Summary from Goodreads
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.
My Review - 3 More Sugar Please
Well, sigh........ I have figured out why I don't love YA, it is just to G rated for me. I LOVED the Wake Trilogy, everything about it, was shocked because it was YA but read the whole trilogy last year because I just had to finish the story.
On to the Cryer's Cross
I do enjoy Lisa McMann's writing style, right to the point, grips you in a fascinating way, I do think she has a great future ahead of her. This book just could have been longer, more explained, creepier, so much was missing for me.
Kendell the main character was developed nicely. It was great to see how her OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) was used throughout the story. It made me think how hard it must be for those with OCD to live and made question how well known it is understood. One great occupation I can see them in is being an amazing sales lady/men, the ones that keep boutiques looking amazing, you don't even want to touch the goods :-)
Children are going missing, it could be really creepy but the book just never takes you there. Kendell loses her best friend/boyfriend, he is the 2nd child to go missing. Finally you realise oh wow is Kendell possessed, then you think no, then yes, then its almost the end of the book and all is explained and its over, sigh. I do like the title but it makes you want to know more about Cryer and why everything is still a secret.
Oh why do I bother with YA, I always miss the detail of the what, how, why and some edge of your seat details.
I would only recommend this one to YA fans but I highly recommend the Wake Trilogy, they are so short if you enjoy Wake just go for it and read them all together.
I think you're right that sometimes YA don't go deep/far enough. I think sometimes I enjoy YA just because it's straight to the point without overly flowery language. Haven't tried Wake yet, will check it out.
ReplyDeleteDang, I wish it was a little creepier!
ReplyDeleteI like some YA mixed in with other books. I don't think I could take a steady diet of it, though.
ReplyDeleteI have Wake, but I will probably skip this one.....
ReplyDeleteI'll read it if I have the chance. As for now, it will stay on my TBR list. I wish it's more 'kicking'.Thanks for sharing though ;p
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way. I was so disappointed. It wasn't creepy enough and didn't delve deeply enough into the mystery. Everything was solved to easily and quickly.
ReplyDeleteI do like some YA in between everything else because I find them is easy to read. I do have this one on my reader. I'll read it soon I hope.
ReplyDeleteI have this one checked out from the library and I'm hoping to enjoy it. I don't read a lot of YA but I do enjoy it on occasion. Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read YA, I try to keep in mind that I'm not going to get all of the character development that I would like. I don't know why (maybe the authors feel that teens' attention span is too short for that). I did like this book and it kept me reading, and I liked the 'solution'. There definitely could have been more detail, however, and it would have upped my own rating, but I think that a YA audience will give it a higher rating than we do.
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