Charlotte has always been content in the shadow of her two best friends at the prestigious Weston Preparatory Institute. Ariel is daring and mysterious. Devon is beautiful and brilliant. Although Charlotte never lived up to the standards of the school--or her demanding mother, Dr. Gruen--her two best friends became the family she never had. When Ariel and Devon suddenly commit suicide within a month of each other, Charlotte refuses to accept it as a coincidence. But as the clues point to a dangerous secret about Weston Prep, Charlotte is suddenly in over her head. There's a reason the students of Weston are so exceptional, and the people responsible are willing to kill to protect the truth . . . With suspense and danger at every turn, Danielle Rollins keeps readers on the edge of their seats with this haunting thriller. Gr 8 Up—Charlotte knows that she is attending the prestigious Underhill Preparatory Institute in New York only because of her mother, a famous research scientist. She is content to stay in the shadows of her two friends, Ariel and Devon. The three of them used to joke that they represented different fairy-tale princesses—Ariel was the Little Mermaid, Devon was Snow White, and loyal Charlotte was Cinderella. When both of her friends supposedly commit suicide, Charlotte begins to wonder if something is very wrong at the school. Then she finds a tiny bottle of serum that one of her dead friends left her with the words "Drink Me" written on it. As Charlotte tracks down clues, she becomes uncomfortably aware that her mother and the local medical center are involved in the mysterious happenings. Students are being experimented on, and people have died in order to keep the secret hidden. This fast-paced read is just right for those who enjoy a little science fiction mixed in with their mystery. VERDICT Fans of medical mysteries with bioethical issues, such as Nancy Werlin's Double Helix and Nancy Farmer's The House of the Scorpion, will enjoy this page-turner. A good choice for most YA collections.—Deanna McDaniel, Genoa Middle School, OH "This tightly wound, sci-fi-tinged mystery is a beautifully plotted combination of unexpected twists, sudden scares, and uncanny moments . . . From eerie beginning to explosive end, this mystery belongs on all shelves." - starred review, Booklist "Full of twists, angst, and a bit of romance . . . Fans of the first will clamber for this second, as will those who enjoy dark, character-driven mysteries." - VOYA "Boarding-school fans will appreciate the lush yet foreboding descriptions of a place where attendees are so driven they don’t even pause to celebrate achievements and everyone hides something behind perfectly white toothy smiles." - BCCB "Plot twists and well-crafted intrigue will keep pages turning until the end." - Kirkus Reviews "This fast-paced read is just right for those who enjoy a little science fiction mixed in with their mystery . . . Fans of medical mysteries with bioethical issues, such as Nancy Werlin’s Double Helix and Nancy Farmer’s The House of the Scorpion , will enjoy this page-turner." - School Library Journal "Stephen King's Firestarter meets Walter Dean Myers' Monster . . . . With its subtle yet timely commentary on police brutality, interracial dating, and LGBT rights, the novel addresses contemporary issues without didacticism. A wildly fulfilling and frightening read." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BURNING " Burning is Firestarter for the next generation! Vivid, suspenseful, and tautly-wound, this book reads like a love letter to the modern thriller genre. Teens will relate to the accessible, well-drawn characters and tight pacing." - Micol Ostow, author of AMITY and THE DEVIL AND WINNIE FLYNN on BURNING "Chilling--think 'Mean Girls' meets 'The Exorcist' . . . a fast-paced thrill-ride." - MTV.com on THE MERCILESS "Pretty Little Liars fans, get a sneak peek at your new favorite book." - Seventeen Magazine on THE MERCILESS Danielle Rollins is the author of Burning , in addition to the Merciless series and Survive the Night under the pseudonym Danielle Vega. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and spends far too much money on vintage furniture and leather boots. www.daniellerollins.com @dvegabooks