The Bodies We Wear

Gr 9 Up—An intriguing but faulty exploration of addiction set against the backdrop of a not-so-distant future. Forced to overdose on Heam—a synthetic drug that offers users a glimpse of heaven—to pay off her father's debts when she was 11, 16-year-old Faye is bent on making her attackers pay for their crimes, especially the death of her best friend Christian, who tried to defend her that fateful day. Adopted and trained by a former cop with secrets of his own, the teen is treated like a pariah and must follow stringent rules at her private school because of the inherent prejudice against all Heam users. Permanently addicted to the drug, Faye fights off the urge to get high as she hunts down the hoodlums responsible for her tortured existence. A mysterious stranger named Chael, who seems to know her better than she knows herself, and a new friend at school, have given her hope for a possible future without guilt and loneliness. The interesting premise and initial strong world-building, including heavy ruminations on the existence of heaven and hell, gives way to inconsistent characterization, gaping plot holes, and lengthy preachy monologues on revenge and the difference between good and evil in this haphazard YA novel. The tepid romance and the often cringe-worthy dialogue will leave readers uninspired and unsatisfied.—Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal