Black River Falls
by Jeff Hirsch
Available: July 5th 2016
From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Cardinal has escaped the virus that ravaged his town, leaving its victims alive but without their memories. He chooses to remain in the quarantined zone, caring for a group of orphaned kids in a mountain camp with the help of the former brutal school bully, now transformed by the virus into his best friend. But then a strong-willed and mysterious young woman appears, and the closed-off world Cardinal has created begins to crumble.
A thrilling, fast-paced work of speculative fiction for teens, from a bestselling author, Black River Falls in an unforgettable story about survival, identity, and family.
Review: As much as I enjoyed this novel, I wished the payout hadn't been all in one lump sum. There was so much build up to the arrival of the 'mysterious girl' too. I wish she had shown up on the first few pages instead of so far into the novel. I'd lost any investment in the characters when she finally did show up, and I was ready to put it down. Once she did arrive, the pace picked up and it was a fairly enjoyable novel. It reads more like a middle grade than young adult, despite the characters ages, and it may be better suited to the middle grade market.
There is no doubt that Hirsch is a master wordsmith. His style is smooth and his descriptions are downright poetic. The novel borders more on the literary side than as a thriller in that regard.
I would recommend this to anyone seeking an upper level middle grade novel and to teachers for the classroom. If you're looking for a novel that's more of a crossover YA, then this may not be the best fit.
**Disclaimer: I received this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
