From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10-Jeremy and Aaron, 17, have been inseparable since second grade. Now Aaron has been brutally murdered, his body mutilated with 73 knife wounds. In small-town Pinto River, rumors abound and spread like wildfire. First there is total disbelief that this could happen. Then the community is sure that a psychotic serial killer is on the loose. But Jeremy has kept one small fact from the police: Aaron told him that he was afraid of his twin brother, Nathan. Springer captures feelings of fear, grief, anger, and revenge. Her direct, simple vocabulary and sentence constructions contribute to an accessible book for less capable and reluctant readers. The dynamics of two families, the community, and the police investigation keep readers guessing, even though the ending is predictable. A quick and easy read.
Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 6-8. Aaron and Jeremy are neighbors and best friends. After spending the afternoon together, Aaron is murdered, brutally stabbed over and over. Earlier, Aaron confessed to Jeremy that he wasn't getting along with his brother, Nathan. Later, Nathan becomes the prime suspect, is convicted of murdering Aaron, and is sent to jail. As time passes and things quiet down, however, Jeremy becomes convinced that Nathan isn't guilty. He thinks that his own bad-tempered sister, Jamy, is responsible, but he can't bring himself to tell anyone about his suspicions. Springer leaves the ending open, a decision that can pave the way for discussion about morality and family loyalty. More character development would have made the story richer, but the fast pace and suspense are enough to keep most readers, especially reluctant ones, engaged.
Ed SullivanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
