Not If I Save You First

January 8, 2018
The son of the U.S. president and the daughter of a Secret Service agent wind up in a fight for their lives in this tense romantic thriller from Carter (the Embassy Row series). When they were young, Maddie Manchester was Logan’s only friend amid the isolation and strict protocols of the White House. But after her father was shot during an attempted abduction of the first lady, Maddie and her father moved to the wilderness of Alaska. For years, Maddie wrote Logan letters, but they went unanswered. So she’s furious when Logan’s antics get him sent to their tiny Alaskan cabin after six years of silence—she barely knows this suddenly tall (and handsome) boy. When Logan is kidnapped, Maddie—using her finely honed survival skills—sets out to rescue him so she can kill (or kiss) him herself. The characters are dynamic and engaging: Maddie’s hypercompetence and all-business attitude contrast deliciously with Logan’s jokey sarcasm. The teens’ childhood friendship evolves into a sweet romance, and the fast-paced thrills will keep readers up late. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary.

Starred review from February 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Maddie Manchester has spent the last six years isolated in the Alaskan wilderness. Apart from her father, who brought her to Alaska after a near-fatal incident as a secret service agent, Maddie interacts with no one, forcing her to become physically tough and mentally acute. Her old lifeincluding her best friend and presidential son, Loganhas become a distant memory. That is, until Logan shows up at her door after one too many acts of rebellion for his parents' tastes. He's taller and hotterand then, suddenly, missing. Maddie is immediately thrust into a desperate hunt to save Logan from his kidnappers, armed with only her wits and know-how (and more than one strategically hidden knife). It is no surprise that the author of the Heist Society and Gallagher Girls series has delivered another fun thriller with equal parts action and angst. Maddie falls right in line with Carter's other protagonists as a canny and capable heroine. While the premise of the book is just as high concept as Carter's previous offerings, the delivery is grittier and more visceral, while still indulging in some teen romance to lighten the complex tale of revenge and loss. Gripping and smart, this book will appeal to readers looking for a thrill ride with some darker twists. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: An author tour should help keep Carter in demand as ever.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

March 1, 2018

Gr 7-10-Logan is the only child of the First Family. Maddie is his best friend and daughter of the man at the head of the president's security. Right before a dinner for some dignitaries from Russia, the teens meet up in a secret hallway and find two men hurriedly walking through speaking Russian. The men end up pushing a food cart covered in a table cloth that's hiding the First Lady, who has been kidnapped. Logan activates his secret security button, and the hallway is immediately filled with people, shouting and gunfire. The remainder of the book is the result of this event, six years later. Writing from a remote cabin in Alaska, Maddie hopes to hear back from Logan. Meanwhile, Logan is still in Washington, D.C., trying to get out from the shadow of his family name. That is hard to do when your dad is currently still in office. Things with Russia haven't improved, so Logan's shenanigans could put him in a dangerous situation. He's transported to Alaska so that Maddie's dad can keep an eye on him. City boy Logan doesn't know how to respond to survivalist Maddie and they quickly discover that even remote Alaska is not far enough to run away from the Russian threat. The chemistry and relationship buildup between these two friends is real and believable. Maddie's skills in the wilderness are unmatched. Through trying to survive and escape, Maddie and Logan are able to reconnect and heal some old wounds while outsmarting all the other adults. The quick pace and witty dialogue will keep teens engaged. VERDICT Recommended where survival and mystery stories are popular and where Carter has a following.-Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2018
Estranged best friends must come together to survive man-made threats in the harsh Alaskan wilderness.Maddie and Logan, both white, were best friends at age 10. Maddie's father's job was to keep the president safe, and as the president's son, that meant Logan too. But when Russians attempt an attack on Logan and the first lady, everything changes. Maddie's father decides they must move somewhere with no phones, no internet, no access. Soon Maddie and Logan are thousands of miles apart, she in rural Alaska and he in the White House. For six years there's no contact; Maddie spends two years writing to him with no response. She becomes skilled in the ways of the wilderness, her anger at Logan building. His perspective highlights a privileged, reckless life, leading the president to administer a unique punishment: staying with Maddie and her father in Alaska. But Logan brings dangerous baggage with him, and with her father away for the night, it's up to Maddie to keep them both safe. Maddie's grit, humor, and cleverness make her an engaging action hero. Logan's less dynamic, hyperfocused on ensuring Maddie's safety when she's not the one who needs saving. Fans of survivalist fiction will be impressed by the well-researched, immersive Alaskan landscape and all its beauty and brutality.A tightly plotted thriller helmed by a firecracker that never loses her spark. (Thriller. 14-17)

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