Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN: 978 1 74237 913 5.
(Ages: 14+) Recommended. 'A girl rock star who's never been alone enough to fall in love. A boy runaway who's grown up so alone he doesn't even know what love is. A pyromaniac with a dangerous secret. An explosive romantic thriller. In the chutes and crawlspaces of an LA hotel lives a young runaway named Beresford. He has no idea who his parents were, but he does know that he's in love with rock superstarlet Melody McGrath. When she checks into Beresford hotel with her manipulative stage mother, a fatal secret is brought to light. Death is coming for Beresford and Melody. Will the wild child and the It Girl be able to keep their lives - and love - intact?'
As you can tell from the blurb, this book is very intriguing from all aspects. Strieber is known for his bestsellers in science fiction, most of which have become movies. Melody burning is his first book for young adults and in my opinion he has done a wonderful job, with a gripping story that has you enthralled until the last page and wanting more of the story. At the start of the story Beresford loses his father and nearly his own life; through the years that pass he forgets who he is, his name, age and life. He has no one until he meets the love of his life, Melody. He basically stalks her; he climbs into her room using the crawlspaces of the hotel just to know more about her. It is a wonderful love story with a terrifying peak of intensity where they nearly lose their lives and each other forever. A brilliant book by a breathtaking author, I hope to read more of his work in the future.
Taylor Oxenham (Student).