Readers who enjoy Henry’s other suspense and mystery novels will not be disappointed in Run, Hide, Fight Back. The coverage of many issues facing teens today also makes this story very relatable to teens. In true April Henry fashion, the reader will be on the edge of their seat waiting to see what will happen next. The title alone will grab readers, and the content feels chillingly real. A map of the mall precedes the text, providing context for the very specific action. It is both believable and heartwarming to see characters move beyond prejudice in order to aid one another. As the disparate group of teens struggles to evade, escape, and subdue the killers, bonds are formed. Although character development is somewhat limited, with members of the large cast being primarily defined by their ethnicity, religion, substance abuse, or other “issue,” the swift pacing and short chapters (which supply a minute-by-minute chronology) create a breathless, suspenseful read. Henry’s vivid portrayal of the all-too-relevant issue of active shooters will have many readers riveted-and sadly doubles as relevant training for possible steps to take to survive a shooting incident. When a Portland, Oregon, mall is attacked by multiple armed shooters, six teenagers end up hiding behind a store’s security shutter, and 17-year old Miranda, addicted to Oxy, finds herself their unlikely leader. VERDICT Purchase multiple copies of this timely thriller. Well-done character development, even pacing, and the gripping premise will keep teens turning pages. They set aside their differences as their common goal of survival brings them together. As the narrative evolves, so do the characters, and their relationships to one another. Miranda, the main character, kicks off the story, shoplifting as the shooting at a Portland shopping mall begins. Through the perspectives of six main characters, the story touches on current issues for teens, including religion, drug use, immigration, cancer, guns, and families. The author brings to life modern-day teen concerns in this suspense-filled depiction of an active shooter situation. Mindy McGinnis, Edgar-Award winning author of The Female of the Species and This Darkness Mine "Bravery faces down hate in this diverse thriller set against a frighteningly believable mass shooting." The wrong decision will have fatal consequences. The group has only three choices-run, hide, or fight back. But she’s hiding a big secret-and she’s not the only one. To her own surprise, seventeen-year-old Miranda finds the others looking to her as their leader. When a deadly shooting breaks out in a Portland shopping mall, a diverse group of six teens ends up trapped behind a store’s security shutter.
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