Because It Is My Blood

In this second installment of Zevin’s Birthright series, following All These Things I’ve Done and set in the late 21st century, Anya Balanchine faces additional tragedy and danger as she increases her involvement with her late father’s illegal chocolate business. After escaping from Liberty Children’s Facility, Anya travels incognito to Mexico, where she is schooled in the production of chocolate and taken under the wing of a family of cacao growers. When a failed attempt on Anya’s life sends her fleeing back to New York City, she has some hard choices to make. Her decision to stay in the family business and turn her father’s underground chocolate sales into an aboveboard operation is met with resistance on both sides of her law. The line between Anya’s friends and foes grows blurry as she attempts to weed out traitors and discover who has tried to harm her and her family. Discerning characters’ true motives will keep readers guessing, and the conflicting forces within Anya add an extra dimension of drama to this action-packed sequel. Ages 12–up. Agent: Douglas Stewart, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Sept.)