In her third suspenseful, psychologically gripping novel, Giles (Shattering Glass
) chronicles the torturous relationship between 17-year-old Matt, who "worked hard at being inconspicuous," and classmate Skye, the "Gothgirl" who is anything but. Matt can't understand why Skye ("a neon sign screaming 'sex
' ") singles him out one day and leaves a note in his locker, "Park. 7. You know you want to." Matt keeps their meetings secret, and their rendezvous quickly turn sexual; the stakes rise. The narrative, which moves among various characters' perspectives, takes on an effective mood of claustrophobia as the world shrinks to include only Matt and Skye. But Matt harbors another secret, involving his beloved younger sister; and Skye seems to be manufacturing more lies than she can keep straight. Taylor Banks, a popular girl at school, offers Matt a vague warning about Skye, but he seems mesmerized by her exotic beauty—until she asks him to do something unthinkable, and threatens to harm his sister if he does not come through. A few strands of the plot may puzzle readers (such as why Matt's friends turn on him when they uncover his relationship with Skye), but Giles's narrative pace never slackens, and readers will find themselves racing to the finish. Ages 14-up. (Sept.)
