You're Next by Kylie Schachte (review)
Buy Issue for $25 at JHUP- You're Next by Kylie Schachte
Schachte, Kylie You're Next. Patterson/Little, 2020 [464p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780316493772 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780316493765 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 9-12
Already rattled by a failed murder investigation, teen detective Flora Calhoun arrives on the scene after a desperate call from her ex, Ava, in time to witness Ava [End Page 495] die from gunshot wounds. Determined to make the guilty pay this time around, Flora probes, and she discovers an underground fight club where teens beat each other up for cash while raucous onlookers place bets. It's a dark scene, but it's also where Flora meets a charismatic dancer-turned-fighter for whom she soon falls. Flora is a complicated protagonist who evokes both applause and frustration; her intentions are good but, as the people closest to her admit, Flora ruins everything. Her little sister blames Flora for their mother's leaving, her best friend sacrifices her reputation only to be betrayed, and that doesn't even touch on the physical dangers suffered by Flora's intimates. Despite its heft, the book moves quickly, and just as it appears to slow down to a clean conclusion, readers are hit with the harsh reality that no one is safe. This read would suit a brooding young adult who welcomes a tumultuous ride and eventual heartbreak.
