarz's Blue is for Nightmares series (ps-Black is for Beginnings is to be released in September in graphic novel format), so I was thrilled when she released this book. It is the first in a new series, with the second book to be released November 10. Laurie apparently has more hours in her day than the rest of us.
Although I was annoyed by the first chapter, I grew to really love this book. To sum up chapter one, our main character, Camelia, drops her earring as she walks across the parking lot of her high school. A car comes racing towards her, but she is suddenly shoved out of the way by a mystery boy. The real mystery begins when the boy places his hand on Camelia's stomach. An almost electric shock passes between them, and his face grows serious as he seems to be "connecting" with her in some way. This introduction seemed just a little too familiar to me (can I get an "Amen!" Twilight folks?), and although the supernatural comes into play the text remained vampire free.
Camelia soon learns that her mystery savior is Ben Carter, a new student with a serious past. In his old hometown, he was rumored to be responsible for the death of his girlfriend who fell to her death from a cliff. Although the charges were dropped, the consensus of most is that he was guilty. Against the advice of her two best friends, Camelia can't help but to be intrigued by Ben, and consequently pursues him.
A second plot line is created as we learn someone is stalking Camelia. She begins receiving various gifts with notes that grow increasingly threatening. At one point she even comes home to discover someone has broken into her room and scrawled a horrible message on her mirror. As a reader I had several suspects (including Ben) in mind until the very end.
I enjoyed the author's use of alternating perspectives. Some chapters are told from Camelia's first person accounts, while others are from the creepy journal of her stalker. Through these journals we realize just how crazy this stalker is, and just how much danger Camelia faces.
Readers who have enjoyed Twilight, Blue is for Nightmares, or any teen suspense book/movie should pick up this book! It is a fast read that will leave you wanting the second book now!
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