Poor Little Dead Girls

Poor Little Dead Girls
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
14+
Release Date
December 18, 2013
ISBN
1440563950
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The first time she is blindfolded and kidnapped, star-athlete and posh boarding school newbie Sadie is terrified. She wakes up in a dark room surrounded by hushed whispers, hooded strangers, and a mysterious voice whispering not-so-sweet nothings in her ear. But once the robes come off, she realizes it's just an elaborate prank designed to induct her into the group that's been pulling the strings at Keating Hall for generations. The circle has it all--incredible connections; fabulous parties; and, of course, an in with the brother society's gorgeous pledges. The instant popularity is enough to make Sadie forget about the unexplained marks on her body, the creepy ceremonial rituals, and the incident that befell one of her teammates the year before. So the next time Sadie is kidnapped, she isn't scared, but she should be. The worst of Keating Hall is yet to come.

The first time she is blindfolded and kidnapped, star-athlete and posh boarding school newbie Sadie is terrified. She wakes up in a dark room surrounded by hushed whispers, hooded strangers, and a mysterious voice whispering not-so-sweet nothings in her ear. But once the robes come off, she realizes it's just an elaborate prank designed to induct her into the group that's been pulling the strings at Keating Hall for generations. The circle has it all--incredible connections; fabulous parties; and, of course, an in with the brother society's gorgeous pledges. The instant popularity is enough to make Sadie forget about the unexplained marks on her body, the creepy ceremonial rituals, and the incident that befell one of her teammates the year before. So the next time Sadie is kidnapped, she isn't scared, but she should be. The worst of Keating Hall is yet to come.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
A Mixed Bag
Overall rating
 
3.0
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
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What I Loved:

The premise is fantastic, and the whole creepy, exclusive boarding-school-with-secrets setting provided an atmospheric tension that permeated the entire story. Ms. Friend really delivers the setting, giving the reader sensory details and chilling moments throughout. The setting definitely added to the suspense that builds as the story progresses.

Sadie makes for an interesting heroine. She isn't caught up in money or fame, she comes across as a very believable athlete, and she is able to make and keep friends. No stereotypical loner heroine here! Her romantic interest feels authentic to a teenager as well.

The mysterious secret society is fascinating. At times it leaned a bit too heavily on cloak-and-dagger when the reader needed more facts to maintain interest and pacing, but it was enough to keep the pages turning.

What Left Me Wanting More:

As much as I adored the setting, most of what I loved took place outdoors. The actual classroom setting was rarely utilized, and while the headmistress came across as a strict rule-enforcer at the beginning of the book, it was immediately apparent that the girls could sneak around, get drunk, and do whatever they pleased with zero chance of getting caught. I wished for a bit more structure to the school aspect of the book to provide some realism as a balance to the increasingly surreal mystery.

I also had serious issues with a date-rape-the-drunk-girl scenario which Sadie fails to report or even spend much time being upset about. That could be a trigger issue for some readers, and it certainly displays a disappointing lack of concern and ethics in a heroine I otherwise enjoyed. I also had difficulty with the ease with which Sadie went along with some terrifying things (abduction, strange marks on her body etc) without demanding explanations or, more believably, reaching out to her dad for help.

Final Verdict:

Despite some flaws, POOR LITTLE DEAD GIRLS delivers a surreal mystery that should please readers who enjoy atmospheric tension and conspiracy theories.
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