February 6, 2011

Cryer's Cross - Lisa McMann






Young Adult
Pages: 240
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 8, 2011

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.

Awesome! I'm not sure what I was expecting, or even if I was expecting anything at all. But I ended up fascinated and hypnotized by McMann gripping writing, reminding me why I loved Wake so much. This was very different though, a darker, spookier story that will keep you at the edge of your seat, heart racing. It's not like anything I've ever read before. Powerful, haunting and sad, very creepy yet incredibly addictive. That is the word that describes it best: ADDICTIVE.

Teasing the reader with bits of mystery titled "We", the plot is very unpredictable. I felt utterly lost, with absolutely no idea of what would happen or even clues as to what could possibly happen. That's how good she did it. It is told in her signature third person, from Kendall's perspective. With very short chapters that leave you wanting more and 'We' paragraphs in between, it's close to impossible to close the book.

Overall, a short fantastic new novel with all the greatness of the Wake series plus a new creepy factor, which I'm sure will make this one an instant favorite.


8 comments:

  1. I've been going back and forth on if I should read this one or not, but now I'm seriously considering it.
    I've read the Wake series, and I love McMann's writing, so maybe I should give it a try!

    Kerleisha @ Collegiate Bookworm

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  2. I loved the Wake series and this sounds very interesting, much darker and a little more sinister. I'll have to check it ou.

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  3. I'm very interested to see what this one's like. I'm glad it worked so well for you. I loved WAKE and it sounds like this one includes all the elements I enjoyed in it.

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  4. Great review!

    This does sound creepy but addicting as well! I can't wait for this title to be released.

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  5. I can't wait to read this - I loved the Wake series. I'll miss Janie and Cabel, but I think I'm ready for some new characters!

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  6. I didn't even know Lisa McMannhad a new book coming out!

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  7. I loved the cover when I saw it. I loved the sounds of it from the summary, so I'm very glad that you liked it! I really liked the Wake series and was looking forward to more by her.

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  8. I really need to check out a book by her - I've heard the Wake series if better than this. I'm glad to hear this one is good!

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