Follow Me Through Darkness

Gr 9 Up—Neely's father is the director of one of seven remaining compounds built to protect its citizens from the terrible illness that all but wiped out Earth's population. These compounds, governed by a mysterious group of Elders, are all Neely has ever known. When the teen begins to notice changes in her father's personality, she takes it upon herself to investigate. What she finds is far worse than she imagined. When Neely is selected to be the next director she decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of a longtime friend, she fakes her own death and leaves the compound in search of answers. This series opener reads like a sequel; the amount of information omitted leaves readers more confused and frustrated than it does eager to continue. Ellison's attempt to create suspense by volleying between the past and the present is unsuccessful, as this technique further complicates an already difficult plot. Follow Me Through Darkness has all of the trappings of today's YA favorites: a dystopian setting, a love triangle, and a girl heroine. Unfortunately, these elements come together in a disjointed and unsatisfying way.—Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR