Unfolding

October 1, 2016
An awkward 18-year-old and his enigmatic crush discover that their town hides a terrible secret. Gullary, Oklahoma, a former mining town that is now dominated by a maximum security prison and ruled by a group of vigilantes called the Circle, has always been prone to violent storms. White narrator Jonah, afflicted with scoliosis and epilepsy (aka "Old Rickety"), is more preoccupied with Stormi, a "free and wild" spirit with a healing touch and psychic powers, than storms. Wandering in and out of occasionally florid flashbacks peppered with fake Latin, self-deprecating humor, and self-pity, Jonah recounts the awkward evolution of his friendship with Stormi and his misadventures with Old Rickety and his twisted spine. When Stormi predicts a tragic accident and comes under the Circle's suspicion, she and Jonah flee Gullary, learning its dark secret along the way. Someoneor somethingwants justice, and they're its instruments. Several plot points pass in a whirlwind of explanations, losing some emotional impact. Tired tropes, such as epilepsy as a harbinger of evil spirits, abound. However, when the dust settles, some strong character development remains. The biblical, ominous atmosphere of Gullary provides a vivid backdrop for Jonah's and Stormi's feelings of longing and alienation, which are further explored through occasionally poignant banter and conflicted family relationships. The almost-romance is engaging. A flawed but darkly atmospheric read. (Fiction. 13-18)

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December 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-A new title from the Schneider Award-winning author of Jerk, California. Jonah Everett's life changed forever the day Stormi literally dropped from the sky during a tornado. They were only babies then, but in each of the 17 years that followed, Jonah fell more in love with Stormi. They had a deep connection; Stormi saw Jonah for his true, whole self, not just as someone who has scoliosis and experiences seizures. After Stormi foretells an accident and a girl dies as a result, the entire town turns against her. But what is it that everyone is actually afraid of? Set in a dusty Oklahoma town, Friesen's latest title is overflowing with atmosphere and mysteries. There is a prison with only one prisoner, who has been there forever, and no one will discuss either him or his crime. There is a strange town council, The Circle, which wields a great deal of power. There is a cult, truly in the middle of nowhere, with ties to the town, and its members are willing to kill to keep a secret. The problem is, with a conspiracy around every corner, readers will likely find themselves lost before ever reaching the conclusion. What's meant to be ominous often comes across as odd, and many questions are never answered. VERDICT An overstuffed plot makes this novel a low-priority purchase that most libraries can skip.-Heather Webb, Worthington Libraries, OH

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 In Gullary, the past best stay buried. These wise words are from Jonah's grandfather, who stayed in the toxic wastefilled and cursed town of Gullary long after most of the residents had left. Jonah and the rest of his family remain as well, seemingly unable to escape the dead-end place. Then there's Stormi, a miracle child who fell from the sky when Jonah was young. He longs for her but feels well out of his depthafter all, his health is gradually worsening, while she's beautiful and somewhat psychic. But the two are brought together when Stormi asks Jonah for help with the newest and most unsettling of her visions. The two teens, neither of whom feels normal, take on a town full of hidden secrets, searching for answers and getting swept away in a thrilling adventure. Quirky, spooky, and odd, this will hook fantasy readers for sure, but the struggles of the very realistic characters will bring a wider audience into the fold.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)