Drawing Amanda

Gr 7 Up—The aptly named protagonist Inky Kahn attends an exclusive international prep school in New York City, the perfect setting for a truly diverse set of characters and issues. Introverted and artistic, Inky connects with a game developer online and is given a drawing assignment. The teen uses his crush as the model for the project, not realizing that the site is run by a creepy pedophile. The cool, calm way that the villain uses the virtual game to connect with children over the Internet is especially chilling and disturbing. The main character and his friends use their unique skills to take justice into their own hands. Feuer expertly leads readers into a deep dive through real and raw issues that young adults face: a parent's death, overcoming grief, friendship issues, and Internet security. Although there are heavy concepts throughout the story, the topics are handled in an age appropriate way. Lee's intermittent illustrations help pull readers into Inky's the plight. A debut novelist to watch.—Chad Lane, Easton Elementary, Wye Mills, MD