The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Reader: Jaya, Grade 10

Rating: 3 Stars 

After Mara Dyer wakes up unharmed in the hospital with no memory of the accident that killed her best friend and boyfriend, her family moves from Rhode Island to Florida, and Mara meets charming, popular Noah, a boy who helps her navigate a new school and a new state. Already plagued by hallucinations and nightmares, violent and gory occurrences start to follow Mara wherever she goes, leaving her to decipher what is reality and what is imagined, if the corpses appearing have something to do with her, and if Noah knows more than he lets on. This book is suspenseful with unexpected plot twists that keep the reader guessing. The author writes the darker parts of the story well, really conveying Mara’s panic, emotions, and general experiences as she faces hallucinations and deals with trauma. I never imagined a book could be creepy, funny, and romantic all at the same time, but The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer combines all three. However, there are many over-the-top stereotypical characters in this book, like the attractive/accented/wealthy/bad boy romantic lead, the Jewish/bisexual/black best friend, the mean/popular girl with a sidekick. Also, the novel does not conclude with a satisfying ending, as it is the first in a trilogy and events continue in the next book. I give The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer 3/5 stars and would recommend it to teens who enjoy mystery, dark fantasy/the paranormal, horror, and romance.