Oxblood

Gr 9 Up—Victoria Asher is a clever young teen living in a way too small and mundane world. Her life is pretty ordinary, until one day some remarkable occurrences change everything. Vic struggles daily with the death of her parents. It doesn't help that her brother is halfway around the globe trying to find his path. She loves him and wants him to follow his dream, but when she receives a mysterious package from him with a foreboding message, she knows something is wrong. The teen takes it upon herself to locate her only remaining relative. As she follows the clues that he has left for her, she begins to unearth secrets that her brother never told her. Vic has been dealt a hard hand in life, but she doesn't let that get her down. Even as she comes across more and more bad news, the young woman decides to embark on an incredible journey away from her ordinary life in order to track down her brother. While on this journey, she learns her true purpose. This book is slightly verbose for reluctant readers, but the story is heavily plot driven and exciting for anyone looking for a good mystery thriller.