If Anything Happens to Me

Gr 8 Up–Oli Parrish, soon to be a junior in high school, has been through the unimaginable. Her only sister, Eloise, was murdered and found half-buried in the same spot where they used to share so many happy memories. Eight months later, with still no lead on who murdered her sister, it happens again. Oli stumbles upon another victim, in the same place her sister was killed—only this time, she is still alive. This mysterious girl has a concussion and very little memory of what happened to her. She only has a deep sense of danger and the conviction that something bad will happen if they go to the police. Desperate for answers, Oli helps this mysterious girl to recover her memories, in hopes it will finally lead to answers about what happened to her sister. Rice delivers a YA thriller with no detailed romantic encounters (although there is a love interest) and no gore. The dialogue is lengthy but engaging, and all characters are relatable and well-developed. However, the mystery is brought to a close quite early on, resulting in several chapters used for wrapping up character arcs. Readers may feel satisfied with the resolution but unsatisfied with the lack of suspense.