Don't Turn Around was the first book I'd read by Michelle Gagnon, and I really liked it. Noa wakes up in an unfamiliar room surrounded by the trappings of a hospital. How did she get here? Was she in an accident? As her mind starts to clear, she realizes she isn't in a hospital at all, but she does have a huge incision scar from an operation she doesn't remember needing. When the doctors and nurses all lie to her about where she is, Noa knows that she has to escape.

Inspired by the death of his brother and his less than honest parents, Peter builds an internet organization called /ALLIANCE/ for the purpose of tracking down those who hurt others, especially children. After his most recent hack, Peter's house is invaded by a man named Mr. Mason who warns Peter to stop what he is doing or his family will suffer.

When Peter and Noa meet, it is clear that Mr. Mason is part of the same organization that Noa is running from. They join forces and start looking for ways to prove that runaways and orphans are being taken to be used as guinea pigs for experimentation.

This is a very good book with an intriguing mystery, well drawn characters, and lots of action. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. ( )

Fast-paced and surprising with interesting, realistic-enough main characters. I would probably have given it 5 stars if it had given me closure. ( )

Noa – wakes up with a surgery scar on her chest in a warehouse, she has no memory of the event, and has lost three weeks of her life.

Peter – after doing some research on the internet, has his door is broken down, laptop stolen, and life threatened.

Two very computer literate teenagers form an uneasy alliance when they discover they are running from the same people. Peter, a wealthy amateur hacker, used to charming his way out of uncomfortable situations, can’t use those skills this time. Noa, a former foster kid, who has scammed the system so she’s in charge of herself, finds herself needing the help of others for the first time.


This moved fairly quickly but I got kind of bored with it about 75% of the way through. It was beginning to feel like one big, long, chase scene. It doesn't really end, so if you care, the sequel is [b:Don't Look Now|17332508|Don't Look Now (PERSEF0NE, #2)|Michelle Gagnon|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1360965283s/17332508.jpg|24036248]. I got frustrated with the book because it's series title is "PERSEFoNE" and I kept expecting some mythology to be a part of the story, or be related somehow, but if's it's there, it's too subtle even for me. I give this 3/5 stars. ( )

Terrible cover, but the book was fun with two plucky kids escaping and hacking the Man (or at least a big evil medical experiment conspiracy) It takes place in Boston/Cambridge/Brookline and the author knows the locations. I'd read another one if she keeps going... ( )

As they say this was a thrill ride, no really I really liked it. It reads like I was watching a movie. I could see and feel the urgency of the scenes. Of course the thing the book has over watching on a screen whether big or small is that I was able to get into the character's head. I knew what drives them and makes them tick.

The suspense, mystery and adventure Noa and Peter encountered in the story, separately and eventually together made me nervous, and captivated. I thought the concept and storytelling were great. A really good nail biting read. ( )