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, 11:37, 31 December 2011
{{infobox
|title=The Repossession
|author=Sam Hawksmoor
|reviewer=Robert James
|genre=Teens
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9780340997086
|paperback=0340997087
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=384
|publisher=Hodder Children's Books
|date=March 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340997087</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0340997087</amazonus>
|website=http://http://www.samhawksmoor.com
|video=
|summary=Stunning sci-fi novel, with an exceptionally likeable central pairing and a fast-moving and exciting plot. Totally crazy in the very best way.
}}
Genie Magee hasn’t seen her boyfriend Rian all summer. In fact, she hasn’t seen anyone all summer – apart from the creepy worshippers of the Church of Free Spirits, whose leader Reverend Schneider has persuaded her mother she’s possessed, due to her strange mystical gift. Rian hasn’t stopped thinking of her, though, and has hatched a daring plan to rescue the love of his life and escape the town of Spurlake – but their escape will lead them into a situation more dangerous than they could ever have imagined.
I’m loath to give too much away about this one, other than to say it’s sci-fi, with Genie’s gift adding a paranormal tinge, it’s utterly implausible, incredibly far-fetched, and absolutely, breathtakingly, wonderful. Genie and Rian are my new favourite couple in young adult fiction (on a side note, it’s interesting to see a couple who are in an established relationship right from the novels start rather than the developing romance which seems more common at the moment.) The people who help them, and the villains, are well fleshed out characters and the plot, even if it is pretty crazy, moves at a cracking pace and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right until the end. Normally, the news that there’s a sequel (in August, I believe, so not too long to wait!) would have given me certain expectations – but when reading this thrillingly unpredictable novel I honestly couldn’t guess what would happen next at any point.
Oh, special mention for the setting of Spurlake, a place where thirty four children (thirty six, including Rian and Genie) have disappeared from recently, and which starts the novel about to be devastated by a flash flood. It’s a massively spooky setting with very few people who can be trusted, and really adds to the tension of the novel as the pair try to avoid the fate which may have befallen the other missing kids.
Absolutely huge recommendation as a book which will surely be one of the best of 2012; I can see this one selling massively and winning huge acclaim. Roll on book 2!
For more superb young adult sci-fi, I'm a big fan of Michael Grant's excellent [[Gone by Michael Grant|Gone]] series.
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