What is supposed to be an intervention program for troubled teens goes awry.After Alice (a white teen) has a couple of beers too many at a party and Caleb (a dark-skinned teen) beats up his abusive stepfather, the two find themselves en route to a private island for a weeklong intervention program with six other "troubled" teens. Day 1 goes as expected with group therapy and a cleansing ritual, but things quickly take a turn on Day 2 when one of the teens goes missing and the adults refuse to radio for help. By Day 3, one of the three program leaders is dead and the other two are no help. With the discovery of a sabotaged kayak and a broken radio, Alice, Caleb, and the others realize they are stranded. As suspicion and terror take hold, the teens must work together to stay alive and find a way off the island. Told from the alternating perspectives of Alice and Caleb, the novel is full of sudden, unexpected twists that feel forced and unbelievable, driving the plot obviously rather than organically. Similarly, while the characterization of the teens attempts to defy stereotypes, readers never really get the chance to know them beyond the surface. This fast-paced adventure misses the mark with a bland narrative and equally bland characters. (Adventure. 12-16)

Gr 9 Up- compulsively readable tale about a group of teens struggling to cope with their troubled lives and prevent their bloody deaths at the hands of a murderer. Alice, small but fierce, is the daughter of a cop and was caught drinking underage. Caleb, of the tall, dark, and handsome persuasion, has been labeled violent after attacking his stepdad, who was beating Caleb's mother. Thrown together with a small group of other misunderstood misfits, they must survive a weeklong psychological rehabilitation camp on a remote island, trapped with a serial killer bent on picking them off one by one. While this is not exactly a slasher novel, fans of Friday the 13th would feel right at home in the tale's camp, as the authors adeptly establish an enjoyably eerie, uncomfortable tone from the very start. Sensitive topics, such as teen suicide and statutory rape, are touched upon but are mostly discussed within the realm of group therapy sessions, which grounds them. The authors alternate points of view between the two protagonists, which heightens each narrative by providing insight into the characters' reactions and motives, while simultaneously raising questions as to their reliability. VERDICT Wickedly fun and fresh, this fast read is highly recommended for those who can't get enough of dark mysteries, lovers of illicit romance, and anyone who appreciates creepy camp stories.Emily Grace Le May, Providence Community Library