The Innocents

Gr 9 Up—Sisters Alice and Charlie Flaherty's lives are turned upside down when their mother suddenly marries millionaire Richard Flood. They find themselves uprooted from their home to the luxurious town of Serenity Point. There, they quickly learn the rules for survival. They also learn that with privilege comes a wealth of secrets shrouded in mysteries. For instance, what would make Richard's daughter, a girl who had everything, want to take her own life? And are Richard and their mother being truthful about when they actually began dating? The characters are by and large clichés: Alice is the eldest daughter and therefore intelligent and shy. Charlie is younger and more carefree. The rest of the teenage supporting characters are mainly shallow and indulgent, with the occasional glimmer of depth. While Peloquin's writing style is mainly solid, at times the plot takes a turn into the melodramatic. The abrupt ending is a bit jarring until readers realize that this is the first book in the series. Fans of the decadence of Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" series (Little, Brown) and Sara Shepard's "Pretty Little Liars" series (HarperCollins) will enjoy this read.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH