Counting Backwards

Lascarso, in her debut novel, shows a keen understanding of residential treatment facilities and the mindsets of the teenagers admitted to them. After stealing a car and running away from home, Taylor (whose family has Seminole origins) lands in Sunny Meadows, a "therapeutic boarding school." From day one, her focus is on getting out. Her refusal to participate in the program, heated outbursts, and failed escapes earn her notoriety among her peers, who begin to keep their distance. Only two residents%E2%80%94Margo, Taylor's assigned mentor; and mature, soft-spoken AJ%E2%80%94express a desire to understand who she really is. Finally, Taylor accepts that her best bet for dismissal from the facility comes through cooperation rather than defiance, and she opens up about her alcoholic mother and domineering father. Although some plot details (like the ease with which Taylor obtains forbidden keys) are improbable, and the protagonist's healing process follows a predictable arc, Taylor is a layered character. Readers initially put off by her stubbornness and dishonesty will soften as details of her painful childhood and resulting vulnerabilities come to light. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. Agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Aug.)