And right there, in the prologue, you can sense what a powerful story this will be. It doesn't disappoint.
This book is one long suspenseful lead-up to a devastating event. It's a series of events, told from various viewpoints, taking us to a fatal climax.
Any story with a known ending has the interesting ability to weave its way through a chain of occurrences slowly, keeping its readers hooked no matter what. This also has one other consequence: an even greater focus on the writing than usual.
What I mean by that is, the reader can sit back and enjoy the way the story is told, without being distracted by how it will end. Instead, we can read Six knowing the tragedy before it occurs, and therefore relish in Tayleur's storytelling, at her way of taking us through the past, and we can get to know the characters (although this is done with some discomfort, as we don't know who is yet to survive).
It is a modern story, and one that will hit home with a lot of readers, its storyline so easily possible for anyone in our lives.
A suspenseful must-read.
Title: Six
Author: Karen Tayleur
Publisher: Black Dog Books, $18.99 RRP
Publication Date: October 2010
Format: Softcover
ISBN: 9781742031552
For ages: Young adult
Type: Novel