Rewind

Reviewed by: Noelle Gallant - Saco Middle School, Saco, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 21, 2018

Review

In this sci-fi novel by first-time author Carolyn O'Doherty, 16-year-old Alex is one of the Spinners; she can freeze and rewind time, which proves to be a useful skill when it comes to solving crimes. But when she realizes the doctor in charge of the Spinners' care is poisoning them to control their time-control abilities, Alex finds herself in more trouble than she bargained for. While the concept of the book and its plot are fascinating and will likely appeal to middle school readers, the writer's style lacked depth and structure. There were times when the exposition seemed overwrought and overexplained. On the plus side, this book features a strong female lead who outsmarts several bad guys and resolves conflicts in a powerful way. Fans of David Levithan's _Every Day_ and _Another Day_ or Victoria Laurie's _When_ would likely enjoy O'Doherty's debut.

Overall Book Score: fair