Steve is accused of being an accomplice in the robbery and murder of a drug store owner. In a riveting novel from Myers (At Her Majesty’s Request, 1999, etc.), a teenager who dreams of being a filmmaker writes the story of his trial for felony murder in the form of a movie script, with journal entries after each day’s action. Despite this, potential romance between Laurel and Jasper is superbly understated, and the ending even teases a sequel.Ī fresh, enthusiastic, and wholly satisfying take on a familiar subgenre. There are perhaps a few too many references to Jasper’s “incredible” green eyes or Ivy’s beauty. The narrative playfully reveals supertalents one at a time while the greatest mystery is who the demon-esque Druj will inhabit, if it hasn’t already done so. Similarly, Laurel’s first-person voice intermittently gives way to perspective from Peyton and Mei, providing both with much-needed sympathy. Jasper can’t be one of the select four since his power, as he enigmatically states, has caused harm. Supernatural teens in literature are old hat, but Echlin and Watrous inject their novel with zeal and ingenuity. Unfortunately, two possibilities are Cascade’s resident mean girls, Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, who may be disinclined to help if for no other reason than spite. According to an ancient prophecy, an evil force called Druj will rise during a lunar eclipse unless four people with special powers unite. This validates Laurel’s ominous dream in which Ivy displays her power-as a masked man’s kidnapping victim. He’s been “tutoring” her, and Laurel’s shocked to learn both Ivy and Jasper have special abilities. Ivy’s friends haven’t seen her, and hunky new kid in school, Jasper Blake, is also looking for her. She and mom Sheila, however, are reluctant to involve authorities, fearing Child Protective Services will reopen Sheila’s old negligence case and split the family apart. Ivy’s note still leaves Laurel anxious since the handwriting doesn’t quite match her sister’s.

Laurel Goodwin gets worried when she awakens one morning and sees big sis and bestie Ivy isn’t in their Airstream trailer in Cascade, Oregon.

Teens with newfound powers may be the only ones who can stop an ancient evil from rising in Echlin ( Gone, 2002) and Watrous’ ( If You Follow Me, 2010) supernatural mystery.

If you follow me by malena watrous