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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I remember owning this book growing up, but I did not remember any of the story.
A teen nearing high school graduation develops psychic abilities that catch the attention of a local police officer.
This was a fun read, until the end. A very predictable twist and a very toxic/borderline inappropriate relationship kinda soured the whole thing for me. The main character is principled, if not a little naïve. She actually shows a lot of strength and resolve, standing up for herself against a verbally abusive boyfriend and overbearing parents, which makes the budding romance at the end even more disappointing. The police officer is just awful: deceitful, manipulative, whiny, and self-centered. He is easy to dismiss as a side character, but his worse traits are for some reason even more amplified in the finale. Could have been, and for a time was, an enjoyable, tense read.
A teen nearing high school graduation develops psychic abilities that catch the attention of a local police officer.
This was a fun read, until the end. A very predictable twist and a very toxic/borderline inappropriate relationship kinda soured the whole thing for me. The main character is principled, if not a little naïve. She actually shows a lot of strength and resolve, standing up for herself against a verbally abusive boyfriend and overbearing parents, which makes the budding romance at the end even more disappointing. The police officer is just awful: deceitful, manipulative, whiny, and self-centered. He is easy to dismiss as a side character, but his worse traits are for some reason even more amplified in the finale. Could have been, and for a time was, an enjoyable, tense read.
Very well-plotted, while also giving a teenage girl a serious inner life. The romance plot was kind of creepy.
This was my FAVORITE book for many years in grade school. I was really nervous to re-read it because I didn't want to be disappointed. But I have to say that this book actually holds up really well. I felt like the story was tense and suspenseful, more of a thriller than a mystery. Yes, the characters are kind of underdeveloped and the dialogue leaves something to be desired. But I thought it was still a well-crafted story. I didn't remember anything at all about the actual plot of this book, but I remembered the last line almost word for word. (Because it is awesome and mind-blowing when you are twelve years old) It is crazy how some things just stick with you. A couple notes: The mom of the main character in this book is really awful. She is so critical of her daughter, and is more annoyed than concerned whenever bad things happen to her. Some of the motivation behind the mom's behavior gets explained a little later on in the book, but it is not enough to make up for her general awfulness. Also, I read the e-book version of this story and a few pages in, the main character says something about trying to reach someone on a cell phone, which didn't make any sense for a book published in 1984. So I noticed that there was an author interview at the end of the book, and in that, she talks about updating the book for the e-book version, I guess, and how it was mostly giving characters cell phones and having them hear about news stories on line instead of from the newspaper. I was kind of disappointed that I didn't have the authentic version from my childhood, and I have to say that the places where she updated it felt a little clunky, but maybe just because I was looking for them. Siblings: If you also decide to re-read this, I don't think you will be disappointed.
The beginning was super weird, and I couldn't believe how stupid the main character was, but as I kept reading, I got super into it. Ultimately, I had a great time reading this and would definitely recommend it. Fun and interesting and a little twisty!
I really enjoy Lois Duncan’s books, even though I read an updated version, I’m sure the original would have held up on its own.
W. T. F.
Worst cop ever. Most goody goody heroine ever. Most annoying mother ever.
So many awards! I also feel like this book wouldn't have ever lived to see the light of day had it not been written by Duncan. I mean really?! Or am I just that out of touch with her books?
Worst cop ever. Most goody goody heroine ever. Most annoying mother ever.
So many awards! I also feel like this book wouldn't have ever lived to see the light of day had it not been written by Duncan. I mean really?! Or am I just that out of touch with her books?
I read this book as a child and it was the first book I ever willingly finished cover to cover. I hated reading but this I devoured. I will never forget this book.
I recently reread a book I loved as a young teenager. I have read it several times since the first, but the last time was probably when I was in my 20s. I am now in my late 30s, and my perception of it has certainly changed.
It was fun to take a trip down memory lane but it was also a little cringey to read because of how immature the characters now seem to me, when I used to love them before.
The main character is this girl named Karen – not a great name for a main character in current times – and she’s psychic. She has got the ability to see visions and is involved in cases of missing children where she ends up finding them because of her gift.
There is some fuss made in the book about hiding her gift so that she isn’t labeled a freak, which made sense for 1984, but it is quite the sign of how far we’ve come that I now feel like, that’s a whole lot of fuss over a pretty low-level, relatively tame ability. I mean, we’ve got so many books now about teenagers with incredible and over-the-top superhero-type powers that someone with a psychic ability seems like a regular person.
Some of the book has been updated to reflect the times. I’m sure it was much harder to stay connected back in 1984 before everyone and their 3-month-old child had a cell phone, but the book did a pretty good job of adding cellphones to the story.
I have definitely outgrown the book, but it was still a nostalgic read and I enjoyed it for what it was. If anything, it reminded me of simpler times and why I fell in love with reading, so there’s that.
It was fun to take a trip down memory lane but it was also a little cringey to read because of how immature the characters now seem to me, when I used to love them before.
The main character is this girl named Karen – not a great name for a main character in current times – and she’s psychic. She has got the ability to see visions and is involved in cases of missing children where she ends up finding them because of her gift.
There is some fuss made in the book about hiding her gift so that she isn’t labeled a freak, which made sense for 1984, but it is quite the sign of how far we’ve come that I now feel like, that’s a whole lot of fuss over a pretty low-level, relatively tame ability. I mean, we’ve got so many books now about teenagers with incredible and over-the-top superhero-type powers that someone with a psychic ability seems like a regular person.
Some of the book has been updated to reflect the times. I’m sure it was much harder to stay connected back in 1984 before everyone and their 3-month-old child had a cell phone, but the book did a pretty good job of adding cellphones to the story.
I have definitely outgrown the book, but it was still a nostalgic read and I enjoyed it for what it was. If anything, it reminded me of simpler times and why I fell in love with reading, so there’s that.