Seventeen-year-old Ava wants you to know that the rape she endured at age nine doesn't define her actions: "I have damage, you have damage. Nobody knows what they're doing while they're doing it." Yet as she tells the story of the winter night she finds a body in the woods, it's clear that Ava's carefully structured life has helped her hide her PTSD, rather than confront it. Instead of calling the police, Ava decides to protect the body, a young woman, from further humiliation, eventually investigating the murder with the victim's online friend Nick. These thriller elements play out the backdrop of Ava's enclosed, predictable life uttling between school and home, between her overprotective mother and her sole friend, Syd it starts to change and expand, especially as Ava falls for Hailey, the daughter of the policeman who handled her assault case. Mitchell mixes contemporary drama e joy of first love, the pain of breaking friendships th psychological thriller in this insightful, cathartic read. A moving author's note and contact information for sexual assault helplines are included.

Gr 9 Up-In Mitchell's latest teen thriller, secrets don't stay buried for long, and the things we do in the dark aren't hidden forever. For years, Ava has struggled with the aftereffects of being sexually assaulted, including a scar on her face that reminds her of it daily. When Ava unexpectedly stumbles upon a secret no one was meant to find in the woods, she has to decide what to do. A part of her knows the right thing is to tell an adult or the police, but the burdens of her own past beg her to keep the secret. An outstanding thriller concept and mystery plot will grab readers who love writing that is dark and emotional, and Ava's internal struggles are authentic and heartfelt. This haunting and mysterious story will keep readers guessing until the final chapters. VERDICT Teens who enjoyed Courtney Summers's Sadie or Kathleen Glasgow's Girl in Pieces will be invested. A standout choice for high school libraries where these titles circulate well. Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL