Sanctuary (1-800-Where-R-You)
Grade 7 Up-Sixteen-year-old Jessica Mastriani, nicknamed "Lightning Girl" because of her ability to locate missing people after being struck by lightning, has an uneasy feeling when the doorbell rings on Thanksgiving Day. At the door is her new neighbor, one of the few African Americans in town, Dr. Thompkins, looking for his missing son. Later that night, Nate's body is discovered in a cornfield with a strange symbol on his chest. Then Seth, a Jewish boy, goes missing on the same day a synagogue is burned and the cemetery next door is defaced with swastikas and the same symbol found on Nate's body. It turns out that a local white-supremacist militia is responsible, the same group that is holding Seth hostage. After a police rescue attempt fails, Jessica decides that she is the only one who can save him. The story starts out believably, but it becomes quite far-fetched toward the end. However, Jessica is a strong female character with a voice true to that of a modern teenager. She tries to fit in with the "normal" kids, but her extraordinary power keeps her on the fringes of the in-crowd. Although this is the fourth in a series, the book can stand alone and is sure to be popular with readers looking for a quick thriller.Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NYCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.