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mehsi's review
2.0
Lets just say I expected more of this book.. :\
Fom the blurb, I expected horror, thriller, mysteries and more. What I get? Well um lets see, drama, drama, more drama and a lot of cheating and romance. :\
Most of the mystery only happens here and there, the mystery or the deaths aren't even that much of the main point.
I also expected a better main character than Cally. I kinda liked her, but at the part where
Oh and it gets better, she just goes off with Jack again (and a few times after that).. Really she should pick one guy and keep to it. She is now worse/just as bad as Alex was. And she hated that he cheated on her, but apparently doesn't care much about doing the same.
Wow we are finally at part 2 (why a part 2 at almost the end of the book though...). Part 1 ending awesome though, I am happy something exciting happened (finally).
Oh great, drama instead of action. Sooo Cally finally has the guts to
Sjeesh people, less drama, more horror/thriller please.
Um, why didn't Cally throw away the condom? (a used one at that) That is just gross and icky. And yeah for Alex finding out the truth. \o/ Now she is boyfriendless. Finally she gets what she deserves.
And the ending.. *sighs*It was kind of disappointed. I am glad everything got wrapped up, and the book didn't end up with an open ending.
Fom the blurb, I expected horror, thriller, mysteries and more. What I get? Well um lets see, drama, drama, more drama and a lot of cheating and romance. :\
Most of the mystery only happens here and there, the mystery or the deaths aren't even that much of the main point.
I also expected a better main character than Cally. I kinda liked her, but at the part where
Spoiler
Alex cheated on her, and she went of with Jack (did a whole lot of stuff from what I get), then the next day, Alex pops up, says he is sorry, that it meant nothing, and bang! They are back together... Wait what?Girl, I know he is hot and all, but um, like um shouldn't you just break up with him? And omg! Your friends might not like you if you break up with the guy? Dear god, this girl...Oh and it gets better, she just goes off with Jack again (and a few times after that).. Really she should pick one guy and keep to it. She is now worse/just as bad as Alex was. And she hated that he cheated on her, but apparently doesn't care much about doing the same.
Wow we are finally at part 2 (why a part 2 at almost the end of the book though...). Part 1 ending awesome though, I am happy something exciting happened (finally).
Oh great, drama instead of action. Sooo Cally finally has the guts to
Spoiler
break with Jack, and now she gets Sophie after her, who is pissed. Oh not because Cally was two-timing, no no Sophie loves Jack. Um Sophie, girl, you say everyone should know, people don't always see that kind of thing, and if people specifically ask about him being your boyfriend, and you say no and say he doesn't date, and say he is sexually ambivalent, then don't expect people to know you like him and that you want him. :\Sjeesh people, less drama, more horror/thriller please.
Um, why didn't Cally throw away the condom? (a used one at that) That is just gross and icky. And yeah for Alex finding out the truth. \o/ Now she is boyfriendless. Finally she gets what she deserves.
And the ending.. *sighs*It was kind of disappointed. I am glad everything got wrapped up, and the book didn't end up with an open ending.
marieintheraw's review
1.0
I feel like the mystery was a little paint by numbers, but the school elements made it better. there were some parts of the book that were a little insensitive as well.
amandawije's review
4.0
Just the right amount of creepy and suspense to keep me reading. I know there wasn't a lot to this story but I really loved it. 4.5/5
inwonderland49's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed The Little Woods. It was an easy read and it kept my attention throughout the entire novel. I think that Templeman wrote a very good debut. And I am looking forward to more novels by her. While I agree with a lot of the 2-star criticisms, I definitely don't think the book deserves two stars. It was a good story.
Calista, aka Cally, (I love that name) irked me at times because I just wanted her to make a decision. But even with that flaw I couldn't be too mad at her because I am the same way when it comes to making decisions. However, I still liked her as the main character and I really enjoyed her story. I just really liked Cally. I understand her. Many may not, but I do.
The school itself is a little creepy. I mean students going missing and all, yea definitely a bit creepy. And, honestly, if I were Cally, I would not have gone to school there after my older sister going missing; even if they did offer me a full ride. Screw that.
To me, the mystery was a little lackluster because it was kind of predicting. However, going through it with Cally made it interesting. It was important to see Cally figure everything out. Another thing that a lot of people didn't like was Cally's relationship with Alex. A lot of people say it doesn't make sense. Which is partly true. It doesn't make sense in the way that it does make sense. I looked back at some of the boys I dated back in high school and they didn't make sense to me. But they did at that time. And if I hadn't gone trough the weird little relationships that I did, I wouldn't be the same person that I am today.
All-in-all, I really liked this book. It was fast-paced and very easy to read and get through. I will definitely be on the look out for more of McCormick Templeman novels.
Calista, aka Cally, (I love that name) irked me at times because I just wanted her to make a decision. But even with that flaw I couldn't be too mad at her because I am the same way when it comes to making decisions. However, I still liked her as the main character and I really enjoyed her story. I just really liked Cally. I understand her. Many may not, but I do.
The school itself is a little creepy. I mean students going missing and all, yea definitely a bit creepy. And, honestly, if I were Cally, I would not have gone to school there after my older sister going missing; even if they did offer me a full ride. Screw that.
To me, the mystery was a little lackluster because it was kind of predicting. However, going through it with Cally made it interesting. It was important to see Cally figure everything out. Another thing that a lot of people didn't like was Cally's relationship with Alex. A lot of people say it doesn't make sense. Which is partly true. It doesn't make sense in the way that it does make sense. I looked back at some of the boys I dated back in high school and they didn't make sense to me. But they did at that time. And if I hadn't gone trough the weird little relationships that I did, I wouldn't be the same person that I am today.
All-in-all, I really liked this book. It was fast-paced and very easy to read and get through. I will definitely be on the look out for more of McCormick Templeman novels.
pikasqueaks's review
4.0
I have a soft spot for books set in boarding schools. I know they’re not always the most realistic, and it’s not like I ever went to one. But the idea of high school kids having the kind of freedoms and interactions that college kids have makes for much more interesting, and sometimes “grown up” conflicts that you don’t get with young adult books all the time. Except that typically, the kids are all rich. That brings it down just a bit.
Calista Wood starts at St. Bede’s academy, and she doesn’t immediately fit in. She’s come half-way through the year, and that was a special exception for two reasons: her test scores were phenomenal, and years ago, her sister went missing there. So she has a connection to the school that she doesn’t quite understand yet, but all signs point to: go. One thing that sticks out is that Cally’s test scores were high, so I expected a deviation from the standard teenager. I’m not sure what I got was what I was looking for -- some of the words that Cally uses don’t always make sense in the context she puts them. Is that a mark of a girl thinking she knows more than she does, or is it a mark against the writing?
People start off by trying to make friends with her -- her roommate’s sister, two best friends in one of her classes, and then the roommate. Cally still feels a little lost at the school, and then the parties start. They’re those epic parties where all kinds of things are supposed to happen, except... Cally goes to bed instead of socializing. Okay. So maybe she isn’t the social butterfly, that’ll work just the same, right? Except as the story progresses, she seeks out and picks ways to alienate herself. She hooks up with someone, despite knowing that it’s going to hurt a lot of people in mix.
I’m not sure how to feel about Cally. She’s smart and intuitive, and she really wants the answers to her lingering questions. But in the ways that she’s still very much a teenager -- the desperate need to stand out so people notice her with her haircuts and weird clothes -- she gets frustrating. This front doesn’t exactly tell us all that much about Cally, aside from the fact that she’s definitely not emotionally stable through most of the book. And when she could be making smart choices, it’s never really clear what her intentions are.
I don’t read a lot of mysteries, so I can’t tell you if this one would stand out among a sea of others. But I know that YA mysteries in boarding schools are some of the coolest books I read, and I appreciate them in the genre. As a mystery itself, I think we see the culprit right out. But that’s the reader, and the thing about The Little Woods is that it’s more important for Cally to come around to the revelation on her own.
However, the romantic side plots in the book were straight up terrible. Cally not only finds a boyfriend who is completely wrong for her (and gives her flack about the weird crap she does to her hair?), but proceeds to cheat on him. I’m totally sick and tired of seeing cheating played out like it’s no big deal in YA, or just something you shrug off, but the reactions some of the characters had to what happened was just weird. These characters are all just very weird, and I don’t know if it’s the woods, or boarding school, or what, but it was really bizarre.
The Little Woods is a book I’d definitely recommend you find at the library and check out, but not one I’d keep forever.
Calista Wood starts at St. Bede’s academy, and she doesn’t immediately fit in. She’s come half-way through the year, and that was a special exception for two reasons: her test scores were phenomenal, and years ago, her sister went missing there. So she has a connection to the school that she doesn’t quite understand yet, but all signs point to: go. One thing that sticks out is that Cally’s test scores were high, so I expected a deviation from the standard teenager. I’m not sure what I got was what I was looking for -- some of the words that Cally uses don’t always make sense in the context she puts them. Is that a mark of a girl thinking she knows more than she does, or is it a mark against the writing?
People start off by trying to make friends with her -- her roommate’s sister, two best friends in one of her classes, and then the roommate. Cally still feels a little lost at the school, and then the parties start. They’re those epic parties where all kinds of things are supposed to happen, except... Cally goes to bed instead of socializing. Okay. So maybe she isn’t the social butterfly, that’ll work just the same, right? Except as the story progresses, she seeks out and picks ways to alienate herself. She hooks up with someone, despite knowing that it’s going to hurt a lot of people in mix.
I’m not sure how to feel about Cally. She’s smart and intuitive, and she really wants the answers to her lingering questions. But in the ways that she’s still very much a teenager -- the desperate need to stand out so people notice her with her haircuts and weird clothes -- she gets frustrating. This front doesn’t exactly tell us all that much about Cally, aside from the fact that she’s definitely not emotionally stable through most of the book. And when she could be making smart choices, it’s never really clear what her intentions are.
I don’t read a lot of mysteries, so I can’t tell you if this one would stand out among a sea of others. But I know that YA mysteries in boarding schools are some of the coolest books I read, and I appreciate them in the genre. As a mystery itself, I think we see the culprit right out. But that’s the reader, and the thing about The Little Woods is that it’s more important for Cally to come around to the revelation on her own.
However, the romantic side plots in the book were straight up terrible. Cally not only finds a boyfriend who is completely wrong for her (and gives her flack about the weird crap she does to her hair?), but proceeds to cheat on him. I’m totally sick and tired of seeing cheating played out like it’s no big deal in YA, or just something you shrug off, but the reactions some of the characters had to what happened was just weird. These characters are all just very weird, and I don’t know if it’s the woods, or boarding school, or what, but it was really bizarre.
The Little Woods is a book I’d definitely recommend you find at the library and check out, but not one I’d keep forever.
anabook25's review
2.0
I thought the plot was predictable and there were some pointless elements.
I know this author gets way better at her second book, because I liked [b:The Glass Casket|13600701|The Glass Casket|McCormick Templeman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1371651450s/13600701.jpg|19192934].
Spoiler
That girl has the trouble to make a puzzle box and to write a cryptic messange and then spells the guy's name? Really? It's not like anyone else was supposed to know how to decrypt that note.I know this author gets way better at her second book, because I liked [b:The Glass Casket|13600701|The Glass Casket|McCormick Templeman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1371651450s/13600701.jpg|19192934].
misamille's review
4.0
There's really not much to say about this book. I thought it had promise with that awesome synopsis, but it just fell flat for me.
danicapage's review
4.0
This review appeared on my blog Taking It One Page at a Time
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Disclosures: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. I hadn't really seen any other reviews of this book when I first picked it up.
I was expecting a riveting mystery and I got that and so much more. This book was well-written and engaging, if not predictable. I will admit I went in with fairly low expectations and it did exceed my expectations.
However, it wasn't as compelling as many thriller/mystery novels I've read. I wanted to be swept away in the intrigue and the mystery, but something held me back. Something was missing to make this an exceptional read.
However, having said that, let me say that I really enjoyed this novel. It was well-written and sucked me in. And despite being predictable, there were some noteworthy twists that I did not expect that kept me tuned in to the story.
Cally was a hard character for me to relate to and I never really felt like I understood her, but I loved the way the story was told. I actually found her character very refreshing. She was definitely not a girl's girl and had no tolerance for frilly things. It was a nice and unexpected change from several other books I've read along this line.
Overall, this book was well-written, intriguing, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In Summary: I recommend to fans of young adult thriller/mystery novels. It's not super scary, but there is enough of a mystery to keep your attention.
The Wrap-up: This isn't a book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. It's not my favorite novel in this genre, but it is a very good book.
~Danica Page
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Disclosures: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. I hadn't really seen any other reviews of this book when I first picked it up.
I was expecting a riveting mystery and I got that and so much more. This book was well-written and engaging, if not predictable. I will admit I went in with fairly low expectations and it did exceed my expectations.
However, it wasn't as compelling as many thriller/mystery novels I've read. I wanted to be swept away in the intrigue and the mystery, but something held me back. Something was missing to make this an exceptional read.
However, having said that, let me say that I really enjoyed this novel. It was well-written and sucked me in. And despite being predictable, there were some noteworthy twists that I did not expect that kept me tuned in to the story.
Cally was a hard character for me to relate to and I never really felt like I understood her, but I loved the way the story was told. I actually found her character very refreshing. She was definitely not a girl's girl and had no tolerance for frilly things. It was a nice and unexpected change from several other books I've read along this line.
Overall, this book was well-written, intriguing, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In Summary: I recommend to fans of young adult thriller/mystery novels. It's not super scary, but there is enough of a mystery to keep your attention.
The Wrap-up: This isn't a book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. It's not my favorite novel in this genre, but it is a very good book.
~Danica Page
bethyboo29's review
4.0
I'm not one for writing reviews but I will say that I really enjoyed this book, it glued me in pretty quickly and I finished it in almost no time at all. Glad I randomly picked this up from the library. (:
briamide's review
3.0
Good book. I really enjoyed the beginning and middle, though the ending was a bit predictable.