The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - OPTIONAL

Hodkin, Michelle  The Evolution of Mara Dyer, 527 pgs.  Simon and Schuster, 2012.  $17.99  Content: Language: R (80 swears; 14 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

This is the second book in the Mara Dyer trilogy.  The first book left Mara in a police station screaming because she thought she saw her supposed dead ex-boyfriend, Jude.  Her screaming turned into an “episode” and she wakes up in a mental institution.  Mara tries to convince her psychologist, Dr. Kells, and her mother, who is also a psychologist, that she just had an episode because of her post traumatic stress disorder and that she isn’t actually schizophrenic.  Mara has very loving parents and two sweet brothers who want the best for her, she also has a boyfriend, Noah who has special powers like Mara and seems to understand her when no one else believes her.  Noah and Mara have to battle the very alive and cruel Jude, while convincing Mara’s doctors and parents that she believes he is dead.  Noah and Mara’s fight against Jude turns violent and Mara ends up in a permanent resident mental institution where Noah and Mara uncover the truth behind Mara’s and Noah’s abilities. This is an intense read that is hard to put down.  

I loved the character development in all the characters, both major and minor.  The story moves along quickly with different revelations throughout and it is fun to guess what the answers to Mara’s problems are going to be.  The book does leave the reader anxious for the third and final book.  This novel has a lot of “F” words, which makes it optional, but if it didn’t have those swears, I would put it as essential.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.