Jes Delaney can't remember anything before she was found at four, barefoot in the headlights of an old Ford.
At fifteen, she has adjusted to moving without notice and never fitting in, but everything changes with her adopted mom's hometown. There Jes falls for her mom's nephew, a love she hides when his betrayal leaves her isolated and driven to unravel the past.
After Jes befriends a strange new student, she discovers an unbelievable secret: he's from another planet and searching for a missing girl who just might be her. As Jes will learn, truth comes at a cost, but will she give up love to find out?
Assessment:
Tightly written and slyly effective, Bolick's hybrid of romance and science-fiction follows the story of adopted teenage outcast Jessica Delaney, who is on the run with her family yet again. This time they settle in Credence, her mother's hometown, where Jes meets local boys Chase and Pade, both of whom she is drawn to. But Chase has a big secret: he is from another planet and Jes has fading memories of running away when she was a child and being abducted. They bond over their celestial similarities, and the truth of Jes's heritage adds depth and an interesting twist to all of the high school melodrama. Themes of supernatural forces, burgeoning love, tragedy, bullying, misunderstandings, family bonds, and jealousy are interwoven nicely into this slyly romantic, lightweight drama with potential.
Date Submitted: September 21, 2016
