Frayed

Gr 9 Up—Gripping, raw, and intriguing, this is a story about a girl who has suppressed her childhood memories so far back in the recesses of her mind that these experiences begin to take on a life of their own and eventually evoke bigger problems as a result. Ava Hale is writing a letter to her dead sister Kesley as part of her grief therapy. Ava feels broken after her sister's murder, and she is determined to find the killer. Her life becomes consumed with tracking down the person responsible. The teen learns things about her sister, her mother, her friends, and herself, and everything begins to unravel. Told through the protagonist's first-person narration and in letters to Kesley, this psychological thriller will keep readers engaged. This is a plot-driven, suspense-filled spine-tingling tale that ends with an unforeseen twist. It is a bit daunting to keep track of the vast cast of characters. Themes of mental illness, self-acceptance, and friendship are all explored. Although at times the plot feels rushed, this confusing sequence of events appropriately conveys the confusion that Ava is undergoing.