Daughter of Deep Silence

April 13, 2015
Ryan (the Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy) takes on a saga of teen vengeance through the cold and assured voice of Frances Mace. At 14, Frances went on a cruise with her parents and met Libby, a sparkling extrovert from an immensely wealthy family. The ship was taken out in a commando-style attack and sank, but there were survivors—ambitious Senator Wells; his son Grey, with whom Frances had a shipboard romance; and Frances herself. But why does the Wells family insist a rogue wave took out the ship? Libby’s grief-stricken father takes Frances in, with the caveat that she impersonate his dead daughter to avoid the “paperwork” of adoption—though he’s not averse to spending months at a European hospital while Frances undergoes facial surgery. Four years later, with finishing school behind her and her faux father dead, Frances uses her wealth to wreak havoc on the senator and the boy who broke her heart. It’s a TV-ready plot that’s skillfully told, but without the consistent insight or empathy that would make it truly hit home. Ages 14–up. Agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House.

September 28, 2015
As narrator Vacker performs this revenge tale, her voice portrays tightly wound intensity, smug satisfaction, and heightened fear, all depending on where the story takes her. Francis has spent four years plotting revenge upon the people responsible for the death of her family and her dear friend, who were killed when armed men attacked the cruise ship they were on. Francis and Libby escaped in a life raft, but Libby died after a week on the ocean. A senator and his son were the only other survivors, and they have been lying about what happened on the ship. Francis was taken in by Libby's father and given Libby's identity to protect her from the attackers. Four years later, and Francis is ready to take her revenge on the senator and his family. The story starts strong, then turns rather unbelievable. Vacker holds it together and reads with the same energy and intent throughout. She channels quaking fear, calm certainty, shameless mendacity, earnest longing, and bitter rage, sometimes all emanating from the same character, and she manages this extraordinary feat while keeping listeners rapt to this over-the-top revenge tale. Ages 14âup. A Dutton hardcover.