Girl from Nowhere

Growing up moving from country to country due to her parents’ diplomatic duties, Sophia Hepworth,16, is not like other girls her age: she is fluent in 14 languages, has training in various weaponry, and retains several traumatic memories. But when her parents retire to settle in the Montana ski town of Waterford, Sophia must try to fit in and make friends. Catching the eye of Aksel Fredricksen, a Waterford High senior with sharpshooting abilities who seems to be hiding something, Sophia begins to adjust to life, even as her training and sixth sense warn her that someone may be following her. As Sophia’s past catches up with her and her relationship with Aksel deepens, she begins to discover more about her parents, their true jobs, and who she really is—including her role in the machinations of an international terrorist conspiracy. Unpolished prose, gratuitous gun violence, and a plot that includes a grizzly attack and an avalanche in quick succession may deter readers, but for those who don’t mind suspending disbelief, debut novelist Rosenhan writes a fast-paced spy thriller with enough twists and turns to keep readers entertained. Ages 13–up. [em](July) [/em]