Review: Jekel Loves Hyde

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side when I read it last year, and I've eagerly awaited reading Fantaskey's follow up. This book did not disappoint. In fact, it's safe to say that I was blown away.



As the novel opens, Jill Jekel is at her father's funeral. He was killed in a violent attack in a parking lot. Sadly, Jill's not receiving the sort of sympathy one would expect after having lost one's father; after his death, investigators learned that Dr. Jekel was apparently involved in illegal activities. Instead of giving sympathy, all her neighbors and classmates really want to do is gossip. As the mourners pass by, Jill is surprised to receive genuine comfort and sympathy from Tristen Hyde, the new kid from England. He tells her that he knows it will get better, and hugs her. From that no-so-casual encounter, Jill and Tristen establish a bond of sympathy and trust.



Several months later, Jill, Tristen, and Darcy Gray are invited to enter a prestigious science competition. They can work in pairs, and the teacher encourages Jill & Tristen to work together. He thinks a "Jekel and Hyde collaboration" will give them an edge at the competition.



Jill and Tristen do work together, but each has a different goal in their research. Jill needs the prize money for her education fund--apparently, one of the things her dad stole was her college money. Tristen needs the research to save him from a very dark secret that has been haunting him. As the teens start their work, they gradually become closer. Soon, their previous goals will no longer matter, and the only thing they'll want to save is each other.



This is a quick read, with chapters from both Jill and Tristen's point of view. Rather than feel contrived, the changing viewpoint allows for a deeper understanding of the events. In Jessica's Guide, the alternating POV was played for humor (most of the time). That is not the case here--this is not a funny book. It is intense. As with Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this book asks readers to consider just what we want to change about ourselves and what are the possible outcomes of that change.



In sum, this is an excellent book, and I recommend it highly. While familiarity with Stevenson's novel is not required, it will help to make this book even more enjoyable.



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