Any Second

Kevin Emerson

Nov 2018 · Sold by Crown Books for Young Readers

About this ebook

Marieke Nijkamp's This is Where it Ends meets Kathleen Glasgow's Girl in Pieces in a gripping novel that explores the depths of trauma and the strength it takes to rise again. Perfect for readers of Ellen Hopkins.

Five years after being kidnapped, Elian's captor sends him into the mall--with a bomb strapped to his chest.

Across the mall is Maya, a girl whose crippling anxiety holds her prisoner in its own way.

Whether it's chance or fate, Maya keeps Eli from ending them all. And now nothing is the same. Drawn together by their dark pasts, Maya and Eli know it takes only seconds for their entire worlds to change. But time will tell if meeting each other will change them for better or worse.

"A riveting novel about the capacity for hope in the midst of evil." - Sara Zarr, National Book Award finalist

Ratings and reviews

3.5 Stars Review by Morgen Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Any Second by Kevin Emerson is a standalone young adult psychological thriller about how deep the effects of trauma reach and how tempestuous the journey can be to breaking the emotional chains that bind you. Eli has been held captive for five years. He was captured at the age of eleven. He was psychologically and physically tortured. His captors intent was to warp his mind and mold him into a weapon too scared to run. He is traumatized and just wants to finally make them happy. Maya has severe anxiety linked with her OCD. She struggles to overcome her inner demons. She is a well-rounded character and has her weaknesses but also moments of great strength. The story begins with Eli being given the task of blowing up the mall. His captor Gabriel is shoving rhetoric at him that he’s been conditioned to believe over that past five years. If he wants the torture to end, he needs to complete his task. Maya is at the mall with her father but is inexplicably drawn to Eli and helps him realize blowing everyone up was not the right decision. After the traumatic incident at the mall, they are kept apart. Almost a year later, they somehow end up at the same high school. Here, they make some bad choices and find themselves with friends who may not have their best interests at heart. Both Eli and Maya are haunted by their past and trying and sometimes failing to keep their fears at bay. Any Second is written in first person and helps the reader have a well-rounded view of the story. Getting inside Eli and Maya heads was at times a dark place to be. I loved getting to know them better and their development felt natural. Both of them are dealing with trauma and despair and their vulnerability connected me them and made them feel more real to me. The story unravels quickly and takes you on a wild ride. The details were well written and sucked you in. There is a bit of romance but it is not a main focus and feels right with the storyline. I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys psychological stories.

About the author

Kevin Emerson is the author of numerous novels for young adults and children, including Breakout, Last Day on Mars, and the Exile series. His books have been published in ten countries. A former science teacher, Kevin is also a singer and drummer. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. He has won a spelling bee and lost a beauty pageant, and he once appeared in a Swedish television commercial. Visit Kevin on Twitter and Instagram at @kcemerson or on his website kevinemerson.net.