Abandon

Gr 7 Up—Pierce Oliviera, 17, knows what it is like to die—and she also knows what it is like to come back from the dead. After two years, she's still trying to recover from her near death experience after she almost drowned. While she was in the hereafter she met John, who gave her a necklace to keep her safe from evil. When the teen and her mother move back to Isla Huesos (The Island of Bones), Florida, where her mother grew up, Pierce thinks she can put her life back together and maybe be free of John, who shows up when she is in trouble. John is not the only problem Pierce faces, and she may not be able to protect those she holds dear. Meg Cabot's (Scholastic, 2011) dark, suspenseful twist on the Persephone and Hades myth ends as a cliffhanger and will leave listeners eagerly awaiting the next installment. Natalia Payne captures Pierce's innocent yet tough demeanor and her haunting tone draws listeners in until the very end. For those who enjoy fantasy, Greek myth, light romance, and a little edge to their characters.—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY