Amy Zhang's bleakly lyrical first YA novel, Falling Into Place, brought a cascade of admirers and superlatives; now comes this inexorable, intricate narrative of adolescents in all their vulnerability, idealism and savagery.
Micah and Janie have been friends forever. Well, since primary school, an eternity in teenage terms. One is withdrawn and musical; the other extrovert and artistic. They complement each other perfectly. Then Janie vanishes.
Micah wakes in hospital with head stitched and stomach half-pumped, images of fire and fear in his mind. There's no trace of his friend. Instead, there's growing uncertainty about who she was and is, what's true about her and everything else in his suddenly desolate world. Her vow: "You and me, Micah Carter. More than anything," now seems as insubstantial as air.
These aren't sweet kids, except in their yearnings and fragility. They prey and manipulate. They swig vodka, chain-smoke, swear. They break up and break down. They blaze with life (except when sulking and/or brooding). The world - and everything and every-one in it - brings instant rapture or instant wretchedness. In a world where adults are irrelevant, they're privileged, well-off and healthy, though they'd self-destruct rather than admit it.
They have their own cars and live in tall houses among tall trees. They're endlessly online or on the phone. You'll alternate between wanting to hug them and wanting to smack their legs.
