Great story told from the perspective of three teenage girls all intertwined together. A good read about how far one goes for friendship and the consequences of jealousy. ( )

Delightfully spooky ballet/ghost/prison mystery. I was never scared, but so fascinated by the twists and turns of the narrative and the interesting unfolding of the various stories. ( )

These YA authors have really stepped up their game lately! This was so beautiful and serious and mind-twisting.


Violet is a perfect ballerina. After this summer, she's headed for Julliard and the culmination of all her dreams are coming true. Only something violent and ugly happened in Violet's past. Her best friend Ori went to jail for a double murder, and even though Violet has put it behind her and stepped into the spotlight, she can't get past a few lingering curiosities.

Amber is in Aurora Hills, a juvenile detention center. The same one that Ori got sent to that summer that everything went down. Strange things are happening here, and Amber is determined to figure out what.

My Thoughts:
Wow another book that left me questioning everything!!! Plural narration. Mystery. Who did what, to who, and when?? How, Why?? Not all the questions get answered. And I haven't decided if I find that meaningful and thought-provoking, or irritating and frustrating. Maybe it's a little (or a lot) of both.

This is the story of Orianna as told (eventually) by two people who knew her in two different settings. Violet is the best friend that always seemed to be one step behind, and Amber is an inmate in the detention center that Orianna ends up in. I loved the different styles of the narration. Violet's was more straight-forward and Amber's was an all-seeing "we" narration. I SO loved Amber's parts. The writing during those chapters was so incredible and beautiful, I could have read them forever.

One highlight for me in the book is that Amber worked in the "library" and pushed a book cart around to all the prisoners. I loved the library aspect!! Shout out to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. [a:Libba Bray|2526|Libba Bray|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1206563678p2/2526.jpg] (The Diviners, Beauty Queens, etc.) and [a:Francine Pascal|2423|Francine Pascal|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337593664p2/2423.jpg] (Sweet Valley High series) are also mentioned!

This book is not a happy book. Good things do not happen. It's about tragedy and loss of life. It's about flawed human beings. It's about how life is not fair and people are never 100% guilty or innocent... people are much more complicated. I loved every second of it. And if someone could explain that head-spinning ending, I would appreciate.

OVERALL: A true winner!! I loved this haunting, intricate, beautiful book. It's about so much more than what any blurb or synopsis can say. I am now a big fan of this author and can't wait to devour all of her past (and future) books.

My Blog:
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Easily one of my favorite books I've ever read. 10/10 recommend-- incredible writing and imagery, very compelling. No parts felt dull. I'm not a fantasy person but this drew me in. ( )

This story is told by two individuals, one living and one dead. Violet is a ballerina, headed to Juilliard and going places. Amber is in Aurora Hills Juvenile Detention Center after being found guilty of murdering her father.

Intricately woven. ( )