Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones

Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978-0-7636-3983-9.
(Age 15+) Recommended. A sense of fate or destiny underscores this story about two teenagers living on the streets of Toronto, Canada. The need to escape a dysfunctional family has left Blink homeless while Caution has fled her family to battle personal demons in the wake of a family tragedy. Street life has led to Caution's involvement with some unsavoury characters from the drug scene and now a violent criminal, with a score to settle, is in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, Blink has his own problems. In a luxury hotel for some petty thieving he becomes entangled in a corporate mystery as the only witness to the kidnapping of a wealthy business man. As fate would have it, the lives of Blink and Caution become intersected as they are forced to pool their wits to find a way out of their respective dilemmas and reaffirm their own self worth in the process.
This fast paced book is part thriller, part love story combining elements of mystery, suspense and dare devil action with the blossoming romance between Blink and Caution. The well developed characters give a credible portrayal of street life, the social obstacles and emotional problems that some teenagers sadly experience. It is ultimately a positive story because the protagonists find the courage to change their own lives despite the issues confronting them.
The author is a well established, award winning writer of young adult fiction and this book is further evidence of his talent. The social and personal circumstances of the teenage characters and their behaviours are thought provoking and lend themselves to class discussion.
Tina Cain