Summer Storm

Gr 9 Up—Annie, 16, is delighted that her cousin, Gina, and her uncle are coming to live with her family. When they arrive for a preliminary visit, Annie notices some tension but quickly invites Gina to accompany her and her three best friends on an outing to a nearby lake. At the lake, Gina refuses to go swimming, and soon goes off by herself. When a storm approaches, the group prepares to leave and realizes that Gina is missing. The friends search unsuccessfully for her, and soon the police and Annie's family become involved. The suspense builds as secrets are unveiled and accusations fly among the friends. Annie soon realizes that all the people she loves are not what they seem. Originally published in Germany, where Dunker is a best-selling author for teens, the novel has been translated into English (Amzcr, 2011). Emily Beresford's narration helps build the feelings of vague uneasiness in the beginning of the book into a psychological thriller as time goes on. Listeners will be caught up in just how quickly people's lives can be altered by the activities of one night and by issues of trust and friendship.—Julie Paladino, East Chapel Hill High School, NC