The Rules for Breaking

April 1, 2014
Anna Boyd finally has her name--and her life--back, and she won't give either up without a fight. In this follow-up to The Rules for Disappearing (2013), Anna, so thankful to have left the world of witness protection behind, is shocked to learn that she is still being hunted by Thomas, the villain who masqueraded as a federal agent and who inexplicably allowed her and her boyfriend, Ethan, to escape when he might easily have killed them. Before she knows what hit her, Anna, her family and Ethan's are sent off to hide in a remote wilderness area from which she, Ethan, and her little sister, Teeny, are ultimately kidnapped. The trio is whisked away to a secret location where they learn that they have become pawns in a deadly game of chess being played by assassins, organized crime lords and rogue agents. The implausible but still engaging storyline is jam-packed with impulsive decisions that carry foreseeable disastrous consequences, unexpected betrayals and alliances, and a series of skin-of-the-teeth escapes. Amid the chaos, Anna's head-over-heels infatuation with Ethan and sweet devotion to Teeny will give readers something familiar they can hold on to. Like a good roller-coaster ride: adrenaline-fueled and terrifying with an underlying feeling that everything will end as it should. (Suspense. 12-18)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Anna's post-Witness Protection Program life isn't perfect, but at least she no longer has to keep her identity a secret or move from place to place at the drop of a hat. In Natchitoches, she's developed solid friendships and is dating a really great guy. Her sister, Teeny, is even beginning to recover from the trauma of their former lifestyle. Then Anna's missing journal is returned, along with a note from "T." Anna assumes it's from Thomas, the man hired to kill her, and the FBI agrees. Instead of going back into Witness Protection, the teen argues in favor of staying put, hoping that the FBI can apprehend Thomas before he finds her to finish his fatal task. He has a larger plan in place, however, and his accomplices are people Anna would never suspect. In order to outsmart them, she will have to think fast and stay strong-especially when her boyfriend and sister get dragged into the danger zone. This sequel to The Rules for Disappearing (Hyperion, 2013) doesn't stand well on its own, as pertinent backstory is not sufficiently explained for the uninitiated. There is, however, significant character growth over the course of this novel. Anna is a fairly likable heroine who realistically goes from pawn to triumphant victor. The plot drags at the start, but picks up the pace as it progresses. The underlying mystery and fits of suspense will keep readers' attention. Teens who enjoyed the first book will snap this up.-Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Grades 8-11 After surviving the harrowing conclusion of The Rules for Disappearing (2013), Anna is finally able to cast aside her Witness Protection Program identity and live a normal life. She's back with her hot boyfriend, Ethan, and her little sister, Teeny, has finally started to talk again. Normal lasts about one month, however, long enough for Anna's nemesis, the once-trusted agent, Thomas, to re-enter her life. Thomas viciously kidnaps Anna, Ethan, and Teeny, claiming that he is protecting Anna from evildoers who still want her dead. It's clear that Thomas is ready to kill anyone who tries to help Anna. When an old boyfriend of Anna's turns out to be working with Thomas, Anna is thoroughly confused. Are they being protected, abducted, or something Anna can't even imagine? The suspense is taut until the final pages as Anna desperately tries to figure out whom she can trust. Readers continuing the story from The Rules for Disappearing will find the sequel just as page-turning, while newcomers will get enough to orient them.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Anna is out of the witness protection program but not out of danger; Thomas--the enigmatic double agent--is back, this time to kidnap Anna, her boyfriend, and her younger sister. Attempts to escape lead the group deep into an underground world of powerful drug lords and double-crossing assassins. This fast-paced, thrilling sequel (The Rules for Disappearing) is set against a rich New Orleans landscape.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)