Blink & Caution

"Wynne-Jones’s finest, most beautifully written novel yet, one more in a career full of distinguished works." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

All Blink wanted was to steal some breakfast for his empty belly, but instead he stumbled upon a fake kidnapping and a cell phone dropped by an "abducted" CEO. Now Blink is on the run. Enter a girl named Caution, also on the run, from a skeezy drug-dealer boyfriend and from a nightmare in her past that won’t let her go. When she spies Blink, Caution can see he’s an easy mark. But there’s something about this naive, skinny street punk that tugs at her heart. Charged with suspense and intrigue, this taut novel trails two deeply compelling characters as they forge a blackmail scheme that is foolhardy at best, disastrous at worst — along with a fated, tender partnership that will offer them each a rare chance for redemption.

Short-listed for Green Mountain Book Award 2015

“"Blink & Caution is a thrill ride to the end - suspenseful, heart-pounding, and with no mercy for the tenderhearted." - Rita Williams-Garcia - Quote "Noir crime suspense that's terrifying and authentic, and also that rare thing: deeply, intensely moving. Don't miss reading this one." - Nancy Werlin - Quote "Blink & Caution is a thriller and it's a love story - the first love story I've ever written, really. And it's also a story about following something that grabs you right to the end. It's about making a move to make something bad end - taking that first brave step towards changing your life. Where will it take you? Well, that's the story." - Tim Wynne-Jones - Quote”

A dazzling crime novel that evokes the taut writing and tropes of hard-boiled fiction while interweaving social justice themes and a solid sense of realism
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Wynne-Jones’ finest, most beautifully written novel yet, one more in a career full of distinguished works
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The story is told in alternating viewpoints, with Blink’s segments in second-person present tense, which adds a heightened sense of immediacy and urgency…Those who enjoy thought-provoking thrillers will not want to miss this novel
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Master suspense-spinner Wynne-Jones uses an alternating third person perspective, with dashes of a second person perspective, to draw the reader deeply into the story and care about the fate of these two soul-weary runaways
—Library Media Connection (starred review)

This is gritty, sure, but more than that, its smart, and earns every drop of its hopeful finish.
—Booklist

The crime-drama element of the novel, involving a dispute over corporate uranium mining on Indian-owned land, has enough suspense and action to keep readers interested while they forge a connection with the main characters, whose relationship deepens as they help each other survive immediate dangers as well as the aftereffects of past trauma.
—Horn Book

Suspense combines with a genuinely moving character drama to ensure broad reader appeal
—Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books

Over the course of the novel these two damaged children move from darkness toward light and healing, and by the end we are awfully glad of it
—Wall Street Journal

A fast paced mystery with intelligence and heart…snags readers and doesn’t let go.
—Bookpage

All the elements of a classic noir: a quick thinking leading lady; an unlikely. but decent. hero; a femme fatale with dubious motives; goons with nicknames like “Tank,” “Merlin,” and “Snake”; and, of course, action and suspense.
—Plain Dealer

This novel is charged with suspense and intrigue and trails two deeply compelling characters as they forge a blackmail scheme that is foolhardy at best disastrous at worst along with a fated tender partnership that will offer them each hope.
—San Diego Union Tribune

Tim Wynne-Jones has won numerous awards for his work, including an Edgar Award, the Governor General's Literary Award, and a Boston Globe?Horn Book Award. He is a faculty member at Vermont College, teaching courses in the MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. He is the author of more than twenty books for children and young adults, including the novel The Uninvited and the popular Rex Zero books. Tim Wynne-Jones lives in Ontario with his family.

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