Life Before

April 15, 2016
A teenage runaway makes the best of a bad situation.Xander's had his share of hardships, and he can't wait to finish high school and go off to college and start his life far away from the small town and painful memories. But when Xander's rage-filled father kills Xander's mom, things take a sudden turn for the worse. With his father on the lam, the skinny white teen makes a hasty decision to skip town, armed with a fake ID, a knife, and a handful of cash, eventually settling in Burlington, Vermont. Running away is just the first of several increasingly poor decisions Xander makes. Readers will fume as Xander makes boneheaded moves over and over again. More frustrating is the author's curious decision to ignore the pulpy possibilities inherent in the novel's premise and turn the latter half of the book into a character study. Unfortunately, the author's characters don't hold up to much analysis. Xander befriends a black Manic Pixie Dream Girl named Kat, who is full of groaners like "One of the worst things we can do to people is not see them." The conversations between Xander and Kat stop the novel's momentum. Who cares about existential angst when there's a violent killer on the loose tracking down the protagonist?A great concept obliterated by a lack of focus. (Thriller. 12-16)

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June 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-A riveting story told in a voice that will resonate with teens. Typical high school senior Xander Fife is looking forward to graduation and an infinite summer of adventures with his friends. He has finally captured the attention of the girl of his dreams and has been accepted into a prestigious college. From the outside, his life looks ideal. However, his carefree attitude and positive disposition are just a cover for the constant underlying fear he feels. Xander has a dark past that he has worked for years to keep a secret. When the monster of his past refuses to be ignored any longer, all of his secrets come to light in one nightmarish encounter. In a desperate attempt to unburden his friends from his troubles and escape his would-be killer, Xander flees to Vermont. Stranded in a faraway state with little money, the teen must come to terms with the demons of his childhood and decide what type of man he will become. Bacon weaves a captivating narrative of a boy who is able to journey into adulthood by overcoming a childhood filled with abuse. Though dark in nature, the work does not delve too deep into the horrors of abuse, making it appropriate for younger teens. VERDICT A great read-alike for teens who enjoyed Alex Flinn's Breathing Underwater, Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, or Sharon Draper's "Hazelwood High Trilogy."-Ellen Fitzgerald, White Oak Library District, Lockport, IL

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