Panic by Sasha Dawn
Published by Carolrhoda Lab (R) on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 154153574X
Pages: 312
Goodreads

This realistic novel for readers in grades 9-12 is a cautionary tale of online strangers, as well as, blended family issues.  Madelaine, who prefers to be called Lainey, has been performing in commercials and theater since she was little.  She has panic attacks and finds that it is easier to be a character then to share about herself with people.    Lainey has always felt she is pushed and pulled in the middle of her parent’s divorce with each other.  Now her mother, who has kept her own cancer resurgence a secret,  is taking her manager father to court again to pay for Lainey to attend a performing arts high school.  As the family pressure escalates, Lainey connects to a stranger online who says he is the author of the poems in folded origami figures that have been appearing wherever she goes.  At first, she feels  safe sharing thoughts, feelings and family situations with this stranger online, but it starts to have a stalking quality and she starts depending on her friends and step sister to help her identify honest and safe decisions to make.   Lainey’s voice feels real and readers will want to direct her to appropriate decisions.   There is some hint of romance between Lainey and her friend, Brendon, who is pansexual.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library