ARC Review: Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

ARC Review: Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon
Release date: August 28, 2012
Book Provided by Edelweiss and Harper Collins
Genre: Young Adult

AH’s Review – 4 Skulls – A-

Before I discovered urban fantasy, I used to read a lot of conspiracy thriller books. Don’t Turn Around reminds me of those books. Don’t Turn Around is an action-packed, exciting read. From the first page, the reader is swept into a sinister world where street kids are mysteriously disappearing.

Don’t Turn Around focuses on two teenagers with exceptional computer hacking skills. Noa, a “graduate” of the foster system goes by the screen name Rain. Her computer abilities are unmatched: she has managed to create a fictional family and even earn a living for her “father” from freelance computer jobs. Peter is a bored teenager, living with his wealthy and self-absorbed parents. Peter’s computing skills have led him to create /ALLIANCE/, and online community that targets internet bullies, animal abusers, and the like. While snooping in his father’s office, Peter stumbles upon a mysterious file. Shortly after researching the contents of the file on his computer, the house is broken into by some shady “Men in Black” thugs. Their leader Mason knows Peter’s parents. Peter vows to get even with these thugs and arranges for his community of hackers to attack the computer systems of their company. He enlists the help of Rain (Noa), who is in need of some cash. What follows is a thrilling game of hide-and-seek with some very powerful and scary people.

I pretty much read this book in one sitting. While the story was a little simplistic at times, it did keep my attention and I enjoyed every moment of it. There’s this little feeling of satisfaction you get when a few smart kids manage to thwart a large corporation.
I liked both of the main characters. Noa impressed me, not only with her computer skills but also her survival skills. Think about it – How many kids would even think to fabricate a foster family so that they would be able to survive under the radar? Noa was fierce, strong, and quick to react. Peter was an interesting character. At first, I found him to be a little entitled and spoiled, but as I read on, he became a little bit of a tragic figure. Peter’s brother had died from the fictional illness PEMA and his parents felt that the “wrong” son died. That is a horrible thing to live with.

I’m not sure that I would classify this as a romance. Yes, Peter and Noa are attracted to each other, but the romance is at a very early stage. If you are reading this book and looking for a romance, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, if you are looking for a book full of action and suspense, then you’ll enjoy this book.

Rating: ☠  ☠  ☠  ☠  ☠ 

There is a free prequel to this book called No Escape available on Amazon here. No Escape is about 10 pages long.  It is not necessary to read the prequel to understand this book, but it does give a little background as to how street kids were recruited for the medical study. No Escape also includes the first 3 chapters of Don’t Turn Around (about 40 pages).

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for a review copy of this book.

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