SHUTTER

“Everyone has their story.” Day just wants to know the one behind the mysterious boy at the convenience store—who’s also wanted for murder.

Named after Sandra Day O’Connor, of course 16-year-old Day (it provides a “layer of distance”), an amateur photographer, is expected to do great things. And with parents who are both activists, her fate is sealed. But when the white teen accidentally bumps into olive-skinned Julian Roman, also 16 and an escapee from a juvenile detention center, it’s her natural curiosity and compassion that drive her to get to know this reticent teen who’s been convicted of killing his father. Day makes it her mission to hide Julian until she can find out the facts about his case and solve his father’s murder. When she discovers more questions and lies than truths in this quick read, she begins to realize that the answers may not be as black and white as her photographs. Stolarz plays on the photography theme, requiring Day to look through many lenses to make sense of her new world, which also includes recently separated parents, a difficult mother-daughter relationship, and the possibility of first-time romance. Sporadic journal entries from Julian provide insight into his thoughts, actions, and motives.

Breezy but solid, with enough plot twists to keep readers guessing.