HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick

Scheduled for release October, 2009, this book fits in to the YA paranormal pantheon with the others.

Although it takes a while to unfold, it's a fast and entertaining read. Nora is a goal oriented teen until she's paired with new student Patch in biology class. Then everything in her life changes. Nora knows there's something dangerous about Patch, but when the people in her life start getting hurt and she feels likes she's being stalked, she doesn't know who to turn to. Her friend Vee is more interested in exploring her hormones then listening to Nora's warnings. Nora has to ultimately trust Patch if any of them are going to get out of the mess their in alive.

There's great, unfulfilled sexual tension throughout the book between Nora and Patch, which makes it readable by a teen of any age. Vee is extremely selfish as a friend, encouraging Nora to continue to see a guy who's been physically abusive just so she can have a date with his friend. As an adult, I get the message that you have to think for yourself and protect yourself no matter what peer pressure is there, but I believe the message is too subtle for the average teen who may actually go through something like this.

There are familial connections that aren't really fully explored until the end of the book and some aspects that aren't explored at all. In the prologue, Chauncey is visited by a boy who turns out to be a fallen angel. But it never seems that Chauncey has put it together that the fallen angel must be his father as Patch, Chauncey and Nora all have the same birthmark on their wrists. Since Patch says he was the first fallen angel, and needs to kill a descendant of his Nephilim, it only makes sense. But the author never says they are father and son, nor does he address Nora's potential since she should be part Nephilim also.

Mrs. Green aka Daria, is also a hanging item. The reader will immediately get that she wants Nora to stay as far away from Patch as possible, but Nora never seems to question her demand for Nora to stay away from him other than she believes he has a troubled past.

I really wanted to like this project and it was an easy and fast read, I just can't quite say I thought it was great.