Solitary

Gr 8 Up—After Chris's parents' divorce, he and his mother move back to her childhood hometown of Solitary, North Carolina. School bullies, a beautiful girl named Jocelyn, and being the new kid make up his new school experience. Chris's new home is located a distance from the town and, without a driver's license, he must depend on his mother or his bicycle for transportation. Due to financial circumstances, he has no Internet connection or cell phone. His mother is drinking heavily and spends most of her time grieving the loss of her marriage. All of these circumstances result in Chris's solitary existence. He wanders the surrounding woods and stumbles into an old cabin with a trap door that leads to a mysterious room underneath. The attraction between Chris and Jocelyn is the only bright spot in his life. Jocelyn is a loner and, as they get to know each other, he learns that she has many secrets. As she reveals them to him, life becomes more complicated and dangerous for them. Solitary is a place that neither welcomes strangers nor tolerates questions. Kirby Heyborne authentically voices the young adult characters in Travis Thrasher's novel (David C. Cook, 2010). Although this is a compelling listen, even with foreshadowing, the abrupt and traumatic ending is shocking. Listeners may find this a less than satisfying conclusion to the first book in the series.—Jeana Actkinson, Educational Service Center Region XI, Ft. Worth, TX