I was introduced to an intriguing new novel via Twitter, the Traz by Eileen Schuh. The subject is Katrina, a 12-year old "brainiac," computer-whiz, proficient in physics, learned hunting and survival skills from her grandfather, meditation, self-care and herbology from her grandmother, grew up in a chaotic home with an alcoholic, unloving mother who fights constantly with her policeman husband. Gradually, Katrina experiences more and more loss - her grandfather, and then ultimately b More...

My Thoughts:

The Traz is well written and beautifully set up. The author definitely has a plan for the whole series, and its gonna be good. That’s the impression that grabbed me immediately. The author is not afraid to go “there” with it – I would imagine most writers would shy away from a darker, less Disneyfied version of the life of a 13 year old girl who’s beautiful and wealthy. (Yes, I’m making up words again.) And hey! Guess what? Not a vamp or shifter in sight, which is always a More...

Review Written by Michelle @ Reading Lark

The Traz is well written and beautifully set up. The author definitely has a plan for the whole series, and its gonna be good. That’s the impression that grabbed me immediately. The author is not afraid to go “there” with it – I would imagine most writers would shy away from a darker, less Disneyfied version of the life of a 13 year old girl who’s beautiful and wealthy. (Yes, I’m making up words again.) And hey! Guess what? Not a vamp or shifte More...

Eileen Schuh's "The Traz" which is the first novel in the BackTracker series is a compelling read that will keep you turning pages.

The heroine, Katrina, is orphaned at 13 and left with nowhere to go and no one to turn to. She is brilliant (a member of Mensa), wealthy and beautiful. She meets Shrug, a much older biker and member of the The Traz motorcycle gang.

She goes with him to live at the Traz's compound in the backwoods of Alberta. At the compound Shrug pro More...

The very first publication of the first of Schuh's Back Tracker Series sets the pace for an amazing story for loss, love and trouble.

I immediately fell in love with Katrina, a young girl who is dealing with her alcoholic mother and loving, doting father. When her admired and respecting grandmother passes, then her grandfather dies she is left with depending on her dad but who needs to focus his efforts on healing her mother. She feels alone, with an inheritance which could last her lif More...

I enjoyed reading The Traz, although initially I was a little uncomfortable with how young Katrina was but maybe that's because I'm a parent myself and was looking at it from an adult point of view, rather than that of someone who could more closely relate to Katrina in age. That doesn't mean, however, that adults won't enjoy or even benefit from reading The Traz as much as the YA audience. Through the story line, it addresses some interesting social issues, bringing to life some ambiguous and c More...

I was fortunate to stumble upon author Eileen Schuh and picked up The Traz. For those that read any of my other reviews, you know that I'm not great at them (so bear with me), but I will say that this book is certainly worth picking up and investing the time to read.

Working in law enforcement I see a lot of things and Schuh managed to write a wonderful book deeply rooted in truth and reality. For me, it was a psychological glimpse of how teens get trapped in a life of crime. But it w More...

Received this copy free in return for review - to be posted shortly

----------
I really enjoyed this book, am quite happy reading YA as long as it doesn't descend into patronising the reader, which this doesn't!
It's easy to identify with Katrina and the book shows well how easy it is for even an intelligent person to slip into bad choices and how these can easily spiral out of control until there is no simple way out and just how overwhelming this can be.
The writing and la More...

Can't wait for the sequel!

In this first installment of the BackTracker Series by Eileen Schuh, the reader is introduced to the often desperate existence of genius-teen Katrina who finds herself orphaned. Yearning "to belong" Katrina attaches herself to biker Shrug and follows him into the insular society of the compound. Drugs, financial crime, pornography -- Katrina leads us down the road of error and consequence.

Author Eileen Schuh completes her work with a " More...

Eileen's first novel in her series is incredible! My weekend was gone because I couldn't put it down!
The storyline and dialogue among the characters is first class. Can't wait to find out what happens to them!

The Traz tackles the evil side of gangs, in the book it is a motorbike gang, The Traz. The Traz is the first book in a series and in this book the reader is introduced to a young and very unhappy 13 year old girl who finds herself caught up in this violent mans world. She is a surviver, but nothing is quite what it seems as she eventually finds out. The book ends with the reader wanting more. The perfect end for Schuh as there are more books to follow. I throughly enjoyed The Traz and look forwa More...