Out of the fire

Gr 9 Up--A twisty revenge tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Five months ago, Cass Adams was kidnapped. Although she escaped, Cass is forced to relive that trauma each time she receives a pink envelope, letting her know the kidnapper is still there, still watching, still able to reach her in places that should be safe. After her kidnapping, Cass withdrew from all of the positive things in her life, but now she's ready to reclaim her freedom. She isn't the only one who has suffered at the hands of a man, and she teams up with three friends to enact revenge on those who wronged them--an abusive stepfather, a blackmailing boyfriend, a racist teacher, and the kidnapper. But as the four girls become embroiled in their plans for vengeance, each detail they uncover complicates things, and Cass's quest for the truth about what really happened to her has deadly consequences. This darkly feminist thriller hooks readers from the very beginning, balancing action and information as readers are introduced to each character and the groundwork is laid for the girls' revenge. Things quickly ramp up into an action-packed, fast-paced thriller full of twists and turns. Although things can get a bit confusing toward the end as readers must keep track of all the new information about the kidnapping plot and the many people involved, the story does reach a satisfying and unexpected conclusion. VERDICT An excellent addition to teen and high school collections; hand this to readers who enjoy revenge stories like Gretchen McNeil's Get Even, Dana Mele's People Like Us, or Hannah Capin's Foul Is Fair.--Alison Glass, the Anton Bruckner International Sch. Linz, Austria

Girls failed by authorities take justice into their own hands--if only Cass knew whom to take vengeance on. Five months after escaping an abduction attempt, Cass' life is still held captive thanks to mysterious letters from her attacker, letters that demonstrate he can get to her at any time. After the victim-blaming and doubts she faced from the police after the attack, she gives up and suffers in silence until realizing that other girls around her have been abandoned to face their own demons. Margot was pressured into a more physical relationship than she was ready for and is now being blackmailed with photographic proof of it. Ori wants to take down a racist teacher who thus far has been shielded by powerful connections. Nomi wants to prevent her abusive former stepfather from hurting anyone else. The four come together in a revenge pact, becoming "dangerous girls" in order to scheme against their abusers and hunt down Cass' stalker. While the plots against the known antagonists are straightforward if risky, the larger storyline centers on untangling Cass' mystery. It's a twisted, convoluted whodunit with unexpected connections--at times, readers might question motives, but the dangerous situations and fast pace help keep things moving as Cass and her friends continue playing with fire while doing their best to avoid lasting consequences. Ori's Black; Nomi's Japanese American; other main characters are White. An alternately poignant and action-packed revenge fantasy. (Thriller. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.