Duncan, L. (1989). Don't Look Behind You.
New York: Hachette Book Group. ISBN 9780316126588
Plot Summary
April Corrigan's life is going pretty well. This high school senior is readying for prom with Steve, her boyfriend, and she is happy with the way things are. Her father, working undercover with the FBI, testifies and aids in the conviction of a major drug dealer, and suddenly a man in a starts stalking her family. Placed in the Federal Witness Security Program, April is cut off from everything and everyone she once knew. When she tries to contact her boyfriend, an agent's life is put in danger and the killer gets even closer to her family. April must figure out how to adjust to this new life while evading the danger of the past that is still following her.
Critical Evaluation
Many young adult books have characters that struggle with identity, but this one does so in a unique way. April was happy with her identity, and now she is being forced to change it, not to conform to some social group or because of peer pressure, but because her life actually depends upon it. She has a hard time reconciling this, and some of her decisions place people in danger. By the end of the novel she has learned that she must embrace her new identity or she will live is fear and invoke danger upon herself and family. She moves on, with difficulty, but adapts to her new life.
Reader's Annotation
Witness protection is currently keeping April Corrigan safe, but when she tries to contact her boyfriend she left behind, things begin to unravel.
Author Information
Lois Duncan is the author of dozens of children's and young adult books. She got an early start writing, and first successfully submitted and sold a manuscript by the age of 13. She is also the author of over 300 published magazine articles.
In the 50s, she briefly attended Duke University but dropped out upon becoming married. The marriage did not last, however, and she went on to teach journalism at the University of Arizona. She remarried, and had a daughter, Kaitlyn, who was murderded in 1989, shortly after Don't Look Behind You was published, which she sees as a premonition. The murder remains unsolved.
In the 50s, she briefly attended Duke University but dropped out upon becoming married. The marriage did not last, however, and she went on to teach journalism at the University of Arizona. She remarried, and had a daughter, Kaitlyn, who was murderded in 1989, shortly after Don't Look Behind You was published, which she sees as a premonition. The murder remains unsolved.
Genre
Fiction, thriller
Curriculum Ties
Reading and Language Arts
Booktalking Ideas
As April, discuss her motivations for wanting to contact her boyfriend Steve, weighing it against the dangers it poses.
Reading Level/Interest Age
This book ranks a 1020L on the Lexile Range. This range and the thriller genre make it ideal for ages 15-18.
Challenge Issues
Murder, violence, and drugs are all addresssed.
If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.
If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.
Reason Selected
Realizing that the author wrote I Know What You Did Last Summer, I picked up this book as an addition of a thriller to this library.
References
Lois Duncan. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2013,
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Duncan
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