Clarity

Gr 8 Up—Clarity "Clare" Fern, 16, has a gift, or maybe it's a curse. She sees visions of people's pasts just by touching an object belonging to them. When a teen is murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend asks her to use her talent to help solve the crime. Initially reluctant because of a not-so-pleasant past with him, Clare agrees once she meets Gabriel, the hot son of the new detective working the case. Unfortunately, Gabriel thinks her "gift" is a hoax, and her brother suddenly becomes the prime suspect. When two more bodies surface, Clare has to resort to lying and using people to keep her family safe. Reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark's novels but with teen elements, Clarity is a good mystery with a love triangle thrown in. Numerous characters are introduced, each of whom has a possible motive for committing the crime, and throughout the book, readers will be searching for clues to solve the crime before the end. The suspense begins on the first page as someone is about to kill Clare. Great for kids who love all things paranormal or who just appreciate a good whodunit.—Gina Bowling, South Gibson County High School, Medina, TN