Need by Joelle Charbonneau (trailer included)

2015, HMH Books for Young Readers

In the small town of Nottowa, people aren't aware of what's truly happening....

Kaylee Denham needs something. Her brother is slowly dying and there doesn't seem to by anyone that can help him, nit even her best friend Nate, who needs to pass a final after winter break.

Amanda sees their friendship and doesn't understand why Nate would even bother with Kaylee. Another one of Amanda's worries is trying to get those concert tickets. Everyone would be so jealous!

Jack, Nate's brother broke his phone again...and he was the first to get what he needed. There are others....Bryan wants a gun, Syndney needs money and the list goes on and on. And that's when the website Need came into their lives.

CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO NEED—THE NEWEST, INVITATION-ONLY SOCIAL MEDIA SITE FOR NOTTAWA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. JOIN YOUR FRIENDS IN DISCOVERING HOW MUCH BETTER LIFE CAN BE WHEN YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH AN ANONYMOUS WAY TO EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS AND ARE GIVEN THE TOOLS TO GET THE THINGS YOU NEED.

  One click of a button and an answer to the question posted on the site: WHAT DO YOU NEED? After Kaylee, Hannah, Nate, Jack and the other click on the button, their request is processed.

Everyone on the Need site knows each other because it's only for their high school. What they don't know is who is behind the site. What they care about is getting their requests fulfilled. What they don't understand is that you never get anything for free. All you have to do is a little harmless errand, something as simple as a note slipped somewhere, cookies delivered to someone's door, a simple receipt put in among the others.

  But it's all of those little things that begin to snowball, and now people are dying and lives are in danger. Kaylee is beginning to see the pattern, but it still isn't clear who is behind Need and the errands that are slowly becoming more malicious and complicated. There is a pattern..but is it too late?

NETWORK MEMBERS—657 NEEDS PENDING—652 NEEDS FULFILLED—109 The site is slowly growing, but membership is slowly dropping....

Joelle Charbonneau has written a fast-paced novel that will keep readers entranced not only in the story, but in the character development that happens alongside the plot. Written in small chapter and in various character voices and point of view, Charbonneau creates a web of lies and deceit that the reader will become entangled in, wanting to know the final answer. Quick, smooth, and electrifying, once the page is turned, there's no going back for the reader. it takes awhile to fully realize the characters because of so many voices in alternating chapters, but Charbonneau sharpens the reader's insight the more they read. It's definitely a book where you have to become invested in all of the characters, not just one. Highly recommended for HS