In his engrossing debut novel set in a futuristic world, Dan Krokos zeroes in on four teens trying to determine their own futures while they remain unsure of their past.
When 17-year-old Miranda North wakes up in a mall, she knows only two things about herself: her age and her name. She asks a mall security guard for help, and he thinks she's messing with him. When he places a hand on her shoulder, her martial arts instincts kick in. Miranda flips the cop onto his back, and the mall's patrons begin a fatal stampede.
Krokos successfully places us in Miranda's shoes. As readers, we know only what Miranda tells us, and she knows only what other people tell her. Peter, the last person left in the mall after the mass exodus, explains to Miranda that when she felt threatened, she "released a burst of psychic energy" that affected the mall patrons, energy that she could control before her memory loss. Peter and Miranda are part of a foursome who've grown up together, along with Noah and Olive. They learn of a renegade named Rhys, who could hold the key to whoever is controlling their minds and why.
Through Miranda, Krokos emphasizes one of life's great truths: that we cannot change the past; all we have are the choices we make as we move forward. He brings this gripping launch to his trilogy to a solid conclusion, but also raises a cliffhanger question that will ensure readers' return. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness