For the teen navigating intense situations or feeling a strong sense of danger, this gripping thriller follows Sara Jane as she fights to uncover a harrowing truth.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen craves a high-octane thriller that explores self-reliance and family secrets. It's ideal for a young reader fascinated by characters who discover hidden strengths under extreme pressure. Cold Fury follows sixteen-year-old Sara Jane as her privileged life implodes. Her family disappears, and she is hunted by a mysterious and violent organization. To survive, she must tap into a hidden world of combat and espionage training she never knew she had. The story is a non-stop thrill ride, but at its heart, it is about resilience, the fierce loyalty of family, and discovering your true identity. For ages 14 and up, it’s a gripping read that models resourcefulness and opens conversations about trust and personal courage.
The protagonist is persistently hunted and stalked by dangerous, menacing figures.
Character DeathModerate
Secondary characters are killed, sometimes suddenly. Deaths are not graphically described.
Mild PerilIntense
The main character is in a constant state of life-or-death peril, which drives the entire plot.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly and secularly with violence, including gunfights, physical combat, and character deaths. The violence is integral to the action plot but is not gratuitously graphic. The resolution to the immediate kidnapping plot is hopeful, but it clearly sets up a larger ongoing conflict for the series, leaving the ultimate outcome ambiguous.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 14-17, who loves action movies like the "Bourne" series or "Taken." This is for a reader seeking a plot-driven, high-adrenaline story with a strong female protagonist. It is an excellent choice for reluctant readers who enjoy the pacing and action of video games or movies.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware of the persistent, though not gory, violence. There are multiple scenes involving guns, chases, fights, and explosions. The book can be read cold as it is self-contained, but framing it as a "Bourne Identity for teens" can help set expectations for the level of action and peril. A parent is looking for a book for their teen who says they don't like reading but loves action movies. The parent might ask, "What's a book that feels like a summer blockbuster?"
Age Experience
A younger reader (14-15) will likely focus on the thrill of the chase, the mystery, and the action sequences. An older teen (16-18) may engage more with the themes of identity, the morality of Sara's family's secret life, and the implications of her newfound skills and responsibilities.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA thrillers that weave in significant romantic or social subplots, this book is a pure action-conspiracy story. Its primary differentiator is the "sleeper agent" trope applied to a seemingly ordinary high school girl, focusing almost entirely on her survival and the discovery of her own formidable abilities.
Read plot summary
Sixteen-year-old Chicago prep student Sara Jane Rispoli comes home to find her family missing and her house being searched by armed men. She escapes and goes on the run, receiving cryptic guidance from a mysterious ally. She soon discovers that her family belongs to an ancient secret society and that she has been unknowingly trained in combat and survival skills her entire life. The plot is a fast-paced chase thriller focused on Sara's efforts to evade her pursuers, uncover the truth about her family's dangerous legacy, and rescue them.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Sara discovers she has been unknowingly trained her whole life for this kind of danger. How would you feel if you discovered your parents had a secret life and had been secretly preparing you for it?
2
Throughout the book, Sara has to decide who to trust, including the mysterious 'Voice' on the phone. What clues did she use to make her decisions? Were there moments you would have made a different choice?
3
The book ends with Sara having more power and knowledge, but also facing a much bigger fight. Do you think this is a hopeful ending? What defines a 'happy ending' in a story like this?
4
Sara goes from being a 'normal' prep school student to a highly skilled operative. Which version of her do you think is the 'real' Sara? Can she be both?
