Under Threat

Written at a fourth-grade reading level, this addition to the Orca Soundings line offers an immersive blend of high-stakes mystery and frank discussions about reproductive rights. Seventeen-year-old Franny Green loves riding horses and is head over heels for her girlfriend, Leah, but someone is threatening violence against Franny’s parents, both doctors who perform abortions at the local hospital. Stevenson skillfully interweaves multiple viewpoints on the issues raised, true-to-life dialogue, and an escalating sense of tension as she explores the psychological stress Franny is under and the toll it takes on her romantic and familial relationships. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)