Crossing the Line by Meghan Rogers - OPTIONAL

Rogers, Meghan Crossing the Line (Raven Files 1), 351 pages.  Philomel (Penguin), 2016.  $18.  Language: R (44 swears, 8 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (short bloody scenes). 

Ten years ago, Jocelyn was a little girl who was kidnapped by North Korea.  Brutalized, Jocelyn was turned in to a super spy and sent on missions against the country of her birth.  She has been North Korea’s most productive spy, ruthlessly taking out (though not killing) American spies after the same items.  Now, hoever, Jocelyn has been sent to America as a double agent.  What North Korea doesn’t know is that Jocelyn has been waiting for this chance, to turn herself over to America, during her entire captivity.  Will anyone in America actually believe that she is sincere?  Will the other spies give her a chance to prove her honesty after all of the times she has hurt them?

This book had a real chance to be a great crossover all the way down from high school to elementary school if it weren’t for the swear count – rarely did the situation justify their use.  The cover looks too young for most high school students, but it might make a good reluctant reader pick.

HS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher