The Believing Game

Gr 9 Up—Greer gets sent to rehab at McCracken Hill after she is caught shoplifting, but the facility treats teens with all sorts of problems: addiction, abuse, eating disorders, etc. There Greer meets Addison, a handsome, sensitive guy. He introduces her to his Narcotics Anonymous sponsor, an odd, older man. Soon Joshua has inserted himself into the lives of several broken teenagers looking for someone to believe in. Greer can't be sure that he isn't playing some elaborate, creepy game, and she can't help but wonder what Addison's role in it is. Is he a true believer or just playing along? In this slow-building suspense novel narrated from Greer's perspective, the protagonist is the most fully developed character. The secondary personalities are weaker, and their motivations are more difficult to understand, especially under the extreme circumstances. The pace is likewise uneven. Until the climactic revelation of Joshua's twisted and violent mission, the book is unhurried and filled with his dogma-a jumbled mixture of religious scripture and strange psychology. Once his goal is revealed, the pace picks up and speeds toward a resolute and satisfying ending. Ultimately, this is a novel for mature teens who will appreciate the subtle nuances of manipulation.—Heather E. Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL