Those We Fear

Gr 9 Up—Upon graduating high school, Maria has the extreme misfortune of witnessing her own mother's murder. The teen is immediately put into the witness protection program, where she is given the opportunity to choose her own location and occupation. She opts to become a nanny in a remote area of Scotland. Although this new life promises adventure and discovery, it is not without challenge. Maria is still mourning her mother, and taking on a new identity is not an easy task. Will she ever be able to resume her old life? Communicate with her friends? Attend college? Or will her entire future be dictated by these gruesome events? If all of this baggage weren't enough, Maria finds that the family she comes to work for is plagued with their own dangerous and mysterious past. Griffith's writing will pique teens' curiosity from the very first page. Though some of the plot points are a bit unrealistic, they are adequately tied up by the author, who manages to make the characters believable and relatable. Recommend for libraries wishing to bulk up their realistic fiction section.