Cut Me Free

Piper has grown up living locked in her parents’ attic along with her younger brother, Sam; finally, at age 17 (she thinks) she escapes to Philadelphia, free for the first time, though she leave a trail of bloodshed behind her and carries no small amount of trauma with her. With the help of Cam, a handsome teen she hires to forge an ID and establish a new identity, Piper becomes Charlotte Thompson and tries to start over. That isn’t easy, especially after she meets a terrified girl in the park, obviously abused, who Charlotte feels compelled to rescue. Soon Charlotte is being hunted by someone who knows who she really is, and whose threats become increasingly terrifying. Johansson (Paranoia) never loses sight of her determination to instruct readers about the evils of human trafficking and child abuse, but her story suffers from sensationalism. Charlotte’s reasons for not seeking out or trusting the police are never fully justified, further stretching the limits of believability in this grim, brutal novel. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kathleen Rushall, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Jan.)