Canadian author Goobie, who has previously delivered twisted fantasy in novels such as Flux (2004) and Fixed (2005), demonstrates her versatility in her third contribution to the Orca Soundings series for reluctant YA readers expanding line of compact paperbacks marked by enticing photographic cover images and swiftly paced, contemporary stories. This one is a loose prequel to one of Goobie's previous entries in the series, Sticks and Stones (2003). Fifteen-year-old Sophie e older friend of Sticks and Stones' protagonist, Jujube lieves she is a "stupid, no good, nothing girl," because why else would her father need to "straighten out her head" through smacks and kicks? Dreading both her dad's retaliation and the stigma of a group home, Sophie guards her dangerous secret until fearless, concerned Jujube intervenes. Experienced readers may find the writing style and problem-driven plot simplistic, but those in the series' target audience will be rewarded with a condensed, strangled gulp of a novel, one capable of conjuring both wrenching suspense and the "soft peace" of hope.

Gr 7 Up-Sophie, 15, comes from an abusive family. Her mother is a depressive alcoholic. Her father appears to be an upstanding member of the community, but in reality he is a savagely violent man. Without any provocation, he has beaten Sophie many times. She has no real friends, her boyfriend has just dumped her, and she is on probation for petty theft. Her only ally is 12-year-old JuJube, her former babysitting charge. After a particularly brutal attack, Sophie is hospitalized and it is JuJube who forces her to tell the truth. The ending is happy yet bittersweet. The novel deals with mature themes in a quick and easy-to-read manner. However, it has all the hallmarks of a message book and is not the most subtle piece of literature. Still, it could help teens with severe issues.-Amy Patrick, New York Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

This latest offering from the Orca Soundings series relates the story of Sophie, a teenager who is verbally and physically abused by her father. Sophie, nicknamed Froggy by her father, believes that if she just works harder at being good and perfect, her father will stop abusing her. She clings to this belief even though her friends, neighbors, teachers, and a social worker are urging her to tell the truth about her family situation. Finally an explosive confrontation with her controlling father brings Sophie to the point where she must make a choice between continuing to lie and risking further injuries or telling the truth and facing the breakup of her family. The continuing appeal of this series is how the books deal with serious topics in a fast, easy-to-read style ideal for reluctant readers. This book follows suit, although the narrative is occasionally didactic and the plot centering on Sophie's friend Jujube's alien obsession seems a little contrived. Despite these problems, Sophie's fear and self-doubt are believable and teens will sympathize with her plight. School and public libraries with large reluctant reader populations will want it for their collections.-Brenna Shanks.