01/08/2018
The son of the U.S. president and the daughter of a Secret Service agent wind up in a fight for their lives in this tense romantic thriller from Carter (the Embassy Row series). When they were young, Maddie Manchester was Logan’s only friend amid the isolation and strict protocols of the White House. But after her father was shot during an attempted abduction of the first lady, Maddie and her father moved to the wilderness of Alaska. For years, Maddie wrote Logan letters, but they went unanswered. So she’s furious when Logan’s antics get him sent to their tiny Alaskan cabin after six years of silence—she barely knows this suddenly tall (and handsome) boy. When Logan is kidnapped, Maddie—using her finely honed survival skills—sets out to rescue him so she can kill (or kiss) him herself. The characters are dynamic and engaging: Maddie’s hypercompetence and all-business attitude contrast deliciously with Logan’s jokey sarcasm. The teens’ childhood friendship evolves into a sweet romance, and the fast-paced thrills will keep readers up late. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary. (Mar.)

Praise for Not If I Save You First:* "Gripping and smart, this book will appeal to readers looking for a thrill-ride with some darker twists." — Booklist, starred review"A tightly plotted thriller helmed by a firecracker that never loses her spark." — Kirkus ReviewsPraise for All Fall Down (Embassy Row Book One):A New York Times Bestseller"Carter knows how to construct a gripping thriller." — Publishers Weekly"Action packed and meticulously plotted, All Fall Down keeps readers guessing." — Booklist"With its intrigue and clever plot twists, this series opener will leave readers hungering for more." — School Library Journal"Will appeal not only to psychological-thriller fans, but to those who want a little glamour, some A-list social politics, and a bit of high school nastiness mixed in with their suspense." — Kirkus Reviews"Grace is a fighter, and she will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her mother. Readers will love this first book in what promises to be an exciting, thrilling mystery series." — Voice of Youth Advocates"An amazing book." — The Guardian

03/01/2018
Gr 7–10—Logan is the only child of the First Family. Maddie is his best friend and daughter of the man at the head of the president's security. Right before a dinner for some dignitaries from Russia, the teens meet up in a secret hallway and find two men hurriedly walking through speaking Russian. The men end up pushing a food cart covered in a table cloth that's hiding the First Lady, who has been kidnapped. Logan activates his secret security button, and the hallway is immediately filled with people, shouting and gunfire. The remainder of the book is the result of this event, six years later. Writing from a remote cabin in Alaska, Maddie hopes to hear back from Logan. Meanwhile, Logan is still in Washington, D.C., trying to get out from the shadow of his family name. That is hard to do when your dad is currently still in office. Things with Russia haven't improved, so Logan's shenanigans could put him in a dangerous situation. He's transported to Alaska so that Maddie's dad can keep an eye on him. City boy Logan doesn't know how to respond to survivalist Maddie and they quickly discover that even remote Alaska is not far enough to run away from the Russian threat. The chemistry and relationship buildup between these two friends is real and believable. Maddie's skills in the wilderness are unmatched. Through trying to survive and escape, Maddie and Logan are able to reconnect and heal some old wounds while outsmarting all the other adults. The quick pace and witty dialogue will keep teens engaged. VERDICT Recommended where survival and mystery stories are popular and where Carter has a following.—Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR

Maddy, the daughter of a Secret Service agent, and the president’s son, Logan, battle Russian assassins and the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness in this high-stakes thriller. Narrator Brittany Pressley smoothly matches the tone of the story, which bounces rapidly between teen angst and life-or-death combat. She excels at voicing teenage Maddy, using a heavy Valley Girl cadence when Maddy is relying on the assassins to underestimate her and dropping it almost entirely when Maddy draws on her survival skills to stay alive and to save Logan. Listeners who like smart, snarky teen protagonists and a healthy dose of chaste romance with their action will enjoy this stand-alone from young adult mainstay Ally Carter, who wrote The Gallagher Girls series. E.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

2018-01-22
Estranged best friends must come together to survive man-made threats in the harsh Alaskan wilderness.Maddie and Logan, both white, were best friends at age 10. Maddie's father's job was to keep the president safe, and as the president's son, that meant Logan too. But when Russians attempt an attack on Logan and the first lady, everything changes. Maddie's father decides they must move somewhere with no phones, no internet, no access. Soon Maddie and Logan are thousands of miles apart, she in rural Alaska and he in the White House. For six years there's no contact; Maddie spends two years writing to him with no response. She becomes skilled in the ways of the wilderness, her anger at Logan building. His perspective highlights a privileged, reckless life, leading the president to administer a unique punishment: staying with Maddie and her father in Alaska. But Logan brings dangerous baggage with him, and with her father away for the night, it's up to Maddie to keep them both safe. Maddie's grit, humor, and cleverness make her an engaging action hero. Logan's less dynamic, hyperfocused on ensuring Maddie's safety when she's not the one who needs saving. Fans of survivalist fiction will be impressed by the well-researched, immersive Alaskan landscape and all its beauty and brutality.A tightly plotted thriller helmed by a firecracker that never loses her spark. (Thriller. 14-17)