Teen Book Reviews: In Her Skin & The Burning Girl

Do you need a new book to read? Check out these reviews by our teen volunteer, Emma!

In Her Skin, by Kim Savage

Jo Chastain  is a sixteen-year-old con who always wanted love, money and safety after her mother was beaten to death. But will she go as far as impersonating a missing girl to get this and how long will she be able to survive behind all these lies?

Jo has been living at Tent City in Boston the last few years, she has suffered through sicknesses and coldness with her friend Wolf. To get off the streets, she takes on the challenge to become Vivienne Weir who went missing at the age of nine. Becoming Vivi would set Jo into living with the Lovecrafts who give her money, love, security, and a sister Temple. Little did Jo know was there were more ties to Temple Lovecraft and the “disappearance” to Vivi than one would know.

So will Jo be able to escape the Lovecrafts grasp before its too late?

-Emma W.

The Burning Girl: A Novel, by Claire Messud

Julia and Cassie’s friendship dates all the way back to young girls. They considered themselves sisters and shared their life with each other. Both girls always wanted to leave their birthplace and everything that's expected of them. But will this ever happen?

Cassie starts acting weird and starts putting herself and her friendship with Julia is grave danger. Will there forever long promise of friendship survive these problems, or will everything collapse around them?

-Emma W.

Both of these books can be borrowed from the library. You'll find In Her Skin in the Young Adult area and The Burning Girl in Adult Fiction.