Scarlet has a severe medical condition. Basically, doctors have told her she will die soon. Being a teenager, her biggest wish now is to go to high school and be normal for a while before she goes. Her overprotective parents agree to a one week trial, but little does Scarlet know how much one week of high school can hold.

BROKEN is one of the most moving and thrilling YA books I read this year. Scarlet is a phenomenal main character with a shy kind of bravery and desperation that captivates you from the beginning. Her desire to be normal and not be the dying freak is clear and gives a strong sympathy for her character. But even so, she has a certain innocent toughness about her that leaves no room for pity. She unknowingly asks for admiration, and I can't help but give it to her. The journey her character takes through one week of high school, a place she has never been before and really doesn't have a clue about, is touching, funny, and absolutely engaging.

The twist in this story is perfect. You can almost see it coming, but you are never quite sure, and at some points, you seriously don't think you're right. Because of that, it still caught me by surprise, and I love the thrill it gives. The sequence of events leading up through this story are spot on, and with the small chapters, BROKEN is a story you fly through.

BROKEN is a such a thrilling and exciting read that I completely love it. I haven't read anything else from the author, CJ Lyons, but I will be looking for more from her now. I would recommend this to any lover of YA thrillers who also enjoy a little medical element in their stories.