What We Lost in the Dark

Gr 9 Up—In What We Saw at Night (SohoTeen, 2013), readers were introduced to best friends Allie, Rob, and Juliet, teens afflicted with Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), a rare and sometimes deadly disease that renders its sufferers allergic to sunlight, confining them to a nighttime existence. This sequel picks up after the apparent suicide of Juliet, as Allie struggles to move on from the tragedy. Despite a police investigation clearing him of wrongdoing, Allie can't shake her belief that wealthy, untouchable Garrett Tabor was involved in Juliet's death. While taking criminal-justice classes online, Allie uses her newfound skill to investigate Garrett, uncovering many disturbing elements. She stealthily follows leads while trying to balance her relationship with Rob, stay out of trouble with her mom, and learn important new information about her disease. This is a suspenseful page-turner. Unfortunately, almost every hunch Allie has about Garrett turns out to be correct. Although the book is not without a few twists, it may not be as satisfying or believable as readers would like.—Jenny Berggren, formerly at New York Public Library