Solitary

Kirkus Reviews

A 16-year-old confronts evil in a North Carolina town. Chris Buckley and his mother, Tara, leave Chicago and his born-again dad, who found God but abandoned the family. They return to Tara's hometown of Solitary, N.C., and move into an isolated cabin in the woods, the former residence of Tara's brother, Robert, who's now missing. After defending fellow student Newt at Harrington County High, Chris tops the hit list of violent bully Gus Staunch, whose father owns half the town. Chris is repeatedly warned to stay off the radar and lie low--not an easy task, since things are seriously off-kilter in Solitary. An eerie man and his dog guard the town, which, oddly enough, is deserted at midday on Saturdays. Crazy Aunt Alice, with her live-in crow and mannequin "friend," is less than hospitable to Tara and Chris. Then there's creepy Pastor Marsh, whose sermons are on the dark side. Chris is also forced to look after his tippling mother, who'd rather go unconscious than face life. Chris enjoys his friendship with a trio of girls--kind Rachel, goth Poe and lovely Jocelyn, who catches Chris' eye. As Chris falls for Jocelyn, he's torn between staying out of harm's way and finding the truth about Uncle Robert and other residents who've disappeared. In the first of four books in the Solitary Tales series, Thrasher deftly captures the essence of high school: "Nameless, faceless ghouls strolling by listening to iPods with blank stares." Chris' mounting terror of the unknown effectively intertwines with his panic at being the new kid at school. In addition to typical teen traumas of bad cafeteria food, locker mishaps and relationship anxieties, he's caught in a spiritual struggle of dynamic proportions. Although he doesn't believe in God, the malice surrounding him may eventually require help from on high. Chris and Jocelyn's on-again, off-again relationship is intensified by the menace they both face. An occasional comic scene breaks the tension, as when Chris and Tara reflect on just how "dysfunctional" Aunt Alice is. Due to financial constraints, Chris doesn't have a cellphone or car; he commutes primarily by bike. For much of the book, he has no Internet access, either, and hence no Facebook, which enhances the claustrophobia. Though pegged as suitable for teens and tweens, this one's no more "young adult" than The Hunger Games, the Harry Potter books or the Twilight series. But instead of hype and hoopla, Thrasher generates authentic suspense and the feeling that something wicked this way comes. Superior entry in the genre of Christian horror and teenage angst.

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—After Chris's parents' divorce, he and his mother move back to her childhood hometown of Solitary, North Carolina. School bullies, a beautiful girl named Jocelyn, and being the new kid make up his new school experience. Chris's new home is located a distance from the town and, without a driver's license, he must depend on his mother or his bicycle for transportation. Due to financial circumstances, he has no Internet connection or cell phone. His mother is drinking heavily and spends most of her time grieving the loss of her marriage. All of these circumstances result in Chris's solitary existence. He wanders the surrounding woods and stumbles into an old cabin with a trap door that leads to a mysterious room underneath. The attraction between Chris and Jocelyn is the only bright spot in his life. Jocelyn is a loner and, as they get to know each other, he learns that she has many secrets. As she reveals them to him, life becomes more complicated and dangerous for them. Solitary is a place that neither welcomes strangers nor tolerates questions. Kirby Heyborne authentically voices the young adult characters in Travis Thrasher's novel (David C. Cook, 2010). Although this is a compelling listen, even with foreshadowing, the abrupt and traumatic ending is shocking. Listeners may find this a less than satisfying conclusion to the first book in the series.—Jeana Actkinson, Educational Service Center Region XI, Ft. Worth, TX