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Description
On the anniversary of his older sister's murder, Leo, tormented by his mother's insane accusations and his own walking nightmares, kidnaps a wealthy girl intending to kill her, but instead their long night together helps them both face their futures.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a quick YA read that will stick with you long after you finish, this one's surprisingly powerful. Leo is a guy barely holding it together his sister was murdered a year ago, his mom is falling apart, and he's having terrifying nightmares so when he grabs a wealthy girl named Bree, he fully intends to kill her, but what actually happens is way more interesting than that. The two of them end up spending one intense, sleepless night together, and through their conversations you realize they're both carrying more weight than anyone their age should have to bear. Wittlinger does a fantastic job making you care about both characters despite the dark setup, and the ending feels earned without being preachy or too neat. It's perfect for teens who like character-driven stories with real tension, and at around 26,000 words, even reluctant readers can power through it in a sitting or two. Parents should know this deals with grief, murder, and kidnapping, but it's handled thoughtfully and ultimately leans hopeful rather than bleak think of it as a book about healing more than one about violence. If you've ever read something like Hush by Jacqueline Woodson or enjoy stories where unlikely pairs have to actually talk to each other, you'll probably love this one.