No stranger to living on the edge, sixteen-year-old Wally Stone much prefers the street life of Manhattan to the life of wealth and priviledge that her adoptive parents have to offer. Unfortunately, this is the only life she really knows, having no memory of her childhood in Russia or any clue about her true identity….until she stumbles upon a difficult truth. She is the daughter of a Russian mobster who is lusting for revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. That includes killing her mom or even his own child. Wally must now shoulder the burden of not only finding her mom, but protecting them both.
Personally, I had a fairly mixed reaction to Dark Eyes by William Richter. The character development was done brilliantly, somewhat reminiscent of the main character of Trafficked. and that is not only because they are both Russian; they both battle the perils of a hard life away from home while also dealing with an identity crisis. I really appreciated that Wally was a strong heroine, something that is necessary for what promises to be a thriller. Unfortunately, the book lacked the level of thrill that the cover seems to promise. Despite that, I would still recommend this book to just about any avid reader.
Anvita, 12th grade.
