Don't You Trust Me

Gr 7 Up—Morgan is trying to escape her irritating life by going to a boarding school for troubled teens. She meets Janelle, who is resisting her parents' attempts to separate her from her older boyfriend. Morgan convinces Janelle to change places, and once at school, Morgan assumes Janelle's place. She has no conscience and no fear, skimming money from charitable donations collected during her service hours at school, stealing from Janelle's relatives and their housekeeper, and compulsively lying. Everything Morgan does is for her own benefit. Even at the end, when she is finally in therapy, she continues to scheme. Carr provides an excellent voice for Morgan—sultry with a creepy edge—as well as for all the other characters in this gripping if somewhat incredible tale. Her depiction of whining teens and concerned adults rings true, too. This novel will hook readers from the start.