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Synopsis
Afterward, Terri will tell everyone that, from the beginning, she knew something terrible was going to happen on spring break.
Something bad was going to happen.
She knew.
It was supposed to be the perfect vacation: hot guys, impeccable tans, and no parents. But for two high school seniors, an innocent car ride will drive them into the heart of their worst nightmare.
Feathered is a provocative and eerie tale that flies readers from safe, predictable suburbia to the sun-kissed beaches of Cancún, Mexico, and into mysterious Mayan ruins, where ancient myths flirt dangerously with present realities.
Children's Literature
This novel depicts the lives of three best friends—Anne, Michelle, and Terri—who are seniors at Glendale High School in Illinois. Even though the end of the school year is approaching and graduation is near, these girls seek their last adventure together on a Spring Break trip to Cancun, Mexico. Anne, Michelle, and Terri plan this journey when they realize that the life they have known for eighteen years will soon change drastically as they leave their hometown, families, and friends to attend college. Upon arrival, the girls swim the day away, view their surroundings with fascination, become painfully sunburned, and relax as they try a few drinks at the hotel bar. However, Anne and Michelle meet a stranger, Ander, at the bar, who begins to chat with them, asking their names, where they live, plans for the trip, and questions about life in general. While the two talk with the stranger, they realize that he is vacationing in Cancun to visit Chichen Itza, a historic Mayan temple. When he asks them to join him the next day on a trip to the historical site, they are unsure of how to answer. Anne and Michelle recall their mothers' saying, "Never get into a car with a stranger," and they constantly question one another as they decide what to do. The next morning, they join Ander for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Anne and Michelle tour the wonders of Chichen Itza with Ander as their guide, and while Anne has grown weary of Ander, Michelle is mesmerized by the historic beauty of the site and follows Ander around like a "lost puppy dog." As Michelle continues her conversation with Ander about the history of Chichen Itza, Anne searches for an escape route to leadthem back to their hotel. On her search, she encounters three guys who say they are from Illinois and claim to know Terri. They warn the girls about Ander and inform them that he is dangerous and manipulative. But this is only a trap to lure them into leaving with them and not Ander. After they conclude their trip at Chichen Itza, the boys take Anne and Michelle to a party where they are exposed to vulgarity and outlandish behaviors by others attending the event. When they finally manage to leave the party, Anne and Michelle intend to return to the hotel, but the guys have other plans for them, and trouble begins to surface as they experience life in an unknown place with corrupt people. As the narrator, Anne tells the life-changing events of this trip in a compelling way that entices the reader to continue reading without stopping. The mystery enhances the novel because it appeals to the senses and makes the trip seem both interesting and remarkable. An educator could use this book in a Social Studies lesson to help students learn about the historical aspects of Mexico while teaching them about the dangers of trusting strangers. Reviewer: Kayla Smith