Zero Day

Gr 7 Up—It's been eight hellish years since little Addie, daughter of then governor Webster, disappeared without a trace, leaving a raw and gaping hole in the lives of her family and her best friend, Darrow. While her family grieved and eventually moved on with their lives, Darrow continues to blame himself for Addie's disappearance, obsessively following dead-end leads and alleged sightings. Suddenly, a 16-year-old girl shows up, claiming she's Addie Webster, but is this just a coincidence, or is she somehow tied to the national security threat that President Webster is grappling with? This thriller doesn't let up its unrelenting pace until the breathless conclusion, which hints at a sequel. Throughout, teens will see glimpses into Addie's haunted past via flashbacks and begin to figure out what's really happening with the troubled girl. Addie isn't the only character whose complex persona fuels the action. In his search to understand Addie, Darrow takes a number of risks that threaten his life; Addie's sister has a complicated history with Darrow and has just returned from a stint in rehab; and even Addie's parents are not who they seem. The writing is complex enough to satisfy more sophisticated YA readers yet fast-paced enough to keep the attention of reluctant readers.