CM Magazine: Tangled Web.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 8 . . . . December 15, 2000

Tangled Web.

Shelley Hrdlitschka.
Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers, 2000.
240 pp., pbk., $8.95.
ISBN 1-55143-178-5.

Subject Headings:
Twins-Fiction.
Extrasensory perception-Fiction.
Adoption-Fiction.
Criminals-Fiction.

Grades 7 - 9 / Ages 12 - 14.

Review by Tom Knutson.

** /4

excerpt:

For the second time in less than a week, Tanner lay awake most of the night. Possible scenarios of the next day's reunion with his birth mom ran through his mind like takes from a movie in progress. He'd been longing for this reunion ever since he'd met Alex and had discovered he was an adoptee, but he hadn't been foolish enough to think it would happen so quickly.
But it had.
In two short weeks he had initiated a search, contacted his birth mother and set up a reunion. In that same time period he'd also had a week of hockey camp, a week at the university with Dr. Montgomery, he'd practically been murdered by Alex's dad and he'd met Zoe, hot and wicked Zoe, who was coming onto him big time. He also knew his life was in grave danger until after the trial.
No wonder he was having trouble sleeping.

For young fans of crime thrillers, Hrdlitschka's sequel to Disconnected brings twins Tanner Bolton and Alex Swanson together again in a whirlwind of drug dealers, kidnaping, psychic phenomena and family intrigue. Separated at birth, the brothers were reunited 14 years later through their psychic connection. Now, one year later, Tanner returns to Vancouver to spend two weeks with his "new" sibling, bringing with him a plan to search for their birth mother. In the meantime, Alex's abductor, Hap, is free on bail and plans to silence Alex before he can testify at his trial. Alex must stop him, and devises a dangerous scheme that involves Tanner. With the help of the Internet, the two plans of action merge into one tale of suspense and drama.
As with Disconnected, the primary shortcoming in Tangled Web is the dialogue, particularly its attempt to portray Alex and Tanner as "cool" teens. Likewise, the voice given to adults contributes little to their character, rendering them flat and uninteresting. Despite this drawback, the story is fast paced and will likely appeal to those readers more interested in action than character.

Recommended with reservations.

Tom Knutson chairs the Young Adult and Children's Section (YAACS) of the British Columbia Library Association.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - December 15, 2000.