Cryer’s Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Published: February 8, 2011
240 pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer’s Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she’s not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world’s sweetest boyfriend, behind. But when Cryer’s Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn’t get close to… the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico. Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she’s always loved, Kendall keeps up the search–and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can’t stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried….
Kim’s Review:
First of all, I really hate that description. I was drawn in by the amazing cover and the description intrigued me, so Ivan gave it to me for Christmas. It only took me 24 hours to read, and now that I have, that description sucks!!!! Thankfully, the book did not. I will admit that it started out a little slow. I felt very sorry for Kendall, who struggles with OCD and lost her best friend. There was a hopelessness that lingered just on the edge of her life and I kept turning page after page, willing her to be alright. There was also very little teenage drama.
The things that McMann dealt with were real issues facing teenagers whose peers had gone missing. Kendall’s feelings and rationale were very reasonable, considering her condition and the circumstances. The one issue I did have was the fact that half the book went by before the mystery even really presented itself. Sure, kids had gone missing, but that was it. There were no leads, there were no real suspects, there was no resolution in sight until at least the halfway mark. The first half of the book was far more focused on Kendall’s emotional well-being, than the disappearances. But, when the mystery finally started to unravel, the resolution was awesome! It was simple, uncomplicated, and very easy to understand. And super CREEPY! I really liked this book! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good thriller, or for older teenagers looking for a good read.