Banished
By Sophie Littlefield
Published: October 12, 2010
Review copy: from the library
I don't know why, but my library JUST got a copy of this. Why did it take so long, I don't know. I do know that I could not put the darn thing down and am now impatiently awaiting the purchase of Unforsaken (the second book in the series).
From Goodreads: There isn’t much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri—or Trashtown, as the rich kids call the run-down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. Hailey figures she’ll never belong—not with the popular kids at school, not with the rejects, not even with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who deals drugs out of their basement. Hailey never knew her dead mother, and she has no idea who her father was, but at least she has her four-year-old foster brother, Chub. Once she turns eighteen, Hailey plans to take Chub far from Gypsum and start a new life where no one can find them.
I will not post the entire blurb here, because I think it gives away too much!!! I went into this novel knowing almost nothing about the story and I was taken by surprise by all of the awesomeness!!!! Note my extreme use of exclamation points. This book rocks. And, to think, I chose it based on the cover.
Hailey is fierce, she just needs a little help. Not only is she stuck in the nastiest town and living with one of the worst grandmothers in history, she is the outcast! The hard part of this review will be not spilling the beans of all of the great stuff that happens here.
Here is what I will say: I have never read anything like it. It is completely original. And what a page turner! It's action, action, action. It did take a minute to get rolling, but once it did, I was hooked. This novel is filled with strong female characters, an adorable 4 year old, and some of the best bad guys (the term "guy" is used loosely here) I have read in awhile. This book would have been better (for me) on the beach with an iced coffee at my side, but for a thrilling Fall read, it was not bad.
I can't wait to read more.
I would give this book to fans of Darkness Becomes Her (Kelly Keaton), The Replacement (Brenna Yovanoff), and the Patterson Maximum Ride series.
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