Consumed - Softcover

Abbie Rushton is a winner of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Undiscovered Voices competition. She has a degree in English Literature with Creative Writing from the UEA, Norwich. Abbie used to be a part-time children's bookseller, and now works in publishing, where she edits literacy resources for primary schools. Abbie loves to travel, and has explored places such as Peru, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Iceland and Morocco. She is probably planning her next adventure right now! Consumed is her second novel.

Gr 9 Up—A girl with agoraphobia and a boy with an eating disorder solve a dangerous mystery in an English seaside village. Myla, whose sister was murdered, believes that the man convicted is innocent, which also means that the killer is still on the loose. She develops severe agoraphobia and has panic attacks when outside, so she confines herself in the house and hasn't left for two years. Jamie, running away from his mom's abusive boyfriend, seeks refuge at his aunt's home as he grapples with control and self-worth by starving himself. As Jamie helps Myla overcome her illness, Myla realizes that she must find her sister's killer before he strikes again. But when Myla herself is kidnapped, it's up to Jamie to save her, whether his body is strong enough or not. Even though the plot relies too heavily on many YA tropes (dead sisters, girls confined to their homes, romance as cure-all), Rushton pens an absorbing page-turner that will appeal to teens of all ages. Additionally, this is a welcome contribution to books on food struggles because it focuses on male disordered eating. The characters are believable, the plot is intense, the romance is sweet, and the mystery remains a mystery until the end. VERDICT A solid selection for fans of Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver and Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon.—Jessica Holland, University of Kentucky, Lexington