Vengeance

Gr 9 Up—In Fracture (Walker, 2012), Delaney Maxwell fell through the ice into Falcon Lake, was trapped underwater for 11 minutes, spent a week in a coma, then woke up with no apparent lasting damage-except for a newfound ability to sense when other people were sick or dying. Vengeance is told from the point of view of Decker, Delaney's best friend (and boyfriend), who pulled her out of the ice and is still haunted by her narrow escape from death. When Decker's father unexpectedly dies, he can't help but feel resentment toward Delaney, who knew what was coming but kept it to herself. Decker and Delaney's high school friends start to feel that a curse is following them around, with unexpected deaths and near-death experiences, flooding, vandalism, and more-and that Delaney (and her unexpected survival) is somehow at the center of it all. This book combines the mystery of Falcon Lake's strange happenings with realistic romance, as much of the book centers on the ups and downs of Decker and Delaney's relationship that will feel very true to life for many teens. While not as heavy on the supernatural elements as the first book, this is a satisfying follow-up, delving more deeply into the characters and the so-called "curse" of Falcon Lake.—Jenny Berggren, formerly at New York Public Library