Crossing the Line by Meghan Rogers (review)

Kidnapped at age eight, then trained and tortured into the ultimate super-spy, Jocelyn Steely has spent the last ten years as a deadly underage operative for a North Korean agency, KATO. Now eighteen, she’s escaped and made her way to KATO’s American equivalent, the IDA, where she hopes to become a double agent and take down her former handlers. Earning the trust of agents she’s nearly killed in the field turns out to be even harder than she expected, though, especially when she’s partnered with Travis Elton, aka Scorpion, her long-time nemesis. Then a new mission sends her back into the heart of the agency that created her, and Jocelyn must find a way to work with a team to take KATO down. This engrossing spy adventure hits the target with its edge-of-your-seat espionage and heartfelt emotion. Action lovers will enjoy the movie-worthy close-combat scenes, tension-building rescues, and narrow escapes, while those who like their spy stories with psychological heft will appreciate the careful portrait of Jocelyn as a trauma survivor. Readers hoping for a romance with Scorpion to develop may have to wait for planned sequels, but it’s still interesting to watch him evolve from vindictive to supportive without becoming coddling or patronizing. Perfect for readers who grew up with Carter’s Gallagher Girls series and are ready for the next level, this could also pair with Stohl’s Black Widow: Forever Red (BCCB 11/15) for a high-octane, girl-powered double feature.