Mailee has a solid plan for her future: graduate high school; go to college with her best friend, Cara; and become a famous actress, with Cara working behind the scenes. But Cara started to drift away after her sister died, and she becomes even more distant as she becomes fascinated with Haven, an off-the-grid commune in the Montana mountains, run by a handsome, charismatic older man. Mailee trusts Cara implicitly, so at first, she tries to get on board with Cara's interest in Haven, but when Cara starts spending even more time there, Mailee worries she's losing her friend for good. The story gets off to a sluggish start, especially because it's fairly obvious what's going on at Haven, and some readers might be frustrated that Mailee doesn't trust her instincts more. Once Mailee and Cara find themselves in real danger, however, the suspense picks up considerably, and Ward employs some spot-on horror conventions to add a sense of dread. Light psychological thrills are grounded by a realistic story of a friendship in flux.

Best friends Mailee and Cara's bond is tested when Cara becomes enthralled with a charismatic cult leader the summer before their senior year. Disorganized Mailee has always depended on Cara's focus to make their future dreams of working in show business come true. So she's stunned when Cara decides to turn her life over to Firehorse, the alluring leader of the Haven, a small commune in the wilderness near their Montana home. Cara's been in mourning since her younger sister, Harper, died in a car accident and is initially attracted to Haven after a chance meeting with Avalon, a little girl who lives there. But Mailee is troubled by the commune's lack of basic resources and the small concrete prison she discovers on its outskirts. When Cara invites Mailee to a Haven "harvest celebration" that will culminate in her initiation into the commune, Mailee tries to free her friend—an attempt that nearly ends in tragedy. Though the plot is predictable and the climax preposterous, Mailee's extensive research into the veracity of Firehorse's anti-government rants is a well-timed nod to current "fake news" controversies. Mailee and Cara are white, Mailee's boyfriend, Gavin, is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe, and secondary character Brigit is black. Title aside, a good place for young fans of Lois Duncan and Christopher Pike. (Fiction. 12-15)

Gr 8 Up-his novel tackles important issues of manipulation and safety with a fast-paced story that could be ripped from the headlines. Cara has been organizing Mailee's life since middle school, when she created their Book of Life Goals. Now it's the summer before senior year, and Mailee isn't sure why things are changing. When Mailee and Cara get an unexpected invitation to visit The Haven, a commune in the mountains, Cara is determined to go. The road up the mountain is treacherous, and Mailee wonders if this was such a good idea. When they finally arrive, the leader of the group, Firehorse, comes out to welcome them, except Mailee doesn't feel welcome at all. Firehorse lets Mailee know he doesn't appreciate her aura of skepticism. Cara enjoys being in nature, listening to Firehorse, and the company of the "Colonists" who live at the Haven. She gets more involved with the commune and pulls away from her old friends and interests. When Cara invites Mailee to her initiation ceremony to join the group, Mailee has to decide how far she is willing to go to support a friend. A too-tidy ending strains credulity, but this plot will keep readers turning pages until the end. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries with a demand for realistic fiction.Carly Wiggins Searcy, McNeese State University, LA