Newbie high school senior, Noah Dickerson, is suffering from a concussion and broken ribs following a scrape with some nasty characters. Enemies seem to surround him like a flock of seagulls after bread—except for his nerdy friend Simon. After a series of burglaries, Noah is once more targeted as the scapegoat by the school’s cool crowd. Meanwhile, Noah’s abusive father is still trying to force Noah and his mom to return to his dysfunctional house. Once again, Noah must summon all his sleuthing and coping skills while his future hangs in the balance—and oh yes, there is another girl.
Tight point of view, present tense and sharp dialogue with this fascinating character made Because…Vengeance, a fun read. Noah battles inner demons, “you’re not good enough,” and “it’s your fault,” as the story explores the pull between his abusive father and emotionally damaged mother. This is one of those character-driven stories where the protagonist is so fascinating that you have to keep turning the pages even if the mystery seems secondary at times.
Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: Mystery
Series: Because
Diana Sharples, 2018
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