The Exposition

I walked into biology and my jaw fell open. Mysteriously adhered to the chalkboard was a Barbie doll, with Ken at her side. They’d been forced to link arms and were naked except for artificial leaves placed in a few choice locations. (Hush, Hush. Becca Fitzpatrick. Page 7)

These are the first three lines of the book Hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Reading those first lines made the book seem as if it was a light book. It is humoristic and easy read and therefore it is easy to believe that it’s just another teenage book about intrigues, dating and friends. But somehow the book is still interesting; it gives a feeling that it has more to it than just a normal teenage drama book.

The book introduces us to the main character Nora. She is a normal high-school-girl trying to pick up her life after a tragic incident hitting her family; Nora’s father has been murdered, something that seems to be completely random.

Nora lives with her mother a bit outside of the town Coldwater, Maine. Nora seems a little withdrawn but as time goes, one sees that, that is not the case. Nora’s best friend Vee is more of an outgoing person. They have very different personalities and looks. The contrast between the girls seems almost too big, for them to be best friends.

The book begins at biology class; Nora is assigned a new lab partner. Nora is introduced to the mysterious guy, Patch. Patch gives the impression of being easygoing and very funny. He has a way of getting under Nora’s skin but she is also drawn to him immediately.

His black eyes sliced into me, and the corners of his mouth tilted up. My heart fumbled a beat and in that pause, a feeling of gloomy darkness seemed to slide like a shadow over me. It vanished in an instant, but I was still staring at him. His smile wasn’t friendly. It was a smile that spelled trouble. With a promise. (Hush, hush. Becca Fitzpatrick. Page 11)

These are Nora’s first thoughts after being introduced to Patch. Suddenly the book becomes interesting, maybe it isn’t just about a normal girl and a normal guy. He seems so wrong but why does she want him? Suddenly the need to know more about him is extreme. The need to find out if he is just a normal guy or if he has a dark past, hidden away.