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A review by cyntismiles
Sadie by Courtney Summers
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the audiobook version because it is part podcast, part regular audiobook. It also gives the experience of a true crime podcast without the uncomfy feeling of peering into real individuals' lives and tragedies for entertainment.
I also thought that having both the podcast and Sadie's perspectives led to an interesting discussion about different sides of a story and kind of the nature of true crime podcasts. I really enjoyed having Sadie's perspective because the people who knew her only knew so much so the information that the journalist was getting to form his ideas was different than Sadie's experience. Whether intended or not, I think it's a good reminder that we don't know everything about the people we know. Not in a sinister way but just that truly anything is possible.
I think the main reason I rated this book so highly is the full cast recording! They did their best to make it fully immersive (if there was supposed to be a baby crying there was or if it he podcast was recorded on the side of the road, you could hear cars in the background). It fondly reminded me of the radio theatre I listened to on the radio growing up. I also think that the audiobook gave Sadie's experience with her stutter the chance to be very honest/true to life. I don't think it would have felt the same reading it.
I did not love the journalist character and he was doing his best but really rubbed me the wrong way. In the end, I think that's neither here nor there as liking him didn't feel contingent on enjoying the story. I was really just in it for Sadie's story and thought his only addition was providing an avenue to hear what other people in Sadie's orbit thought about events.
I recommend this to people who like true crime or true crime podcasts. It is YA but I found it to be one (of the good ones) that is written to be accessible to teens but not so "teen" that I couldn't enjoy it as an adult. There are content warnings but I think it's approached in a YA way so it's not as graphic as an adult novel might have been.
Spoiler Thoughts:
I personally was fine with the ending and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. A lot of cases end like that -- life has a lot of unanswered questions!
My personal theory is Sadie probably didn't make it and therefore I cannot classify this as a "good for her" book. :( But maybe she did! You never know! She did get what she wanted though and I think to Sadie that would have been more important.
I also thought that having both the podcast and Sadie's perspectives led to an interesting discussion about different sides of a story and kind of the nature of true crime podcasts. I really enjoyed having Sadie's perspective because the people who knew her only knew so much so the information that the journalist was getting to form his ideas was different than Sadie's experience. Whether intended or not, I think it's a good reminder that we don't know everything about the people we know. Not in a sinister way but just that truly anything is possible.
I think the main reason I rated this book so highly is the full cast recording! They did their best to make it fully immersive (if there was supposed to be a baby crying there was or if it he podcast was recorded on the side of the road, you could hear cars in the background). It fondly reminded me of the radio theatre I listened to on the radio growing up. I also think that the audiobook gave Sadie's experience with her stutter the chance to be very honest/true to life. I don't think it would have felt the same reading it.
I did not love the journalist character and he was doing his best but really rubbed me the wrong way. In the end, I think that's neither here nor there as liking him didn't feel contingent on enjoying the story. I was really just in it for Sadie's story and thought his only addition was providing an avenue to hear what other people in Sadie's orbit thought about events.
I recommend this to people who like true crime or true crime podcasts. It is YA but I found it to be one (of the good ones) that is written to be accessible to teens but not so "teen" that I couldn't enjoy it as an adult. There are content warnings but I think it's approached in a YA way so it's not as graphic as an adult novel might have been.
Spoiler Thoughts:
My personal theory is Sadie probably didn't make it and therefore I cannot classify this as a "good for her" book. :( But maybe she did! You never know! She did get what she wanted though and I think to Sadie that would have been more important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Addiction