Count All Her Bones

Gr 7 Up—This novel picks up a few months after Girl, Stolen left off. Having survived her kidnapping, Cheyenne is back at home, trying to reestablish her life but chafing under the increased security put in place by her father and stepmother. She hasn't spoken to Griffin, her erstwhile, accidental kidnapper and love interest, but can't seem to get him out of her head, and not just because she's preparing to testify against his father, Roy, in his upcoming trial. Griffin is planning on testifying, too, and inevitably the two are thrown back together as Roy plots to keep both of them out of the courtroom. This book offers the same suspense and tightly paced action as its predecessor. Told from alternating viewpoints—which begin to feel a bit clunky and random at times—this work gives much attention to the survival training Cheyenne (who is blind) has received since returning from her first ordeal; these details make her a strong protagonist and help build up to the action-packed climax. Griffin, who is dealing with testifying against his father as well as the death of his mother, receives a less thorough treatment.