Don't Turn Around (review)

In her first YA outing, adult thriller author Gagnon follows two teen hackers through a harrowing conspiracy investigation. Noa is a former foster kid living off her tech skills, while Peter, a rich kid still troubled by his brother's death, runs a hacktivist group that targets people who take advantage of the weak. After waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there, Noa flees to the streets of Boston, while Peter is threatened by mysterious men in black after his hacking leads him to something called Project Persephone. Connecting through the hacking network, Noa and Peter gradually uncover a massive medical experimentation ring surrounding the epidemic of a new teen-killing illness known as PEMA, which has links to Peter's parents' corporate ties as well as Noa's time in the foster system. Gagnon's writing has an assured flow that draws readers effortlessly into an adrenaline-packed ride, and she doles out wrenching character moments organically, deepening reader investment without ever disrupting the plot's inexorable escalation. The book gains additional appeal from its immensely likable protagonists, everyday heroes who are determined, ingenious, and driven by a desire to make the world a better place for all. With an ending that answers many questions but promises much more in the future, this is a smart, gripping addition to the growing hacker-action genre with strong appeal to fans of Doctorow's Little Brother (BCCB 11/08) and Falkner's Brain Jack (BCCB 9/10).