Await Your Reply

Await Your Reply
by
Dan Chaon
adult fiction
thriller/crime/mystery

Chaon's novel is a quick and lively read set in today's America. He launches three parallel stories about persons who don't wish to be found. How does someone evade being detected in today's world? Some persons steal other persons' identification - becoming (on paper) someone new. Others try to live undetected. What does it take in today's world to reinvent one's self? What if you pretend you are from another state and adopt a new accent? What if you lie to loved ones?
One story line follows a brother trying to find his schizophrenic twin. Another line shows an 18 year old young lady who takes off for a more glamorous life in Nebraska. Nebraska? The third plot traces a male college student who left school and never went back after he was mistakenly declared dead.
Ohio readers will find a number of places in Ohio mentioned - Pompey, Cleveland, Euclid Heights, and more. The author lives in Cleveland and teaches at Oberlin College.
Generally I am not into thriller/crime/mystery novels, but this one was pretty good. There is one grisly scene, but that is the only one.
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In an unrelated note, I wonder how CHAON is pronounced?

My Abandonment

My Abandonment
by
Peter Rock
Adult or Young Adult Fiction

Thirteen year old Caroline and her father live in the forest outside of Portland, Oregon. Her father constantly warns Caroline that they are not like other people and can not be tied down with a house or too many possessions. From the very beginning this book is creepy and suspenseful. When will the authorities catch up with them? Will they be captured? Will they survive? Is Father's paranoia justified?
I don't want to say too much because the best part about this book is the "not knowing".
If you can't wait for the next Jodi Picoult book, have read all the Margaret Peterson Maddix books, and are a fan of Jon Krakauer, this is the book for you. It is short and a quick read for teens or adults.
My library put this in the adult section. This book is one of the winners of the Alex Awards given to adult books that young adults will enjoy.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/alexawards/alexawards.cfm
The scariest part is that it is based on true events.
Read it, then pass it along to a friend, age 15-99.