Unbreakable

Gr 8 Up—Janelle faced the very real possibility of the world ending in Unraveling (HarperCollins, 2012). Now, even though that didn't happen, she has to deal with drastic changes in her life. Her parents are both dead, as is her best friend. She and her brother are living with Struz, her dad's former coworker and trusted family friend; Ben, the guy she loves, has returned to his own world; the planet is in ruins and there are precious few supplies; and people keep disappearing at an alarming rate. But Janelle is able to keep herself together, until her closest remaining friend disappears. At the same time, Taylor Barclay, Interverse Agent, appears on the scene to enlist her help in clearing Ben's name in relation to a crime she is certain he couldn't have committed, while Ben and his family and friends are being held in prison. The pressure is on as Janelle knows she cannot refuse to help him, yet failure in her mission will mean certain death, leaving her brother alone back home. With plenty more interverse travel and intrigue, this novel keeps up the fast pace of the first, while delivering similar suspense. Some repetition of dialogue, especially at the beginning of the story, is a distraction, and characterization is uneven but shines at times. Overall, the plotting and action will please returning fans, and readers starting with this book will quickly turn to the first one to see what they missed.—Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ