I've hung on to a lot of my old books from middle school and early high school. You know the ones I'm talking about—those favorite love stories, the cozy light reads that are always fun to revisit, feel-good stories that take you back for a spell of time when life gets hard. For the most part, I've also followed a lot of those authors. Recently, I had the pleasure of revisiting one of my past favorite authors, Becca Fitzpatrick.

Published in 2014, Fitzpatrick's Young Adult thriller is a far cry from her first novel. "Black Ice," eschews a primarily romantic plot for a tale of survival, trauma, and crime. Britt, the protagonist, has spent months training to backpack the Teton Range. Still healing from a bad breakup with her first boyfriend, this hike is a way for her to reassert her strength and independence to not only herself, but him. She plans to go during spring break of her senior year in high school, with her (rich, spoiled) best friend Korbie. A small wrinkle in the plan? Korbie's older brother, Calvin, is Britt's ex- and he's chaperoning their trip. Suddenly, it's imperative that Calvin see that Britt has grown. She can take care of herself, she is no longer dependent on the men in her life to swoop in and save her, she is smart and capable.

Things go awry, however, when an unexpected snowstorm arrives and prevents Britt's Wrangler from making it all the way up the mountain to Korbie's family's cabin, Idlewilde. They are forced to abandon the car in search of help, and end up knocking on the door of the only cabin in miles. Inhabited by two boys around their own age-one hostile and closed off, the other seemingly friendly- they are taken in and trust their new hosts. It becomes clear to Britt that something is very, very wrong in the cabin that Mason and Shaun are inhabiting; and her suspicions are confirmed when Mason and Shaun take Korbie and Britt hostage. They threaten her life in exchange for her and Korbie's gear, and for her guidance in getting off the mountain. The rest of the novel follows Britt's struggle to stay alive in the brutal mountain range, with her life constantly on the line at the threat of murder.

I had mixed reactions to this book. For most part, I loved it. Becca Fitzpatrick truly demonstrated a range of ability in her writing skills. The thriller aspect was so well done. I was constantly at the edge of my seat, up late turning pages, shivering and looking over my shoulder. What goes from a survival tale to a murder mystery also has a touch of romance, and it's all very well done. The progression of Mason and Britt's relationship appropriately showed the situation they were in: dependent on each other for survival, on the verge of falling for each other, but aware of the multitude of secrets and crimes keeping them apart. For Britt, there is the aspect of Stockholm Syndrome, though Mason makes it clearer and clearer he is not truly the criminal he initially appeared to be. The sudden twist in the murder mystery and the ensuing struggle was unexpected and heartbreaking. Calvin's backstory at first seemed random, as did all of Britt's flashbacks, but it was clear both served a purpose. The first was vital to understanding this surprising character, and the latter was not only a survival tactic but a mode of character development; a way of underscoring how far Britt has come in the story.

My only issue was with the character development. Some reviews I read took issue with how Britt handled herself while she was being forced to guide two criminals off the mountain range, but I thought Britt showed shrewdness and cleverness. She did the best she could under such traumatic circumstances. I thought the story of Mason, Shaun, and Calvin were woven together well and showed masterful forethought on Fitzpatrick's thought. What confused me was Korbie. In some ways, I see her necessity: she is the ex-boyfriend's younger sister and the protagonist's best friend. But she served no purpose. She was gone or asleep most of the book, whining or starting fights with Britt. It is revealed that their friendship was constantly toxic, with competition and secrets on Korbie's part. Then again, perhaps it was part of Britt's growth that she put up with Korbie her whole life, and then is depicted to have found a much better friendship in her college roommate. Otherwise, however, the progression of Mason and Calvin was masterfully done. Even the romance didn't turn out as badly as I thought it would.

I'd highly recommend "Black Ice" to anyone who wants a refreshing page-turner. Fitzpatrick's venture into the thriller genre proves that YA books and authors are not pigeon-holed. They are talented writers with a wide range of writing abilities, and their books have such depth. "Black Ice" dealt with issues of male entitlement, trauma, insecurity, and attraction. I look forward to reading Fitzpatrick's next book, "Dangerous Lies."