Broken
Gr 7 Up—Scarlett Killian has a rare heart condition that is going to kill her. She has spent her entire life at home or in the hospital, but has convinced her overprotective stepmom to allow her to attend high school, even for a short time, just to give her a chance to be a normal kid. She becomes a target of bullying, partly because her mom is a school nurse who overinvolves herself in the students' lives, but she soon starts making friends, first with members of a support group and then with Tony, a boy in biology class. A project in that class involving Scarlett's medical records exposes secrets in her life that draw questions about Nurse Killian and about Scarlett's health. Narrator Amy McFadden is a credible Scarlett and also provides other characters, particularly Nessa and Celina (two members of her support group) and Scarlett's stepmother, with strong characterizations. The story starts somewhat slowly, focusing on Scarlett's symptoms, but once certain plot devices are unveiled, it keeps the listener involved in the action. Give this to your listeners who enjoy thrillers with a little bit of romance.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University--This text refers to theAudio CDedition.