Melanie Brockmann

I knew from the prequel novella that I'd enjoy this book and I did. The stakes are higher here for Skylar, and very personal, because the small girl for whom she babysits is kidnapped and everyone seems to believe the girl's father is the kidnapper/killer. Everyone except Sky and her friends. This book had an actual creepy factor for me--getting Sasha home safe was always urgent and on everyone's minds no matter what else was happening. Also, it was cool to see Sky learning more about who she is and what she can do.… (more)

Something always happens before. Before Skylar knew what being "one of us" meant, before all the bad things happened, there was one day at school that wasn't much like any other.

It's a good day, at first, because Sky meets Calvin. And it's a good day because nobody dies. But aside from that, there's a girl, with some guns and some scary dreams, who is very, very dangerous.

This story stands on its own, though it obviously fills in some cracks in the main Night Sky series. It's a good introduction to Sky and I think a very good introduction to Calvin and to the friendship he and Sky will have. (Calvin is African American and disabled. He could have been flat character, there just to fill out a checklist. But Cal and Sky acknowledge his race and his disability and in doing so they acknowledge the racism and ableism he experiences.) Plus, Cal is kind of a nerd and he and Sky have a goofy, happy friendship that's just fun to experience.

(Provided by publisher)… (more)

Skylar Reid is a normal teen until the little girl she babysits gets kidnapped. Then Skylar starts having nightmares and a mysterious girl and her boyfriend show up and tell Skylar that she's special; a hormone rages in her blood and it gives her some super powers. They then explain that there's a new drug being marketed called Destiny, and a key ingredient is this special hormone found in only a very few people, including the kidnapped little girl. I liked the story but I would have liked it a lot more if Skylar didn't suddenly become aware of these powers. It was just a little too convenient for my liking.… (more)