The Revenge

Gr 9 Up—A riveting account of a staged kidnapping gone horribly wrong and the potential dangers of the relentless pursuit of fame. Tony is an average high school nobody, and that's exactly what pretty, popular local celebrity Hope likes about him. After Tony unexpectedly ends the relationship, however, Hope decides to exact her revenge by staging her own kidnapping and pinning the blame on him. Tucked away in a cabin in the woods, Hope is soon fighting for her life after her plan goes awry. Meanwhile, Tony battles against the press, the police, Hope's parents, and his own suspicions in an attempt to learn the truth and find Hope. Jayne crafts two perfectly imperfect protagonists and one of the most chilling psychological villains of the year. Chapters alternate between Tony and Hope, with the first few focusing on Tony's flawed and frustrating struggle to determine Hope's whereabouts. Hope's resourcefulness and drive to survive are extraordinarily compelling, even in the face of her selfishness, and her adrenaline-infused sections fly by. The ending feels somewhat rushed and offers no real resolution but is realistic.