Burnout

I don't read much contemporary YA fiction. I'm not sure why. I guess part of me feels a story is always better with a science fiction element, or a zombie thrown in.
I wanted to read Burnout because it takes place on Halloween, or the day after- depending on whether or not you count flashbacks.

There are no supernatural elements in this story. Still, it is one of the spookiest, page turn-y novels I have read in years.

Nan wakes up on a subway car. She is covered in makeup, shoeless, and is wearing a costume that is way too tight. On top of that, Nan cannot remember the last 24 hours.
The story alternates between NOW, and what Nan is doing to figure out what has happened to her, and THEN. The flashbacks are really well done and the reader gets to know Nan, her mother, and her crazed best friend Seemy through these glimpses of the past. I was only a little disappointed in the end, which wrapped up nicely, but a little too conveniently for me. That is why I went with a four star and not five star rating.

I couldn't put it down, and at 208 pages it is a short read. The pages will not turn fast enough, and this is a perfect autumn release.
I highly recommend it for readers who loved Imaginary Girls (like me!), who read Lois Duncan, or who want a fast paced mystery. Good stuff.