Reviews provided by Syndetics
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-"I was fifteen when my heart betrayed me," begins Stella Cross. Diagnosed with acute cardiomyopathy, she's sure that her days are numbered. Then miraculously, two years later, she receives a heart transplant from an anonymous donor. However, not long after her life-saving surgery, Stella begins experiencing strange side effects, which include terrifying hallucinations as well as excruciating pain at the exact same time every day. When a mysterious boy named Levi arrives at her prep school in Seattle, Stella finds herself inexplicably and intensely drawn to him. They quickly become inseparable, which causes a rift between Stella and her family, her best friend, and her "maybe more than a friend" Henry. Strangely, being with Levi literally alleviates her physical pain. Initially, this makes her think that he's The One, but eventually she begins to wonder if there's something more otherworldly at work. Baker effectively uses the damp Seattle weather to create a tense, sinister atmosphere. Stella isn't portrayed as a damsel in distress, which helps make her a more likable and relatable character. Although she often relies on her friends and has a few missteps along the way, Stella takes control of her situation and is determined to fix it. While the mystery behind Levi's identity isn't completely surprising or original, it should still satisfy most readers. VERDICT A tense supernatural thriller with a plethora of teen appeal.-Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
The best-case scenario for adolescent organ-transplant patients is a smooth transition back to teen life. Official hospital charts chronicle the medical condition of heart-recipient Stella Cross but don't come close to telling the whole story. Returning to her Seattle prep school and friends is a delicate process her life as a swimmer will never resurface but Stella tries to settle into her new normal. It's rocky going, though, as she suffers hallucinations, nightmares, intense pain (at precisely 5:08 p.m. daily), and suffers literal aches for a new kid in class, Levi Zinn, whose very presence seems to trigger hypersensitivity in Stella. With the help from Henry, a longtime friend turning boyfriend, Stella investigates Levi's story, and the plot thickens. Ultimately, great lengths are required to exorcise the grisly connection between Stella and Levi. Baker's narrative vividly engages readers in the deeper world of transplants, the full experience of receiving a part of another being, and, through Stella, exposes heightened sensibilities far beyond the vital physical transition.--Bush, Gail Copyright 2015 Booklist
Horn Book Review
Stella's recent heart transplant saved her life--so why has she been plagued by bizarre side effects since her surgery? The only person who eases her anxieties is Levi, a mysterious new boy at her Seattle prep school. But why does he want to get so close to Stella? A predictable plot nevertheless offers some genuine heart-pounding moments in this supernatural thriller. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Book Review
A young woman's life-saving heart transplant leaves her feeling like an outsider in her own life until she meets a new guy with whom she experiences an undeniable magnetism. Stella is grateful to have survived surgery, but afterward she struggles with her family's and friends' tendency to treat her with kid gloves. Worse, she's plagued by a searing, inexplicable pain that strikes her at exactly the same time each day, making her doubt her sanity. So when gorgeous Levi arrives at her insular private Seattle high school and vigorously pursues her, she's more than ready for the distraction. Being around him seems to produce an actual physical relief that mixes into their steamy attraction. Stella's descent into a haze so unlike her normal behavior that it worries her friends is believable, as are the story's developing chills. Characters are well-developed, including friends Henry (who seems to want more than just friendship) and tough, bawdy Brynn, who has a spot-on sarcastic edge that will be recognizable to many teens: "Okay, lovebird. Stop making me want to vom and don't forget to use protection." In the end, the plotting is largely predictable, but it packs in some authentic scares. Plentiful blood-slicked scenes will please horror fans, but the eerie tone surrounding the central mystery is what works best in this supernatural thriller. (Thriller. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Author notes provided by Syndetics
Chandler Baker grew up in Florida, went to college at the University of Pennsylvania, and studied law at the University of Texas. She now lives in Austin with her husband, though her heart remains at the beach. She strongly believes that writing quality improves vastly if done while staring out at a large body of water and daydreaming. Chandler is the author of the young adult thriller Alive , as well as the High School Horror series. You can visit her online at www.chandlerbaker.com.
TextPublisher: New York, New York : Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, [2015]Edition: First editionDescription: 360 pages ; 22 cmContent type: 
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