This book was such a pleasant surprise. Although I loved The Sopranos, I generally am not a mafia movie/story fan. I also wondered how someone was going to write a YA mob novel without making it so PG that it was laughable. I was certain the characters would all be straight from central casting with one cliche after the next. Thankfully, I was proved wrong, and this novel is the one I'm looking forward to the most book talking and getting students to read next August. This movie read like an action thriller. The pacing was spot on and the book contained many surprising plot twists. I absolutely loved the real life Chicago locales. In addition Goeglein incorporated a lot of Chicago history too. Being aware of these things and having visited many of the locations that are featured made this book especially fun. There were some negatives. I thought the scene on the Navy Pier Ferris wheel was some what comical. Also those that are looking forward to resolution at the end of the novel will be aggravated by the ending which fails to tie up many loose ends. I forgive these things because the novel was such an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book and think that junior high school language arts teachers should check it out because once one student reads this I definitely think it will cause a ripple effect that quickly has half the class having read this novel. It will sell itself. I also have added the sequel Flicker & Burn to my "to read" list. I have to find out what happens to Sara Jane. I hope her next set of adventures also is set in my beloved home town. I really, really wanted to like this book. It had so much going for it in terms of character and story, but in the end it kind of fell flat for me and I'm not sure why. Maybe it was Goeglein's overuse of the extended metaphor? Or the fact that he could have gone much deeper with the characters and less deep with the action sequences? Either way, great concept (kind of a cross between YA paranormal lit and The Godfather) that didn't quite live up to its own potential.
What do You think about Code Sara (2013)?
Having trouble getting into this book, I might come back to it later on
—DaniiB
Amazing!!!Can't wait for the next book to come out!!
—sammii
