All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (Young Adult)

March 2012, Macmillan
358 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: orphaned family, mental disability, protecting loved ones at all cost, mafia, life in a bleak future, young offender's unit, consequences of dealing with banned substances, fear, death, trying to avoid issues, underestimating people, determination, true friendship, teen romance, a few laughs and tissues needed

Summary from Macmillan

Sixteen year-old Anya's parents have been murdered because her father was the head of a notorious underworld gang. Now she is determined to keep herself and her siblings away from that world. But her father’s relatives aren't so keen to let them go. When Anya’s violent ex-boyfriend is poisoned with contaminated chocolate - chocolate that is produced illegally by Anya’s criminal family - she is arrested for attempted murder. 

Disconcertingly, it is the new D.A. in town who releases her from jail, but her freedom comes with conditions. The D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn. Win’s father won’t risk having his political ambitions jeopardised by his son seeing a member of a crime family. She is to stay away with him. Anya knows she risks her freedom and the safety of her brother and sister by seeing Win again. Neither the D.A. nor the underworld will allow it. But the feeling between them is so strong that she may be unable to resist him . . .
 

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love any story about a girl whose family are on the wrong side of the law, something which is a bit strange but it makes an interesting story. I love how determined Anya is to keep her siblings safe, how she fights against what she feels is wrong and how she gains maturity. The only reason this gets 9/10 is because of what happens in the last few paragraphs. I really didn't want her doing that. However, I will forgive Anya especially as this is the first of a trilogy.

You can find out more on Gabrielle's website.  

Suggested reading
For a slightly more innocent girl whose father is a crimnal try The Robber Baron's Daughter by Jamila Gavin