High school freshman Cara has been suffering from a severe, debilitating chronic illness since third grade.She's missed so much school that she's way behind and struggling to catch up. Her seemingly caring mother, Shaylene, records videos for her social media channel that not only offer detailed information about Cara's health struggles, but recently have been used to raise large amounts of crowdsourced money to-supposedly-pay for specialized health care. Now Dr. Eric, a new medical professional, has come on the scene with a different, even more intrusive care plan. After Cara is befriended by Xavier, a clever classmate afflicted with sickle cell anemia, she discovers that her mother is monitoring their text messages. Xavier's belief that Shaylene is inappropriately interfering and controlling inspires Cara to take a fresh look at her relationship with her mother-and the care she provides. Although there are tiny hints that Cara's mother has a frightening role in her illness, Xavier is the one who suggests the possibility of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Cara decides to test that possibility, leading to a breathlessly scary confrontation and a satisfying affirmation of her unbroken spirit and emerging maturity. Characters are believably depicted, although Shaylene's downward evolution, under Dr. Eric's guidance, is perhaps a bit too facile. Most main characters are White; Xavier is African American.Chilling and mostly frightfully believable. (Thriller. 12-15)

Gr 7 Up-Fourteen-year-old Cara Wakely has been sick her entire life and has a rare autoimmune disease that prevents her from having a typical teenage lifegoing to school, going to parties, even having any friends. Her mother Shaylene, who is her only semblance of a friend, is at her beck and call. Shaylene has all the notes, medications, prescriptions, and according to herself, qualifications to provide at-home care for Cara. As Cara grows up, her absences in school become an issue, and she and her mother are faced with backlash and accusations regarding Cara's illness. Begrudgingly, Shaylene accepts Cara's requests for a tutor. Xavier, aka Science Kid, aids Cara with her schoolwork, and with tools to understand what her sickness really might be and how to advocate for herself. Readers are taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, where feelings of sympathy are mixed with mystery and intrigue into how Cara's life has turned out the way it has. Corrigan's prose seamlessly creates a feeling of unease in readers, without a way to pinpoint its source, and she paints credible, deep, and complex characters. The book feels as real as the news story it echoes, and the tension is palpable to the very end. Cara is white and Xavier is Black. VERDICT Recommend to readers who enjoyed Nicola Yoon's Everything, Everything , Veronica Roth's Carve the Mark , and Rachael Lippincott's Five Feet Apart , or those who like to read fiction based on true accounts. Cat Miserendino, Meadowdale Lib., North Chesterfield, VA