Gr 9 Up-At first, Exposed reads like many other realistic novels-in-verse. A teen with slightly clich&3;d phrasings effuses about her lifelong best friend, school, dreams for the future, and boyfriend. When Liz and Kate have a tiff during their oh-so-cute monthly sleepover, it seems as if a predictable narrative is about to unfold. Liz, an aspiring photographer in a solid relationship, cannot understand why Kate, a dancer, doesn't plan to pursue her art professionally and why she stays in a one-sided relationship. In the days following the argument, Kate ignores Liz as if she's a stranger. Soon, however, readers learn of a darker plot twist that caused what may have at first appeared to be the beginning of a childish spat. When it turns out that Liz's brother, home from college, raped Kate as she slept downstairs after their fight, Liz's entire world starts to unravel. Nothing that happens after this realization feels contrived; it's just devastating. There are no neatly folded edges. The narrative largely zooms in on Liz's pain and her struggle to ground herself in her photography and gain admission to art school as events swirl around her. As a result of tethering the narrative to Liz's perspective, the ongoing discussion of Kate's rape and ensuing trial are not heavy-handed or gratuitous. In Liz, Marcus has created a sympathetic lead. A worthy addition to any collection. Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT

In accessibly poetic free verse, a Cape Cod teen haltingly relates how her brother's violent act changes things. Liz's artistic photos feature her "forever-best friend" Kate, a dancer. They share childhood history and fond nicknames; Kate is Lizzie's emotional core. At a sleepover, they quarrel: Liz insists Kate major in dance in college, insults Kate's boyfriend and storms upstairs. Later that night, Liz's brother finds Kate alone downstairs and rapes her. Although Mike claims it was "just sex," this isn't a who's-telling-the-truth poser—not quite. Liz eventually believes Kate, but she can't offer much to Kate verbally, and Kate can't bear to see her anyway. Liz is frozen, stung by family upheaval and the loss of Kate, which "eats away at me / like a dirty old gull / picking at fresh prey." Liz never places Kate's trauma ahead of her own, which feels as realistically distressing as the ending's lack of reconciliation and the lives capsized by an unrepentant sibling. Well-honed. (Fiction. 14 & up) 

Liz and Kate are forever-best friends preparing for the next chapter: college. There's no doubting Liz's major otography t she is frustrated with Kate's refusal to pursue her dream of dancing. It's partly this disagreement that leads to a fight during their monthly sleepover, after which Kate refuses to speak to Liz. Soon the secret of that night comes out: Kate was raped by Liz's brother. At least that's what she says z's brother's denial sounds just as credible. Marcus, a writer without a melodramatic bone in her body, handles the plot with utmost naturalism: once spoken, the accusation splinters alliances among Liz's friends and family, and the courtroom conclusion is wonderfully devoid of theatrics. The novel is written in free-verse poetry (My mother has pinned / all her hopes on me. / And I can't pull out / the pins), though it's unclear why, other than that the book would struggle to reach novel length using standard paragraphs. The upside is that it reads in a single sitting and whets the appetite for whatever Marcus does next.

This provocative first novel, told in free-verse poems, offers a nuanced view of the ramifications of a rape, as seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Liz, an avid photographer. Marcus captures Liz's divided allegiances between the accused%E2%80%94her brother, a college student with whom Liz has an ambivalent but loving relationship%E2%80%94and her best friend, Kate, the victim (""My brother is a track star./ My brother is a partier.... My brother/ is not/ a rapist""). The stages of grief are well developed, as Liz negotiates the social consequences of the alleged rape, the loss of Kate as a friend, and her guilt for leaving Kate alone after a fight at a sleepover. In one poem, ""Distraction,"" Liz claims to accept the loss, but says, ""And except for a few times/ every few minutes,/ I hardly think about Kate/ at all."" Liz's relationships with her parents and peers offer poignant moments, such as when she lies to protect her mother from the rumors she hears at school. Marcus presents a thought-provoking portrait of rape and its irreparable impact on victim and community. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. (Feb.)

Liz can't figure out why her "forever-best friend" Kate is avoiding her. Slowly and skillfully, through prose poems, Kate's secret is revealed: Liz's brother raped her. When Liz confronts him, he denies it. Who is she to believe? By giving Liz a voice that's expressive yet down-to-earth, Marcus keeps the drama from skittering into Lifetime TV territory and avoids a quick-fix ending.