The Nightworld by Jack Blaine

Nick is used to taking care of himself; his mother has been dead for years, and his father is a scientist who is constantly absorbed in his work. Now it's the beginning of summer vacation, and Nick just wants to hang with his friends and try to get a date with his crush, Lara...but his dad is suddenly acting weird and over-protective. Then a dense, dark cloud appears in the horizon one night. It rapidly covers the sky, blocking out the sun, and it doesn’t go away. It's completely gloomy 24/7, and Nick finds himself suddenly alone in this dark new world. Piecing together clues left by his father, Nick struggles to make sense of what's going and survive the best he can with his friends.

Jack Blaine's latest book is a riveting and thrilling read. Nick is a great believable narrator—he's smart, witty, and he thinks on his feet. He has to undergo a lot of change and a lot of heartbreak in a short amount of time, but he never gives up. Through unexplained violence, theft, and the revelation of shocking secrets about his father, Nick keeps moving forward, trying to figure out what his next move should be when no one has any answers. He eventually finds his way to Lara, and the two of them team up to try to figure out how to get to safety and determine what the objects left behind by Nick's father mean. If there is even a way to ever reverse the darkness, they’ve got the best chance to figure it out. The tension and sharp action will keep even the most reluctant reader hooked as Nick finds that when faced with death, people can be cruel and calculating. With themes of fear, humanity, compassion, and courage, The Nightworld is a quick, edge-of-your-seat read that is reminiscent of Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, and an open ending that leaves room for more.

Cover Comments: I like the darkness of the cover, and the slanting perspective on the figure walking away. It's a neat cover, very simplistic and affecting.

This one is available as a $3.99 e-book now, and will be out in paperback from HarperTeen on April 24th, 2012

Digital copy purchased.