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myjourneywithbooks 's review for:
S.T.A.G.S
by M.A. Bennett
Greer MacDonald is the new kid at the prestigious St Aidan the Great Boarding school (S.T.A.G.S.). Feeling isolated and out of place among the other students who hail from rich, high class families, she thinks she is finally being accepted into their ranks when she receives an invitation to spend the weekend with a few select others at Longcross Hall, home of Henry de Walencourt, the most popular boy in school and leader of the Medievals (the in-crowd and unofficial prefects of the school). However, the story soon take a sinister turn and Greer learns that the "huntin' shootin' fishin' " weekend could be deadlier than it sounds.
I think this was the first YA thriller I'd read and it was like a movie playing out in my mind. Greer is an engaging storyteller and the narrative itself flowed smoothly and was easy to read though it grew a bit slow at times. The story serves to make the reader ponder on a few points, such as the occurrence of bullying in schools, the effects of class and social hierarchy and the impact of technology on our lives.
I liked the eerie setting, especially after things started getting weird at Longcross Hall. But I have to admit I expected it to be more intense, given that the tagline reads, "Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend." I also wished there had been more detailed descriptions about the personalities of the Medievals instead of the repeated information of their appearance, especially the girls.
I appreciated the introduction of the twist in the story close to the end, and the fact that one of the things that led Greer to make her discovery was a pointer in grammar one of her teachers had mentioned close to the beginning of the book. I love it when little details like that turn out to be significant. The story concludes with an open ending that could hint at a sequel. I personally think it's better to leave it at one book.
I think this was the first YA thriller I'd read and it was like a movie playing out in my mind. Greer is an engaging storyteller and the narrative itself flowed smoothly and was easy to read though it grew a bit slow at times. The story serves to make the reader ponder on a few points, such as the occurrence of bullying in schools, the effects of class and social hierarchy and the impact of technology on our lives.
I liked the eerie setting, especially after things started getting weird at Longcross Hall. But I have to admit I expected it to be more intense, given that the tagline reads, "Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend." I also wished there had been more detailed descriptions about the personalities of the Medievals instead of the repeated information of their appearance, especially the girls.
I appreciated the introduction of the twist in the story close to the end, and the fact that one of the things that led Greer to make her discovery was a pointer in grammar one of her teachers had mentioned close to the beginning of the book. I love it when little details like that turn out to be significant. The story concludes with an open ending that could hint at a sequel. I personally think it's better to leave it at one book.