A Girl Undone
by Catherine Linka
St. Martin's Griffin (June 23, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat
"On the run with deadly government secrets, Avie must decide if she can live up to her name and truly become fearless for the cause or if it’s better to just give in.
The sequel and explosive conclusion to A Girl Called Fearless.
Having survived a violent confrontation with the US government, Avie is not out of danger. Both she and the young man she loves, Yates, have been declared terrorists, and Yates is hospitalized in critical condition, leaving Avie with the perilous task of carrying information that can bring down the Paternalist party, if she can get it into the right hands.
Forced on the run with handsome, enigmatic woodsman Luke, Avie struggles when every turn becomes a choice between keeping the two of them alive or completing their mission. With her face on every news channel and a quarter million dollar reward from the man who still owns her marriage contract, Avie’s worst fears are about to come true.
Equal parts thrilling and romantic, A Girl Undone is sure to keep your heart racing right until the very end."
Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
A Girl Called Fearless was one of my favorite books of 2014, and the amazing sequel, A Girl Undone, not only defied the terrible sequel stereotype but also was a brilliantly executed and captivating book all on its own. Picking up right after the end of the first book, Avie goes through a journey entirely different than when she fled across the country in A Girl Called Fearless. Separated from Yates, the boy she loves, Avie has abandoned her plan to go to Canada in favor of pursuing higher goals. Accompanied by Luke, she must make her way to Washington, DC to deliver information vital to bringing down the oppressive paternalist party - but when there's a country-wide manhunt for you, that's no easy feat. Soon, everything unravels, but as long as she keeps her wits about her, Avie's journey is far from over. Allies can show up in the unlikeliest of places, and the twists and suspense will keep you turning every page until the end. The character development of Avie is different in the sequel - in the first book, she was forced to suddenly flee for Canada, and such a drastic change of circumstance produced a dramatic development. But the character development is more subtle in A Girl Undone, as Avie must constantly weigh her choices. Does she truly love Yates, or should she pursue her feelings for Luke? Is it better to chance passing along the information rather than crossing the border to assured freedom in Canada? Who can she actually trust? This internal socratic method of sorts leads to Avie's certainty in her mission and her preservation against all odds. The last third of the book was one surprise after another, and definitely an unexpected turn for Avie, but she elegantly and brilliantly accomplishes what she needs to in an excellently executed turn of events. A Girl Undone is a great book for those who enjoy dystopia, thrills, and a feminist bent in their books.
Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.