Giles, Jeff The Edge of Everything, 358 pages. Bloomsbury
Kids, 2017. $12. Language: PG-13 (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG;
Violence: PG-13 (Non graphic murder)
Zoe meets bounty hunter X the day
her brother ventures into the woods after his dogs during a perilous snow
storm, causing Zoe to peruse him outside just as darkness is about to fall.
Unable to return home in the inclement weather, they take shelter in a recently
forsaken cabin. There they meet a man with severe murderous intentions, and a
young man with even more so… though with a heart that is still as innocent as
the day he was born.
The Edge of Everything is an original masterpiece
in a sea of merely adequate young adult novels. I highly recommend it for
maintaining its pulse pounding plot alongside a heartbreaking, clear eyed look
at difficult familial relationships. Jeff Giles is extremely adept at making
you care and grieve for characters even if they get little page time. The
romance, while admittedly quick to occur, is tender and genuine. It goes beyond
the surface of the otherworldly boy meets average girl trope and challenges the
reader to differentiate between superficial infatuation and the act of loving
someone more than yourself. Best of all, the novel exudes lighthearted humor
that will appeal to teens while also teaching the importance of mercy and why
it is essential for personal well-being.
MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: Jewels, 12th
grade
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