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Don't Turn Around (PERSEF0NE #1)

by Michelle Gagnon (Goodreads Author)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 1,106 ratings · 342 reviews

After waking up on an operating table with no memory of how she got there, Noa must team up with computer hacker Peter to stop a corrupt corporation with a deadly secret.

Hardcover, 309 pages

Published August 28th 2012 by HarperCollins

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Sep 18, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, contemporary

Wildly exciting with never ending action, Don't Turn Around is perfect for fans of Lisbeth Salander and Bourne Identity.

With a bang, we begin this fast paced, nail biting thriller that takes us inside a story filled with conspiracies and lies, and how two hackers are gunning for the truth. If you're looking for a high-action plot you're definitely at the right place. There is no room to breathe in this novel, let alone relax. It begins and ends with your adrenaline pumping. It's exciting; keepi...more Wildly exciting with never ending action, Don't Turn Around is perfect for fans of Lisbeth Salander and Bourne Identity.

With a bang, we begin this fast paced, nail biting thriller that takes us inside a story filled with conspiracies and lies, and how two hackers are gunning for the truth. If you're looking for a high-action plot you're definitely at the right place. There is no room to breathe in this novel, let alone relax. It begins and ends with your adrenaline pumping. It's exciting; keeping me up reading late at night, though it does have a few quirks that holds it back from becoming a truly amazing read. Like character development.

First we meet ~~Lisbeth~~ Noa who has hacked herself into an independent life to escape the evils of foster care. I liked her instantly. Although not as mentally messed up, nor as characteristically fleshed out, Noa's hacking and resourcefulness reminded me quite a bit of Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Greater development would have helped make her a more memorable characters like our dear Lisbeth, but I did enjoy her nonetheless. Noa's foster care upbringing was not ideal, so what we do get is an apprehensive, keep-to-oneself, young woman who is just now starting to let people in. Thus, we do still glimpse at who she is at large, and for a first book in a series with so much happening, lack of greater depth is not a very prominent issue. At least, it didn't stop me from absolutely devouring this novel! Alongside Noa, we're introduced to Peter who is vastly different from her if only for the fact that he grew up in a rich household, and with parents who seem to have gotten way over their heads into something abysmal. I found Peter's character to be even less established than Noa's, never quite getting a feel of who this kid is except a hacker. I still found his voice fairly easy to like.

With dual gender POVs some of you may expect a romance, so let me tell you that this book does not have a romantic subplot, which didn't bother me in the least as I felt it wouldn't be a good fit for this story in any case. Still, the author tries to work a tiny bit of romance in the plot which, as the novel fails to bring forth any chemistry between the characters beyond a mere acquaintance relationship, I found these instances quite awkward and out of place. I think I will be disappointed if any romantic relationship does germinate between them in the future. They make a great team as hackers, romance doesn't always need to pop it's head - especially when it's ugly.

As others have mentioned, I do agree that we're left with an abundance of questions when the book ends. We do amass some details throughout the book relating to the major plot points, but we only merely scratch the surface, leaving a mountain to discover in the next installments. I'm particularly interested in digging deeper inside the medical side of the plot; a new terrible disease that targets teenagers is just what I need to quench my thirst for some terrifying mutated illnesses that kills. What? Is this a weird fetish?

With its freaky, creepy cover, I highly recommend Don't Turn Around for readers who enjoy action packed, incredibly fast paced thrillers that include fascinating medical evolution and research.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Feb 19, 2013 * Booksessed * Bec rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 1-reviews-for-authors, persephone

Book provided by author

what can I say. I received it in the post today after winning it in a competition. I couldn't put it down. brilliant story. it was fast paced, action packed, full of suspense. I never knew what was going to happen next. I loved noa's character. that's one tough cookie lol I know I would have been hysterical if I woke up on a metal bed in a strange place. It was one of those books that keeps you guessing and turning the page. The story line was really interesting. I'm not s...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Scott Pilgrim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Find this review at Scott Reads It

Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon is a Young Adult thriller that takes place in the city of Boston. Everything about Don't Turn Around for me was fascinating and made me want to read it desperately. The cover is just so interestingly designed and made me very inquisitive. The description was enticing but the selling point for me was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Don't Turn Around was being compared to Dragon Tattoo which is one of my all time favorites.

No...more Find this review at Scott Reads It

Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon is a Young Adult thriller that takes place in the city of Boston. Everything about Don't Turn Around for me was fascinating and made me want to read it desperately. The cover is just so interestingly designed and made me very inquisitive. The description was enticing but the selling point for me was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Don't Turn Around was being compared to Dragon Tattoo which is one of my all time favorites.

Noa is not your average teen. She's a runaway from foster care and she is a computer hacker. She wears all black, is very pale, and had a mother who failed her. Noa has bad memories associated with fire and is an Apple junkie. For crying out loud, all the clues are here! This none other than a carbon-copy of Lisbeth Salander, the heroine of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Noa fails to live up to her older role model because there is only one Lisbeth. No character could be as kick ass or awesome as Ms. Salander. It's just not possible frankly.

The plot of Don't Turn Around was very promising and it did deliver. The pacing was fast in the beginning and the ending. During the middle of Don't Turn Around was not as interesting and a bit tedious compared to the rest of the book. I really liked the whole idea of /ALLIANCE/ and the hacking segments of the book. Clearly this book was well researched or Michelle Gagnon is a computer nerd. I really wish I was as handy with computers as the main characters.

The problem is that I couldn't connect with the characters. Peter and Noa were just nothing extraordinary, personality wise. The reader doesn't get developed backgrounds of the characters as needed. We know basic information but we don't know enough to feel connected to the characters. You can't empathize or like a character if you can't connect with them.

Don;t Turn Around was action-packed and had an interesting plot. The problem is that the reader lacks a connection to the characters. In my opinion Gagnon was too concerned with trying to make a Dragon Tattoo, that she didn't focus on character development. I really liked the action of this book but I think a bit of romance would be a great addition to the book. It really sounds like I didn't like the book based on my review but it's not the case. Don't Turn Around was a mostly fast paced, and action packed mystery with an interesting premise. I am a bit annoyed because the end didn't tie up nicely and I had more questions left unanswered. I am not sure if I will read the sequel to this book because it was just a decent read. (less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Mona rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemporary, thriller

Freaking awesome! Stay tuned to www.paperbackdolls for full review.

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Wow! What an incredible book! This fast paced and exciting YA kept me up reading long after I should have been in bed. But I couldn’t put it down. So many mysteries, so many coincidences, and so much like real life you’ll wonder if it’s actually fiction.

After waking up in a warehouse with an IV in her arm, Noa makes a daring escape. Meanwhile, across...more Freaking awesome! Stay tuned to www.paperbackdolls for full review.

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Wow! What an incredible book! This fast paced and exciting YA kept me up reading long after I should have been in bed. But I couldn’t put it down. So many mysteries, so many coincidences, and so much like real life you’ll wonder if it’s actually fiction.

After waking up in a warehouse with an IV in her arm, Noa makes a daring escape. Meanwhile, across town, Peter indulges in his favorite pastime…hacking his dad’s files…only to end up on the floor with a bunch of gun toting thugs in suits stealing his laptop.

Peter wonders what the file he stumbled across has to do with the thugs accosting him, but no one will give him a straight answer. So he turns to one of the best hackers in the business, Rain, aka Noa.

Noa needs money so she can remain hidden and find out what the hell is going on and why she has an incision in her chest. Peter’s hacking request provides the money, and her research also provides some answers for her. But soon, she and Peter are on the run trying to stay a step ahead of the goons with guns and trying to stay alive. It’s not as easy as it would seem.

When friends start turning up dead simply for helping them, Peter and Noa realize whatever they’ve uncovered is bigger and more complex than they ever imagined. When all else fails, they still have their worldwide network of hackers ready and willing to help. Never underestimate the power of the technologically gifted.

An incredible story of intrigue that will keep you guessing and reading and biting your nails, Don’t Turn Around is fascinating. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to learn what happens with Noa and Peter.

The sad thing about it is, with so many children in the ‘system’ in real life, it’s not impossible to imagine something like this actually taking place. So many kids run away and end up living on the streets, how do we know some unscrupulous corporation isn’t abducting them and using them as guinea pigs? Farfetched? Maybe, but then again, maybe not.
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Nov 13, 2012 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-arc, reviewed

Well hello there younger version of Lisbeth Salanadar, how are you doing?

I was not a huge fan of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for some reason, I just couldn't like the characters, the story the mystery and everything else was fine and dandy, but I really could care less who was doing the actual solving of the mystery. Don't Turn Around and Noa specifically, is basically a younger, easier to like version of Lisbeth with a touch of the movie "Eagle Eye" as well.

When Noa wakes up on a hospit...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Elle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: at-the-library, didn-t-get-it, fiction, mystery, not-realistic, suspense, wtf, young-adult, trilogy

This started off OK, got weird and then I decided I didn't like this very much at all. Too many contradictions, too unbelievable in places and I didn't connect with any of the characters. This book reads like various books and movies I've read/seen and I was more impressed by those than this novel. This is nothing like Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, yet I get the comparison. It has more of a wannabe teen runaway novel with secret corporation agenda and ends with a nod to The Matrix. I'm disappointed...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

4.25 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from Goodreads.

Noa Torson has been in and out of the foster care system for almost a decade and, through her knowledge of hacking, was able to eventually get out of the system and set up a fake family for herself, thus ensuring she would never have to see the inside of a The Center, the place she lived between foster homes, ever again. Peter’s a rich kid who has everything he could ever want, except for warm, loving parents. Both are hackers; Noa’s just...more 4.25 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from Goodreads.

Noa Torson has been in and out of the foster care system for almost a decade and, through her knowledge of hacking, was able to eventually get out of the system and set up a fake family for herself, thus ensuring she would never have to see the inside of a The Center, the place she lived between foster homes, ever again. Peter’s a rich kid who has everything he could ever want, except for warm, loving parents. Both are hackers; Noa’s just about the best at what she does and Peter’s set up a hacktivist site called /ALLIANCE/ (could someone explain the need for the / bracketing the name to me?!) that targets sexual predators, animal abusers and basically anyone who preyed on the weak.

Right at the start of the book, the reader is thrown into the thick of things, with Noa waking up on a metal examination table with no memory of how she got there. And soon after we’re introduced to Peter, he inadvertently hacks a site that will bring him more trouble than he ever imagined, involving people he’d never imagined. I was surprised that Amanda had as big a role as she did, though it wasn’t huge, and am curious to see if she’ll factor into the next book and if so, to what extent. There’s also a mysterious person aiding Noa, though we don’t really find out much about them in this book, leading me to believe they’ll have a much bigger role in the next.

For the longest time, you really don’t have too much of an idea of what’s happening or why, and the author left out one piece of information until halfway through the book that could give you some idea of why things are happening. After you have that vital bit, it’s easy to figure out what’s going on, though she’s quick to clue you in herself. I actually loved how you were sort of left floundering as to what was going on with the plot for quite some time, as many stories dive right in without any build-up. All you have for the first half of the book is build up, plenty of action and lots of questions. Many of those questions get answered in the second half of the book, there’s even more action and the set-up for the second installment comes right at the end.

Noa’s a great character, smart, fast thinking and resilient. She doesn’t trust people easily and isn’t a character who’s going to fall into the arms of some guy and depend on him to save her, as she’s more than capable of taking care of herself. Yet, she’s smart enough to know when she needs help and is able to accept it.

Peter’s also a good character, his home life is crap and things just keep getting worse and worse for him as the book goes on. Though he wasn’t in it too much, I totally loved Cody. As for Peter’s parents, they’re so self-centered and shallow, I really didn’t like them and doubt if there’s any way they can be redeemed as characters in subsequent books.

I have one suggestion for Ms. Gagnon. If you’re going to write about a vegan, you should do the bare minimum of searches to find out what they are, as nobody who is actually a vegan, especially an ethical vegan, would wear a wool coat or hat or anything else that comes from an animal.

If you like mysteries; lots of action; shadowy, morally-challenged organizations; strong female characters; and aren’t put out that there isn’t really a romance (though there is the possibility of one in the future, but the question is between which of the characters will it occur), you should definitely check out this book.
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Jul 12, 2012 Maja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: edelweiss, all-action, debut-author, failed-to-impress, highly-anticipating-2012, multiple-povs, open-ending, ya, reviewed-in-2012

Noa has spent almost her entire life in the system, changing foster parents far too often. Along the way, she became extremely good with computers and she somehow managed to create a false foster family for herself, make a lot of money online under the name of her non-existent foster father and rent a great apartmen. But because of her lack of personal connections, she is targeted by a group that performs illegal medical experiments on human subject. At the beginning of Don’t Turn Around, she wa...more
Noa has spent almost her entire life in the system, changing foster parents far too often. Along the way, she became extremely good with computers and she somehow managed to create a false foster family for herself, make a lot of money online under the name of her non-existent foster father and rent a great apartmen. But because of her lack of personal connections, she is targeted by a group that performs illegal medical experiments on human subject. At the beginning of Don’t Turn Around, she wakes up in a warehouse on an operating table with a huge scar on her chest and with absolutely no recollection of how she got there. She somehow manages to run, but she is cut off from her money and her things, and she has nowhere to go.
Peter’s parents are obscenely rich, but ever since his brother died from a rare disease, he might as well be an orphan. His year older girlfriend just started college and is drifting away and he’s not really interested in anything but the website he created for his group of hacktivists. One day, while going through his father’s files, he stumbles upon a URL and when he tries to access it, armed men storm into his house, threaten him and take away his laptop. Completely terrified, but still curious, Peter turns to the best hacker from his site, which happens to be Noa. Pretty soon it becomes clear that their goal is the same, but that doesn’t mean they instantly trust each other.

Don’t Turn Around is an action-packed adventure that leaves you no time to relax, blink or even breathe. Before I started reading, I was curious about the title, but it soon became very clear. The main characters are being chased from one place to the next throughout the book and turning around to look at their pursuers is rarely a good idea. Although separately, both Noa and Peter are on the run the entire time, always trying to find somewhere safe to huddle with a laptop and learn more about the people hunting them. Since they’re both on their own, running, hiding and fighting back using minimal resources, the book has very little dialogue, but it is very fast-paced. The rapid pacing was exhilarating at first, but it soon became exhausting - it left me a bit dizzy and actually physically tired.

Fans of romance will be heavily disappointed. Dual perspective has been growing in popularity, especially in YA, and in most cases it means that the two main characters will eventually fall in love, sometimes very early in the story, sometimes a bit later. Noa and Peter don’t even meet properly until the second half, and even then there’s a lot of distrust between them, so there’s really no real romance to speak of. Peter is heartbroken and Noa is, for the most part, just broken, and even though they’re occasionally attracted to each other, that’s as far as it goes. Personally, I didn’t mind that one bit, but I know there will be a lot of frustrated readers out there.

If you’re expecting any kind of closure from this book, you will be disappointed. The ending is not exactly a cliffhanger, but nothing is resolved either. At one (pretty random) point, the story just stops. Nevertheless, I have no intention of reading the sequel, I just didn't develop any emotional attachments to these characters.

Also posted at The Nocturnal Library (less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Fly To The Sky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review also appears on my blog,Read Books and Live Green
Going into this book, I was pretty sure I was going to like it. I mean come on, it’s got an AMAZING concept and that opening scene was fantastic, to put it mildly. The question then was; how much am I going to like this book. The answer to that was A LOT!! So here is my breakdown of the book.
THE PREMISE
Noa is an orphan, which means no one cares. She escaped the system and has been on her own, going as far as to creating a fake family...more This review also appears on my blog,Read Books and Live Green
Going into this book, I was pretty sure I was going to like it. I mean come on, it’s got an AMAZING concept and that opening scene was fantastic, to put it mildly. The question then was; how much am I going to like this book. The answer to that was A LOT!! So here is my breakdown of the book.
THE PREMISE
Noa is an orphan, which means no one cares. She escaped the system and has been on her own, going as far as to creating a fake family. When she wakes upon a metal table with an IV on her arm, she is understandably frightened. So she, fights her way out and manages to escape. Peter, the rich boy, is bored, so he snoops through his father’s desk and finds a file about the AMRF. He does not leave it at that and instead he hacks into the AMRF website. Twenty minutes later men in black break down his front door, take his laptop, and tell him to make sure that his parents call the man called Mason. That is where Peter’s and Noa’s stories first start which eventually leads to them meeting each other.
THE PROS
1. I loved Noa. She was a great character with lots of depth. I love how the author gave her a reason to react to the situations as she did. So many times you will read a book and wonder why a character chose to do that instead of doing the more logical thing. I also loved that she was a great hacker.
2. Peter. He was pretty awesome, too, though he was nowhere as near as awesome as Noa was. I liked him and his story.
3. The concept. This was a great concept. I loved how they were trying to figure out why Noa was in that lab and also how they used their hacking skills to get things done!
4. The other characters. I loved how evil some of the characters were and all of the different personalities.
5. The writing style. I loved all of the descriptions and the flow of the book! I could not put the book down!
THE CONS
1. There was so much death. It seemed like so many people, including a character that felt unnecessary. A lot happened before the book started, like Peter’s brother and Noa’s parents, but it was just a bit much.
OVERALL
I loved this book. I was fun, fast, and a great read. There was not a lot that I found wrong with it. (Not that I was really looking) I was a really great read and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series!!
WOULD I READ THIS BOOK: YES!!! :)
WOULD I BUY THIS BOOK: YEP!
WOULD I REREAD THIS BOOK: YES
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK: YEAH, to like everyone above like 12(maybe older, seeing how there was violence)
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE: I CAN’T WAIT!!!
WILL I READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR: YES!
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Sep 25, 2012 Sudha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: won-firstreads

ARC Review- Greatly paced and well written story. Told in third person from deferent perspectives, the excitement builds. Go into the minds of a few major characters seeing what happens from different distances and sides. I couldn't put it down. There was always something that stopped me from dropping it out of my hands. A new discovery! What will they do? Their attackers on to them! Where will they go? Each thing they do completed a new puzzle piece for the mystery, the characters. You won't wa...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Parvez rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I got this book through Goodreads giveaway section. This is the first book I received from giveaway and glad to be one of the first ones to read it.

The short summary/intro of the book got me interested, specially when it was linked to Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Sadly, it was a bit disappointing. Not one of the books that made me keep turning the page and find out what happens next. Also, the characters felt somewhat under developed. May be my expectation was too high....more

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Nov 14, 2012 Sara Ahmed rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Whatever you do, don't turn around. Just keep going. That's what I feel the title is perfect for, you cant turn back you can only go forward into the book. And trust me, you keep those pages turning! I loved the badass that is Noa, and the adorable toughness that was Peter. They make such a splendid team.

Let me just say this, this book makes me want to become a hacker. Its so cool how they do it, and pretty much just having that kind of skill with a computer. I WANT THAT SKILL! I was greatly ant...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finishedreviewcopy

Originally posted on

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Aug 23, 2012 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc

Review originally posted http://hobbitsies.net/2012/08/dont-tu...

I don’t know why, but I was a little wary of Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon. But you know, one moment I was 12 pages in and the next I was closing the book and it was one in the morning.

Don’t Turn Around is engaging and intense and definitely sucked me in. I loved where the storyline went – it’s definitely an action packed book with lots of chase scenes, but even when there was downtime, I was invested in the story.

I had mixe...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Whitney.williams19 williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a good book. I like it. It's like a scary but drama book.
i would probly want to be a hacker becaue i can do anything i want. i liked it becuase it tells a story of how a kid became something he didnt want to be and how people use comupters as hackers to control the world and what some people could do if they became trapped in a somewhat like computer world. if i could be a hacker it would probaly to get rid of all the pops ups and things that can maker your comptuer go slow.

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Oct 16, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, science-fiction, young-adult

Just finished reading the book and really enjoyed it! First of all: I instantly fell in love with the cover. It caught my eyes and I had to read the blurb. And well, since I love hacker stories, I had to buy the book and read it. :)

The book had just the perfect mix for me. Hacking, weird medical surgery, suspence, a little science fiction and dystopia. It's like a mix of Bourne Identity, Coma and The Matrix. ^^
I'm afraid I don't agree with all the reviewers who match Noa with Lisbeth Salander. N...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Armchairdreamer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya-children

A great book with a strong female character that reminded me a lot of Stieg Larsson's character Lisbeth Salander! I loved the storyline and the way it ended unfinished, making me excited to read the next book in the series. I am just sorry I have to wait so long until its release.

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Oct 11, 2012 Olivia rated it 4 of 5 stars

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

I am very glad it showed up in my mailbox, because this is a book I won't soon forget...

It starts out intense and proceeds to be a consistent page-turner the whole way through. Most of the time I read this book I was nervous for both Noa and Peter. Would they get out alive? Would they be able to unveil the nasty AMRF schemes? It kept me on the edge of my seat. (well, couch and bed, rather)

The best part of this book is knowing that there's bound to be m...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, mystery-thriller

A fast read, this action-packed thriller read a little like Coma or Extreme Measures, but it was well done and Noa the main character is kickass. I didn't know that it was going to be the start of a series, and would have preferred it to have been wrapped up, one-and-done. I don't know that I'll read the next one, but it was a good thriller. It will make a good movie.

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Aug 20, 2012 Yarethzia rated it 5 of 5 stars

was definitely not what I expected. I felt as though I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. If you could only buy and read one book this year, this would be it.
review;
http://booknookgirl.blogspot.com/2012...

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Sep 16, 2012 hannah added it

Shelves: ya-books

Didn't want to like it, and didn't realize it was a trilogy beginning (why, gods, why can't books just be books!?!?!?!?), but stayed up pretty late not able to put it down. Review to come on teenreads.com

Review here: http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/dont...

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Sep 28, 2012 Flora Ibarra rated it 5 of 5 stars

fabulos!!!! susspensfull. worth every word!

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May 09, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Summary:
Noa wakes up with cold feet and bright lights. Normally, this would just be irritating, but when she notices the IV in her arm, bandage on her chest, and guys attempting to keep her in a little glass room she knows something is horribly wrong. After a daring escape attempt that leaves everyone's blood pumping, we follow Noa through finding out what was happening to her. What medical experiments were done on her? How many others are there? The first thing Noa needs is money. Unfortunately...more Summary:
Noa wakes up with cold feet and bright lights. Normally, this would just be irritating, but when she notices the IV in her arm, bandage on her chest, and guys attempting to keep her in a little glass room she knows something is horribly wrong. After a daring escape attempt that leaves everyone's blood pumping, we follow Noa through finding out what was happening to her. What medical experiments were done on her? How many others are there? The first thing Noa needs is money. Unfortunately, this is where Peter comes in.

Peter is caught snooping through his dad's folders in a very bad way, someone breaks in and steals his computer. What happened to just getting grounded? Anyways, he turns to the one person in the hacker community he thinks can spy a little deeper without getting caught. This happens to be Noa. The two first meet up and exchange some money, but their paths eventually become completely entwined as Noa finds out more about what was done to her and Peter finds out how deep his parents are involved.

With lots of death and sleuth work, Don't Turn Around leaves characters and readers alike breathless with anticipation on how deep these experiments really go and what limits do those chasing Noa actually have.

My thoughts:
I think my summary clearly shows how much I enjoyed this novel. I honestly could not put it down. I even bought and downloaded the audio so that I could continue listening in the car while driving to work. This is a thrill ride and the smart, tough heroine is a character to root for. I think the best part is that as you are going through the story, you get completely lost in it. There were several times I felt myself questioning if such actions were really taking place. I mean, would we even know? If we did, would there be anyone who could protect us? I love when an author can blur the lines between fiction and reality so well. I honestly can not wait until the next book comes out. How will Noa and Peter end up saving the day? Will they be able to stop such horrible actions from happening to more and more street kids? Also, who do we know we can trust? Oh, I really can't wait! (less)

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Apr 15, 2013 P.M. rated it 3 of 5 stars

16 year old Noa wakes up on an operating table in a warehouse. 17 year old Peter is bored while home alone so he snoops on his father's computer. When black clad thugs smash down his door and take his laptop, Peter, the creator of an on-line hacking site, vows revenge. That's where Noa comes in. She has escaped the warehouse, is on the run, and needs money. She accepts Peter's request to hack the site Peter was perusing. The more Noa finds, the more frightened she becomes because some of the fil...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Kat Heckenbach rated it 2 of 5 stars

I should have read the author bio first. Actually, I didn't need to: "bestselling author in adult market"..."this is her first YA novel." I've gotten to where I can spot these books in the first pages. I am tiring of reading those words. Every single time they go with books I can't finish. I am going to start looking at the bios *first* from now on.

There is something different about the tone, focus and pacing of YA novels and "this is his/her first YA novel" generally translates into a voice tha...more

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Jan 25, 2013 The Twins Read rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: purchased, michelle-s-shelf

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read .

Noa is always on the run. As a foster child, she knows how hard it is to trust someone, so imagine her horror when she wakes up strapped to a hospital bed with no recollection or whatsoever of how she ended up there. Peter Gregory may have the lifestyle of a carefree rich kid, but he's actually the founder of a hacker group that attacks cyber criminals. When he finds new company files in his father's laptop, Peter knows that the whole jig s...more This review can originally be found at The Twins Read .

Noa is always on the run. As a foster child, she knows how hard it is to trust someone, so imagine her horror when she wakes up strapped to a hospital bed with no recollection or whatsoever of how she ended up there. Peter Gregory may have the lifestyle of a carefree rich kid, but he's actually the founder of a hacker group that attacks cyber criminals. When he finds new company files in his father's laptop, Peter knows that the whole jig sounds exceptionally shady - especially when men in black come bursting into his life and threaten the lives of his family, and even his estranged college girlfriend. As Noa and Peter find themselves conspiring with each other to take the company down, they must move fast because the people they're attempting to bring down will only be too happy to make sure they are silenced as well.

I have never read The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, so you can color me clueless as how to gauge this book on that front. What I do know is that Noa is street smart and different in a good way (no witticisms, no snark that is totally uncalled for, some things that typical young adult heroines are just known for). I was pleasantly surprised that it's a gritty and edgy book - I didn't even expect something like this from the publisher at all! The best thing that I liked about this book was how raw these teens are portrayed as, and that they're more than their feelings, and actually think and act far more mature than their age. These characters are so lifelike that I wouldn't be surprised if I walk past either of the characters in the grocery or at the mall. Peter wasn't someone I'd picture as a usual YA male protagonist either. He was handsome, of course. Cocky, well that goes without saying. But there's something about him that's so tangible that I could just tell where his sense of such vigilantism stems from, which obviously still goes beyond his brother's demise. I think Gagnon's characters have this uncanny ability to jump out of the pages and should they attempt it, can actually blend in successfully in our world.

Another thing that I like is that there are no forced romantic scenes with regards to the two main protagonists. I just don't like it when characters are forced to go out of their way just to include romance when it obviously does not suit the progression of events, so props must be given for making the situation on that front credible and appropriate.

However, where characterization is Gagnon's forte, I couldn't say the same about the plot. In all actuality, it is a very simple plot - two teenagers on the run from the bad guys, and what fuels this book, I believe, are all the action scenes. Noa's involvement in it all wasn't exactly the most exciting thing in the book. When I found out the reason for all this relentless pursual, I was kind of indifferent, and practically went, "Wait, what? That's it?" I found all this running and chasing after the two protagonists getting tedious and stale as I was turning pages. I get that they're supposed to be always on the run given that they're both wanted, but all the running and hiding has had me thinking that Don't Turn Around would be better suited for the movie screen, instead of being confined in the pages of a book.

Despite it all, I obviously can't fault Don't Turn Around for only delivering what it promised, which is an action-packed book starring two rebellious teens on the run for their lives. . If Gagnon had given the plot the same amount of depth she gave her characters, I'm guessing this could have worked out better for me.(less)

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Jan 04, 2013 Kristen Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book when Amazon was doing an edeal, and finally got around to reading it (because apparently it was doing pretty well on the charts (wherever those are...)). Anyways, I was immediately pulled in and placed right in the middle of the plot. Before I knew it, I was right along with Peter and Noa and Cody and Amanda. I found the writing style a nice read, and even though I have absolutely no computer background, the terms the author used and described the characters doing various t...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, ms

The first in a new series, this YA thriller has pretty decent pacing and action. I liked the concept, and found it to be a quick read. I thought the main characters, Noa and Peter, were likable, but I wanted more depth in them so that I could feel more connected to them. The story begins when Noa, a kid who was raised in the foster system after her parents died, wakes up on some kind of metal table, clearly after having had some kind of medical procedure. She figures out pretty quickly that she...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Ela Chwatko rated it 5 of 5 stars

Don't Turn Around follows Noa, a sixteen-year-old girl fending for herself after running away from The Center, and Peter, a seventeen-year-old boy with rich parents who never seem to care about him unless he is in trouble. The two of them meet after Noa escapes from a warehouse that has experimented on her and agents break into Peter's house after he was looking through some of his father's files. The book follows their story while they try to figure out what Project Persephone,the project that...more Don't Turn Around follows Noa, a sixteen-year-old girl fending for herself after running away from The Center, and Peter, a seventeen-year-old boy with rich parents who never seem to care about him unless he is in trouble. The two of them meet after Noa escapes from a warehouse that has experimented on her and agents break into Peter's house after he was looking through some of his father's files. The book follows their story while they try to figure out what Project Persephone,the project that Peter found in his father's desk, is, while at the same time trying to run away from any agents that are still after them. This book conveys the theme that you shouldn't underestimate people based on their appearance or their family. Both Noa and Peter can be used as evidence to support this. Noa has runaway from The Center,a place kids stay until they get adopted by a family. She was tired of going from one family to another. Therefore, she went around the system. She created a fake family and used the father's job to earn money. After she ran away from the warehouse she woke up in, she couldn't go back to her apartment and was forced to keep moving around. She wasn't able to shower for days, even weeks, at a time. However, she was a genius with computers. She was an amazing hacker. Yet, based on her appearance and the fact that she didn't really have a family, besides the fake one she made up, no one would expect her to be so smart, cunning, and quick-witted. Peter lived in a wealthy family. He had his own car, the newest MacBook, and pretty much everything he could ever want. Therefore, him being amazing with computers doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, he set up a hacking website, /Alliance/. He, and other hackers, would go after people who hurt others or do something illegal and make sure that they are caught, or at least punished in some way for their actions. This was a surprise to me because I wouldn't think that someone that could possibly be spoiled and egocentric because of that would be concerned about other people and do something like this. He also doesn't strike me as the type of person who would do something illegal and run away after his father threatens to throw him out of the house if he gets caught doing that again.
Noa started out as fending for herself. She escaped from the warehouse and made sure that she was safe. She moves from place to place, making sure that the people that experimented on her couldn't catch her. However, after Peter runs away from his house and his girlfriend's dorm,he ends up meeting with Noa again. This time they decide to stick together. From this moment, Noa begins to not only think about herself and how she will escape or find a place to hide, but she starts to think about where they will go and how they will find out why they are being chased after. She includes Peter in her decisions, plans, and actions. She begins to worry about her and his safety. By the end of the book, she begins to treat him almost as if he was her brother.
I would definitely recommend this book. It is a fast paced. I felt as though there was no unnecessary parts to it. It has many moments that suck you in and keep you reading for hours. Even though both main characters are amazing with computers, the computer talk is understandable. It was easily one of my favorite books and I feel in love with the plot. It was a great book and I would recommend it to people who enjoy a mystery mixed with action.(less)

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Nov 14, 2012 Richie Partington rated it 5 of 5 stars

Richie’s Picks: DON’T TURN AROUND by Michelle Gagnon, Harper, September 2012, 310p., ISBN: 978-0-06-210290-4

“Voices intruded on the perimeter of her consciousness – two people from the sound of it, speaking quietly. She tried to sit up, and that was when the pain hit. Noa winced and fell back on the bed. It felt like her chest had been split in half. Her hand ached, too. Slowly, she turned her head.”

When teenager Noa Torson awakens on a brightly-lit operating table, she’s hooked up to an IV, and...more

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About Michelle Gagnon

Michelle Gagnon is a former modern dancer, bartender, dog walker, model, personal trainer, and Russian supper club performer. Her bestselling adult thrillers THE TUNNELS, BONEYARD, THE GATEKEEPER, and KIDNAP & RANSOM have been published in North America, France, Denmark, Spain, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. BONEYARD was a finalist for a 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Exc...more

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“For most people, home we represented by four walls and a roof. Not for Noa. She preferred a motherboard to a mother, a keyboard to house keys. Nothing was more comforting than the hum of a spinning hard drive.” — 2 people liked it

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