What They Don't Know

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

It all begins with a science fair project. Hannah’s sudden moodiness,
her poor performance and disruptive behavior in school, her resentment
of her new stepmother, Caryn, and, most of all, her angry outbursts
toward her adored father far surpass the typical hormone-driven angst of
a 14-year-old. What possible connection could there be? Yet Hannah,
accompanied by her new “friends,” seems intent on destroying not
only herself, but her entire family.

Told by her older sister, Kelly, Hannah’s gripping story is a
nail-biting page-turner right from the opening paragraph. The author
prefaces many of the chapters with notes, school report cards, receipts,
etc., from Hannah’s secret box, adding to the suspense while providing
clues to the reason for Hannah’s destructive behavior. Late junior-
and intermediate-grade readers won’t be able to put this intriguing
and perceptive novel down until the last page is turned. Anita Horrocks
has written a winner! Highly recommended.