Book Review: Sketchy Behavior by Erynn Mangum

Sketchy Behavior 
Author: Erynn Mangum
Pages: 272 paperback
Reading Level: YA
Published: August 16th 2011
Review Source: Zondervan
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Indiebound

Summary: (from goodreads) Drawing conclusions or drafting disaster? Other than harboring a somewhat obsessive fondness for Crispix and completely swearing-off boys after a bad date (don't ask), sixteen-year-old Kate Carter is about as ordinary as they come, except for her two notable talents: art and sarcasm. After an introduction to forensic sketching in her elective art class, Kate discovers a third and most unexpected gift---criminal profiling. Her photo-quality sketch helps the police catch a wanted murderer and earns her celebrity status in South Woodhaven Falls. But when that murderer appears to be using his friends to exact revenge, Kate goes from local hero to possible target. Will she manage to survive? Will life ever be normal again? And will local news anchor Ted Deffle ever stop sending her flowers?

Kate is a typical teenage girl with all the normal baggage of being one. Not the most poplar or unique person, Kate does have one special talent, criminal profiling. One day in her art class a detective comes to talk about artistic careers in the police force. He asks the class to draw a picture of a man for him. Kate draws the exact likeness of him, but little does she know that he is the most wanted man in the state. The police, using her picture, capture the man making Kate a hero. Suddenly though, she becomes a kill able target for the criminals friends.

From the cover of this book you would suspect that this book did not really have any deep or emotional factors. At a first glance I thought the novel would be sort of weak in plot and characters. To my surprise it turned out to be an emotional book. The beginning is a little slow but it quickly picks up pace leading to a big dramatic climax toward the end. The characters felt real to me in a way that I could connect and sympathize with them. I also like the way the author writes; it truly feels like book was based on a true story. So to sum it all up this book will surprise you throughout and truly be one that you will enjoy.