Baker, Chandler. Alive. Los Angeles: Hyperion, 2015.

For lack of a more creative word, I'm going to call this one a mind bender. Oddly, as I was reading, I was sort of thinking that I pretty much had this one figured out. Stella Cross has quite a story! Stanford bound on a swimming scholarship, her heart betrays her at just 15. She has become instead, a transplant patient trying to find her way in what feels like a very different world. She must adjust to being the formerly sick girl and the pain that continues to plague her...especially at 5:08 each day,She must deal with the bullies in her world. She must resolve her feelings about Henry, friends or more? At home she must deal with a new baby sister and her parents' over protectiveness and expectations. Enter Levi Zin. Stella is drawn to him immediately. Her aching heart feels better when she is with him. Easily, Stella leaves her old friends and past times behind to be with him.

So here is where I sort of thought I had things figured out, but enter weird dream like premonitions that are violent and horrifying. Enter a darker, more brooding, and violent Levi. Enter a murdered classmate. My expectations changed, and without spilling too much, I was in the middle of a supernatural thriller. I was not necessarily prepared for this transition; while foreshadowing is clearly present, the supernatural element was a long time coming. I worry a bit that my realistic fans and supernatural fans might be each just a bit frustrated.

I can, however, hopefully resolve much of this frustration through selling it properly. I'd like my girls especially to meet Stella. She is almost painfully real. I kind of wanted to shake her some times, and generally that makes her a very true to life teen girl. He friends, Brynn and Henry, are great examples of what friends should aspire to be. They are not perfect but are honest, accepting, supportive, and tough. Stella is not always an easy friend. I have issues with the development of Levi, but hesitate to write about those...would be spoiler. I just didn't always get him as a character, part of the suspense of the book at some level I suppose.

Alive offers a real picture of the life of the older teen. This includes their language, their parties, and their romantic relationships and hook ups. I would be focusing on my older and more mature readers. They generally appreciate the honesty of such books. They also appreciate the stand alone book, and this appears to be one. In a world where the trilogy seems to rule, this good paranormal novel is a refreshing read, that is 100% finished when the last page is turned. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.