Touch: 1 (Denazen Novel) - Softcover

Accardo, Jus

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1937044459 ISBN 13: 9781937044459

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC, 2011

Synopsis

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home. Except there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll turn to dust if he touches her. It's not until Dez's father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there's more to this boy-and her father's "law firm"-than she realized. Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation-an organization devoted to collecting "special" kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons-his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they're caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe. A secret Kale will kill to protect. Except, there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll turn to dust if he touches her. It's not until Dez's father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there's more to this boy-and her father's "law firm"-than she realized. Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation-an organization devoted to collecting the "Afflicted" and using them as weapons-his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Afflicted hell bent on taking down Denazen before they're caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe. A secret Kale will kill to protect.

About this title

Review

4 1/2 stars, RT Top Pick. "Accardo's debut, first in the Denazen series, is infused with pulse-pounding action, attitude, charm, romance, suspense and enough witty dialogue to crown it one of the best YA novels of the year." - Diane Morasco, RT Book Reviews "Memorable characters, heart pounding action, sizzling hot romance - Touch has it all! Definitely fresh and new. You need to read this book like yesterday." - Jennifer L. Armentrout, author of Half-Blood and Obsidian "Raw and emotional; just like its heroine, Touch packs a mean right hook. Jus Accardo's action-packed debut is sure to win her a legion of fans." - Inara Scott, award-winning author of The Candidates and The Marked

From the Back Cover

VOYA - Dotsy Harland

Seventeen-year-old Deznee Cross has a past shrouded in mystery. She does not remember her mother, who apparently died when Deznee was very young. As a feisty teenager, she spends lots of time trying to figure out ways to infuriate her emotionally distant father, an attorney. When a strange, but very good looking, boy named Kale literally falls into her path on the way home from a party one night, Dez decides to take him home with her. As luck would have it, her dad catches the boy in the house and pulls a gun. The real shock comes when Deznee realizes that the two know each other and that her father has been keeping Kale prisoner at his law firm.” She and Kale manage to escape from Mr. Cross and take off on a whirlwind adventure in which they discover that they are both Sixes,” children with special gifts, and that Deznee’s mother is still alive and being held at Cross’s law firm, which is not a law firm at all.

Though the premise is familiar and the book could benefit from some streamlining, Accardo’s writing style is forceful, descriptive, and filled with humor. This first novel in the Denazen series tastefully introduces sexual activity, in addition to including the always popular love triangle, making it more appropriate for older readers. Dez is a gratifyingly strong female character, and Touch is an excellent read-alike for those who enjoyed I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (HarperCollins, 2010/Voya December 2010) and False Memory by Dan Krokos (Hyperion, 2012/Voya August 2012). Ages 12 to 18.

About this edition

• Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1937044459
• ISBN 13: 9781937044459
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 262