Blink & Caution [Paperback]

After I read Tim Wynne- Jones' The Uninvited a couple of years ago, I've been looking forward to reading more by him, so when Blink & Caution landed on my radar, I jumped at the first chance I got to read it. Luckily enough, Blink & Caution is a thrilling and suspenseful novel about two teen runaways and the challenges they face.

Blink and Caution have both been living the hard life for the past year. For Blink that means roughing it on the streets, looking for the next way to get a quick, free meal and a place to stay, because after everything that happened at his home, he knows he's never going back. On the other side of town, Caution has been living with her sleazy, controlling, and drug dealing boyfriend, hoping that one day, she'll face enough pain to forget what happened when she was fifteen, the year she ran away from everyone and everything. Though, one day everything changes, Caution leaves her boyfriend once and for all, and Blink stumbles into a fake kidnapping. Now on the run, both of them are soon to find that there's even more surprises in store for them- one that may even land them in each others arms.

One of the most rewarding aspects in this novel was the rich and likable characters Tim had in Caution and Blink. Both are characters that you can't help but root for, especially when you find out about all the pain and suffering they've faced in the past. With that, I liked them even better when they finally found in each other in the story, because with each other, they discover a lot about themselves and each other and gain courage to speak up for themselves. Also, the adventures they have are priceless.

Adding to this, I loved the plot. I thought Tim did a great job of accurately describing the lives of two runaway teens, and what I liked even more was that he never sugar coated anything, instead he gave you a honest view about two very different teens. Further more, the way he tied in the fake-kidnapping mystery worked perfectly not only in the way it brought together they characters but it forever left the reader guessing about what would happen, especially within those last few chapters.

The only aspect of this novel I wasn't two found of was the way Tim brought you Blink and Caution's story. You see, while Caution's part is told in third person, Blink's is told in second person, and I found that to be a little odd and hard to into at times.

Lastly, at the core of this novel, Tim Wynne-Jones provokes some interesting questions and ideas, ones that I'm sure will lead to many conversations off page.

In all, Blink & Caution is an honest and addicting portrayal of two very different teens and the accidents that tie them together. Highly recommended.

Grade: B+

Reason for Reading: I've always wanted to read this Canadian author but I've never got around to it. I just recently heard he'd been awarded the Order of Canada and thought it was time I read him and had this book on hand.

A fairly decent book, not really my usual thing as it deals with two runaway teens. One from a dysfunctional family, the other running from a life-changing event that is easy to guess, revealed too soon and would have been a better plot point if it had been kept as a secret to shock later in the book. The plot is quite interesting and the teens are well developed, both, though having problems, are likable from the beginning and the reader is invested in their well being. A tight crime thriller for this age group that mainly keeps the plot together though their are a few holes. I especially wondered why Alyson, as a character was left dangling. The thing that most annoyed me about this book though was that part of it is written in the second person. Chapters alternate between Blink & Caution's stories. Caution's tale is told in the third person, but Blink's is in the second person. The continual referral to you are doing this and you are thinking that was extremely annoying to me and I kept wondering *who* was talking to Blink and telling him/us his story. It is never explained and I, personally, do not like the literary device at all. However, a decent YA thriller. I will try another of the author's books ,having one more on my shelves, but I am in no rush.

Tim Wynne-Jones delivers a fantastic and complex tale that blends and then merges the adventures of two very different, but equally damaged teen protagonists. The characters are fully realized, and the plot moves at a breath-taking and engaging pace. I really loved this book!